The Edinburgh Fringe 2008 Show #24 (MP3 57 mb, 1 hour 2 minutes 14 seconds)
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Time for the final show in a rather more roller-coaster month than normal for the Edinburgh Fringe. No matter what gets thrown at Scotland’s capital, the show always carries on.

Charlie Wood, director at the Underbelly venues, talks about the Fringe and its impact on Edinburgh in the today’s show as well as the ticketing ‘fun’ and his appointment to the board of The Fringe Society. Before that though the announcement of the winners of The Stage’s Awards for Acting Excellence, and I speak to some of the nominees (Karen Dunbar and Cameron Stewart).

The Fringe may be drawing to a close, but the moment has been prepared for…

The Edinburgh Fringe 2008 Show #24

Brian Atwood
Editor, The Stage

Karen Dunbar - A Drunk Woman Looks At A Thistle
Assembly Rooms

Cameron Stewart - My Grandfather’s Great War
Underbelly

Charlie Wood
Director, The Underbelly

And the awards for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Group and Best Ensemble

…see you all next year!

The Edinburgh Fringe 2008 Show #23 (MP3 38.3 mb, 41 minutes 50 seconds)
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It’s the last weekend of the Fringe, and everything really comes alive for this Saturday night, which will be for many performers the biggest night at the Fringe. It’s also the time that many performers start to loosen up and do the occassionaly wild thing (reports that a topless Ed Byrne crashed into Jason Byrne’s shows will need photos… please), so no matter where you are tonight in Edinburgh, it should be a fun one.

And Axis of Awesome are fun! The Australlian musical trio have been packing audiences in at the Gilded Balloon with their Comback show, and one of my favourite tracks from there is on today’s show. Tom Allen (it’s really not Tom O’Connor) and I discuss how to do the perfect interview on radio (or a podcast) while Dan McKee looks back at previous Fringes and where the Fringe is now with Sowerby and Luff.

The Edinburgh Fringe 2008 Show #23

Axis of Awesome - Comeback Spectacular
Gilded Balloon Teviot

Tom Allen - A Voyage Round My Mother
Gilded Balloon Teviot

Dan McKee - Sad Frankie
The Dragonfly

Scotsman Fringe First (Week 3) Winners
Once And For All We’re Going To Tell You Who We Are So Shut Up And Listen
Slick
Crocosmia
The Idiot Colony
In Conflict

Dave’s ‘Best Joke at the Fringe’
Zoe Lyons
Andrew Lawrence
Tim Vine

Malcolm Hardee Award for 2007
Edward Azcel

Carol Tambor Award
Ella Hickson’s Eight

The Edinburgh Fringe 2008 Show #22 (MP3 32.3 mb, 35 minutes 18 seconds)
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Coming into the final weekend now, and it’s your last chance to see many shows this weekend (remember not every show runs on Monday 25th). If you’ve got a personal favourite you just have to see, make sure when it’s on and get your tickets.

You wouldn’t go wrong stopping by with our guests on today’s show - the laid back Tom Wriggleswroth talks about vinegar and the art of being an MC while storytellers Dan and Jeff bounce round their interview with reckless abandon. The last Sowerby and Luff show (at the Dragonfly) is tomorrow, and if you’ve been enjoying their interviews as much as I have then pop along to their show at the Free Fringe.

The Edinburgh Fringe 2008 Show #22

Tom Wrigglesworth - I’m Struggling To See How That’s Helping
Pleasance Courtyard

Dan and Jeff - Potted Potter
Pleasance Courtyard

Dan and Jeff - Potted Pirates
Pleasance Courtyard

Hayley Jane Standing
The Dragonfly

The Edinburgh Fringe 2008 Show #21 (MP3 39.9 mb, 43 minutes 28 seconds)
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Hmm, two shows in a row featuring Ukuleles? Must be a conspiracy. At least in today’s show I get my hands on the tiny instrument and a personal instructional course in playing the little blighter from the starts of Learn To Play The Ukulele…

Joining Sam and Donal from that show is comedian Josh Howie, who has had the sort of life that would fill a book, let alone the little author biography you normally get on the first page; while Brian and Georgina catch up with ‘comedian with a guitar and funny songs’ Jay Foreman.

The Edinburgh Fringe 2008 Show #21

Learn To Play The Ukulele in Under An Hour (How George Formby Saved My Life)
Gilded Balloon Teviot

Josh Howie - Chosen
Pleasance Courtyard

Jay Foreman - 20 Songs For Free
Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar

Carol Tambor Theatre Award Shortlist
Big Bite-Sized Breakfast Show
The Bird
The Bee
Eight
The Idiot Colony
66a Church Road - A Lament Made of Memories and Kept in a Suitcase

If.Comedy Awards Nominees
David O’Doherty
Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler
Rhod Gilbert
Russell Kane

If.Comedy Awards Best Newcomer Nominees
Mike Wozniak
Pippa Evans
Sarah Millican

The Edinburgh Fringe 2008 Show #20 (MP3 34 mb, 37 minutes 14 seconds)
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Death, destruction, war, graves, and falling down on a purple latex stage. It’s all here in a slightly morbid feeling show, starting with Paul Tonkinson, who’s just back from doing stand-up for the UK Forces in action. Steve Blake and Nigel Burch are the composers behind the Vaudeville from the Dead styling of The Cholmondeleys and the Featherstonehaughs in the show ‘Dancing on Your Grave.’

Oh and today is Brian and Georgina’s day off, not for any organisational quirks, but because I really needed to carve out five minute to carry my inteview with the team from… Bouncy Castle Dracula. Really (watch the video here)

The Edinburgh Fringe 2008 Show #20

Paul Tonkinson - The Anti Mid-Life Crisis
Pleasance Courtyard

The Cholmondeleys and the Featherstonehaughs - Dancing On Your Grave
Assembly Rooms - George Street

Bouncy Castle Dracula
Rocket at Demarco Roxy Art House

Rhona Cameron
Gilded Balloon Teviot

As promised in #20, here’s the video of the Bouncy Castle Dracula Interview

Bouncy Castle Dracula
Rocket at Demarco Roxy Art House

The Edinburgh Fringe 2008 Show #19 (MP3 34.9 mb, 38 minutes 9 seconds)
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Lots of award shortlists are coming up now, and two of the major theatre ones are up for today. For most of these acts, the strapline ‘Nominated for Best Show at the Fringe’ is going to be on their posters and press material for a long time.

Two extremes of comedy today, from the serving policeman of Alfie Moore who has stand-up almost as a hobby, to scottish circuit legend Vladimir McTavish on some of the differences between a regular Edinburgh gig and a Fringe gig. On top of all that, some excellent music (and a look at Mexican cinema) from Elena Duran.

The Edinburgh Fringe 2008 Show #19

Alfie Moore - Blue Light Comedy Tour
Voodoo Bar

Vladimir McTavish - The Top 50 Greatest Scots Of All Time… Ever!
Stand 2 @The Stand

Elena Duran - Mexico of My Heart
Universal Arts Theatre

Total Theatre Awards Shortlist

Experiment and Innovation
Enclosure 44 - Humans by Janis Claxton Dance (Edinburgh Zoo)
The Factory by Badac Theatre Company/Escalator East to Edinburgh (Pleasance Courtyard)
Once and For All We’re Gonna Tell You Who We Are So Shut Up and Listen by Ontroerend, Goed, Kopergiettery and Richard Jordan Productions (Traverse)
Paper Cinema by Night Flyer and Kora (Forest Fringe)
The Office Party by Underbelly Productions and Assembly (Udderbelly’s Pasture)
Wanderlust by Anonymous Ensemble (Underbelly)

Graduate Company
Crocosmia by Little Bulb Theatre (The Space on the Mile @ The Radisson)
How It Ended by You Need Me (C Cubed)
ID by HuNuNunMul at the InvAsian Festival (Club West @ Quincentenary Hall)
1:13 by Dancing Brick (C Soco)

Story Theatre
Before We Remember by Gomito Productions (Bedlam Theatre)
Cloudcuckooland by The Onassis Programme, Festival Highlights (Pleasance)
How The Giraffe Got Its Neck by Tall Stories (C Too)
The Man Who Planted Trees by Puppet State Theatre Company (Scottish Storytelling Centre)
Slick by Tron and Vix Motus (Traverse)
The Zawose Family by RealWorld (The World @ St George West)

Visual Theatre
Circus Oz by 30 Birthday Bash (Assembly Hall)
The Idiot Colony by Redcape Theatre (Pleasance Dome)
Hamlet Episode by Daeg City Modern Dance Company (Rocket@Roxburghe Hotel)
Mime for Laughs by Mono Mime Comedy Theatre (Hill Street Theatre)
Polaris by Adriatic: Vojta Svejda, Benes-McGadie (Zoo)

Young Company
Architecting by The Team and the National Theatre of Scotland Workshop (Traverse)
The Caravan by Look Left look Right (Pleasance Courtyard)
Holdin’ Fast by Dot 54 (Zoo Southside)
In a Thousand Pieces by Paper Birds (Gilded Balloon Teviot)

Musical Theatre Matters: UK Awards Shortlists

Best Book for a New Musical
Departure Lounge - Dougal Irvine
The Jonah Boy - Jane Buckler
On the Island of Aars - Chris Larner

Best Lyrics for a New Musical
Barbershopera! - Toni & the Guys
Departure Lounge - Dougal Irvine
On the Island of Aars - Chris Larner
Tony of Arabia - Chris Bush

Best Music for a New Musical
Departure Lounge - Dougal Irvine
The Jonah Boy - Richard Taylor
Only the Brave - Matthew Brind
On the Island of Aars - Mark Stevens

Most Promising New Musical
Barbershopera! - Toni & the Guys
Departure Lounge - Dougal Irvine
Only the Brave - Matthew Brind (music/lyrics), Stephen Coleman (book/lyrics) and Rachel Wagstaff (book)
On the Island of Aars - Mark Stevens (music) and Chris Larner (book/lyrics)

Dress Circle Award for Best Musical Production
Barbershopera! - Toni & the Guys
Departure Lounge - West End International, Newpalm Productions & Andy Barnes Productions
Funk it up About Nothin’ - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
On the Island of Aars - Quuup Productions and James Seabright for Festival Highlights

The Edinburgh Fringe 2008 Show #18 (MP3 32.6 mb, 35 minutes 36 seconds)
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Into the last week of the Fringe, and the variety of shows is still as rich as the first few days of the preview week. The same (hopefully) goes for the podcast, as we switch from the ‘making it up as you go along’ delights of Danny Robins putting on his own festivals; a rich and fascinating biopic show of the life of Jack Kerouac; and Georgina reminding me that Sowerby and Luff is a double act…

The Edinburgh Fringe Show #18

Liam McEneaney - Two American Comedians Lose Their Shirts at the Edinburgh Free Fringe
Meadow Bar

Kerouac and All That Jazz
Sweet ECA

Danny Robins - Dannyfest
Pleasance Courtyard

The Edinburgh Fringe 2008 Show #17 (MP3 30.8 mb, 33 minutes 35 seconds)
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So much for having Sundays off in the 2008 Fringe podcasts - there’s been something special ready for each Sunday slot… so as with everything at Edinburgh you just go with the flow. Today is the traditional ‘walk down the Royal Mile’ section of the Fringe podcast - which is something I do every year, but for 2008 it’s a good 30 minutes of chat, fun, surprises, and the occassional mis-fire of an interview.

But that’s all part of the charm. While all the shows mentioned are linked here (as always, straight to the EdFringe.com ticket office), it might be best for this show to listen through without seeing who’s on the show. that way you can be as surprised as I was on the Mile.

The Edinburgh Fringe Show #17

The Scandalous Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde
The Vault

The Bear Who Paints
Pleasance Courtyard

The Return of the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre
Gilded Balloon Teviot

ShakesPod
C Venues

The Butler Did It?! The Musical
Gilded Balloon Teviot

Ian Kendall - The Golden Age of Magic
The Zoo

Enclosure 44 - The Humans
Edinburgh Zoo

Involution
Pleasance Dome

The Transaction
The Space on The Mile (Radisson)

The Absurdity of Vanilla
Underbelly

The Reduced Edinburgh Improv Show
Pleasance Courtyard

Gamarjobat - The Western
Gilded Balloon Teviot

Chris Cox - Control Freak
Pleasance Couryard

The Bulging Seahorse and Other Grey Matters
Zoo Southside

Silence in C Minor
C Soco

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
C Soco

Meltdown - The Ultimate Gameshow
The Space @ The Thistle

Alice in Wonderland
Rocket @ Demarco Roxy Art House

Dick Biscuit Private Eye (Moonfish Rumba)
Sweet Teviot Place

Sammy the Snail - The Magic City
Pleasance Dome

One4Review.com

Plestead and Brown - Health and Stacey
Pleasance Dome

The Edinburgh Fringe 2008 Show #16 (MP3 34.1 mb, 37 minutes 12 seconds)
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The Edinburgh Fringe Show #16

Davis Wateracre (Pegabovine) - Polite Club
Pleasance Courtyard

Hils Barker - Exhibitionist
Gilded Balloon Teviot

Graffiti Classics
Pleasance Dome

Fringe First Winners
In A Thousand Pieces
The Caravan
Eight
Itsoseng
Terminus
66a Church Road
Paperweight
Motherland

The Stage Awards for Acting Excellence
Best Actor
Ciaran McIntyre for Deep Cut
Simon Merrells for On the Waterfront
Jud Charlton for ABFCAP: The Life and Times of Ian Dury
Will Lyman for The Patriot Act
Jot Davies for Lough/Rain

Best Actress
Rhian Morgan for Deep Cut
Rhian Blythe for Deep Cut
Helen Embleton for Motherland
Kate Donmall for Lough/Rain

Best Ensemble
Kudos for Face in the Crowd
You Need Me for How It Ended
Big Wow for Dark Grumblings
The Paper Birds for In a Thousand Pieces
Traverse Theatre Company and Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company for Pornography
Live Theatre for Motherland
East Productions and Nottingham Playhouse for On the Waterfront

Best Solo Performer
Peter McDonald for Nocturne
Matthew Zajac for The Tailor of Inverness
Karen Dunbar for A Drunk Woman Looks at the Thistle
Cameron Stewart for My Grandfather’s Great War
Jim Jarrett for Vincent
Stefan Golaszewski for Stefan Golaszewski Speaks About a Girl He Once Loved