It is festival season and that means that in the next month there is so many great comedy festivals to look forward to! This month we are looking at some of the great shows that you can see at the Edinburgh Fringe. So take note because we are going to give you all the information you need for just a handful of some of the great shows happening this year! We have also been able to interview some of the acts that are heading up to the Fringe as well.

Crone

Location:  Just The Tonic, The Attic – The Mash House (Venue 288 )

Dates: Aug 24th – 28th

Time: 22:40

Price: £7

Ticket Link:  https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/crone?fbclid=IwAR13xKqog3vRdQ3yhQtgiSqOSI0RAB7vQbgBV1EFkc6MtKCmcvOd45p0xis

Hello! Tell us about yourself ?

My name’s Liam – I’m an improviser and comedian from Nottingham. 

What’s the name of your show this year?

CRONE

How did you come up with the name of your show that your taking to the fringe?

CRONE is mostly just a description of the character – a half-mask witch type creature! 

Tell us all about your show!

It’s an interactive horror comedy show where the audience enter the witch’s lair to have their fortunes told. Amidst the improvised, interactive chaos, there will be ghost stories and rituals and spells to perform – we intend to whisk the audience away to a world that’s spooky and stupid in equal measure. 

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe? 

 Stand-up(ish) stuff: Laurie Owen’s ‘Some Other Mirror’ is probably my top pick, but sadly our Fringe runs don’t overlap!! Peter Flemming is there for one night only on 22nd August to tell his behind the scenes stories from the world of the BBC’s childrens’ TV in the 60s and 70s which I’m super excited about. Also, Katie Mitchell’s She Festers is *chefs kiss*. I always enjoy shows from folks like  Elf Lyons, Alexander Bennett, Joz Norris, Sian Docksey too. So if they’re there I’ll try my best to catch their shows. 

Improv stuff: MC Hammersmith is brilliant as are the Spontaneous Potter folks (maybe I’m just a massive Will Naameh fanboy…). Baby Wants Candy are a must-see as well, obvs. I think the thing I’m most excited for, though, is the classic russian roulette game of ‘which random flyer that we’ve been given will we go and see today’. That, to me, is what the Fringe is about. 

Have you done the fringe before? What are the key pieces of advice you have been given or would give to new groups or people performing at the fringe?

 So……. This will be my fifth Edinburgh Fringe but my first doing a solo show, having done improv, sketch, compilation shows, and even ran a mini venue in the back of a van!

My TOP TIPS FOR ENJOYING THE FRINGE ARE:

• Actually aim to enjoy it!!! Make your main aim to have the best time. Try as best you can to not focus on the “industry opportunities” and “reviews” and “ticket sales” etc. You’re at the biggest arts festival in the world being an artist. That’s really cool. Enjoy it. Enjoy doing a show there for the sake of doing a show there. Enjoy being around creative people. Be inspired by the shows you see. 
  
• The 11am Rule. I know various variations on this rule, but what I was first told is: 
  • If a show went terribly, it’s okay to be sad. But limit that until 11am the next day. 
  • If a show went incredibly, it’s okay to be smug. But limit that until 11am the next day. 

And that extends to your friends too – let them bask in the glory of a great show they’ve just done (AKA don’t be the prick who bursts their bubble straight after the show). And also, let them be sad if one goes badly (though in this case, do try to cheer them up if you can). And in either case, feel free to kindly remind them after 11am the next day, “it’s a new day, a clean slate, and we do it all over again!”.

• Look after yourself.  Sounds really obvious but doing even a part run is a long old slog and performing requires you to give a lot of energy and yourself every single day. Try to remember that, be kind to yourself for days where you don’t have energy. Classic Fringe self-care includes:
  • Take a day off. (Specifically, have days where you have early nights early in the Fringe, not just when you’re so exhausted you can’t stay awake past 6pm.)
  • It’s okay to say ‘no’ to seeing shows. 
  • Do stuff outside the Fringe bubble (For example, I have climbed Arthur’s Seat every year, been to the zoo, to the beach, etc.). 
  • Eat some ‘vegetables’. 
  • Drink some water. 
  • Take the type of time you need when you need it: want to be alone? Take it. Want to be with friends? Take it. 
    
• Look after your friends. As above… The Fringe is a lot. Look after your friends, watch for days when they seem tired or low and encourage them to look after themselves. Classic friend-care includes:
  • Don’t pressure folks to do stuff (drink / see shows / whatever). Let them look after themselves.
  • Suggest early nights. 
  • Suggest ‘vegetables’ and ‘water’.
  • Support them to take the time they need. 
    
• If you liked a show, tell the people who made it. If you like someone’s show, tell them! You never know whether they’re having a good day or a bad day, so put some positivity back into the fringe! If you don’t like a show, keep it to yourself (and if you can’t manage that, at least keep it to yourself until you are far away from the venue). 
  
• Always have painkillers, water, and chewing gum. You’ll make friends. 

What have been some of your favourite shows to date and why?

I saw Familie Floz – a masked theatre show – a few years back and that was really inspiring and got me down the masked theatre rabbit hole. Elf Lyons’ Swan was a pretty much perfect show. When I was running Clusterf**k (a Free Fringe mixed bill show of sketch, standup, and improv), we were lucky enough to have David Correos come and perform. He’s a New Zealand based ball of chaos and did maybe the funniest and most alarming ten minute set of my life – he’s now on the New Zealand equivalent of Taskmaster and you need to go and watch his episodes. They’re hilarious. 

What three items are essential for a successful Fringe? 

A raincoat,a comfy pair of shoes, a backpack that’s comfortable, but can hold your raincoat, a jumper, 200 flyers, a decent sized bottle of water, painkillers, and a charging block.

What is the best way to enjoy yourself at the fringe?

Find your balance (which I’m well aware is quite boring). Balance social time with alone time. Balance seeing shows with nights off. Balance show prep with doing non-show related stuff. Balance Fringe stuff with non-Fringe stuff. Balance paid shows with free shows. Balance seeing shows you know about pre-Fringe, with shows you’ve been flyered for. Balance meals out with home cooked meals. Etc etc etc. And balancing all these things over the whole Fringe. Your balance on each of those things will be different to mine or anyone else’s, so it’s about finding the balance which feeds you energy more than it takes from you, because if you find that, you’ll have energy through the entire Fringe and wind up actually making the most of the awesome, exciting, chaotic riot that it is. 

The best thing about performing at the fringe?

Feeling part of a massive community of artists. Being surrounded by people day-in-day-out who love creating, and seeing their shows, and meeting them… It’s a very inspiring process.

The most challenging thing about performing at the fringe?

It’s relentless, and when shows come so thick and fast for so long, it’s tiring. When we’re tired it’s then that bit harder to take the tough shows (which will come) and that’s why so much of what I’ve said earlier is about conserving energy and finding balance. 

What’s the secret to successful flyering? 

• Love your show. Don’t undersell it. Don’t be modest. This is your show that you worked hard on making – be proud of it and believe that it deserves to be seen! Keep your love and excitement and show it. 

• Work out your 5 second pitch. What’s your selling point to the people who are walking past you. Then deliver your 5 second pitch filled with your love and excitement with the thing you’ve made.

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

Honestly? Anyone. I’m always so grateful that folks actually bother to take a chance and come and see the show.

If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?

@Liam_Webber on twitter. @liamjwebber on instagram. 

And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show? 

To meet CRONE.