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!

Locked In: A Comedy In One Act

Location:  The Space On The Mile – Space 1 (Venue 39)

Dates: Aug 5th-13th, 15th-27th

Time: Times Vary 1:50pm (5th-13th), 1:20pm (15th-21st), 2:50pm (22nd-27th).

Price: £10 / Concessions £9

Ticket Link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/locked-in

Hello! Tell us about yourself Gabriella? 

Hi! I’m Gabriella Giocomo, a writer and theatre professional from near Chicago, USA, and I’m bringing a brand new play to the Fringe this summer.

What’s the name of your show this year?

Locked In: A Comedy In One Act (and its short warmup piece called “Dave Shakespeare”)

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

There’s a practical reason and a pretentious reason. I won’t tell the practical one because it’d give away a fun moment of dramatic irony, but the pretentious reason is that one of the themes of the play is lack of control over major changes in our lives – feeling trapped by aging or trapped waiting to know how something important will turn out.

Tell us all about your show!

Locked In is a joyful new comedy (said Gaby, shortly after bringing up the inevitability of death). It follows Rick, an expectant father navigating unexpected turns during a visit to what his Granddad Richard would prefer to call a “retirement community”. With high energy and crisp dialogue, Locked In’s storytelling shifts cynical wit to life-affirming warmth, making it a perfect pick-me-up for families and theatre lovers in the middle of a packed day at the Fringe. In a reading at the Valhalla Art Music and Theatre Festival, where it won the WordWave One-Act Play Award, Locked In was praised for providing the kind of “machine-gun” laughter associated with the work of Neil Simon. This fully staged UK edition will be its world premiere production. As a bonus, the show opens with a sketch: “Dave Shakespeare, a decidedly silly swipe at pseudointellectuals”, bringing its own laughs the way a support act appetizes an audience for a headliner.

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

So many, but in particular off the top of my head: Mark Watson’s new standup show This Can’t Be It and all three Mischief Theatre shows (Mischief Movie Night, Charlie Russell Aims to Please, and The Mind Mangler).

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. 

This is my first time doing the Fringe! So far one of my favorite pieces of advice is to approach self-promotion believing that you’re giving your audience a gift. Since so many of us coming to the festival are going to make people laugh and bring them joy, it’s absolutely true! 

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

EVER? That’s tough! I’ll spare you an interminable list (mostly musicals and farces) and keep it to things that have come through the Fringe. I love Tim Key’s work, I love anything from the aforementioned Mischief makers, and I’ll have better answers after I’ve finally devoured a bunch of new stuff with my own eyes at this year’s festival.

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

Hearing people’s reactions. Honorable mention to having so much creative control.

The most challenging thing about performing at the fringe?

Anticipating people’s reactions. Honorable mention to having so much creative control.

What would be your top three items every performer must take to the fringe?

Being a newbie I can only guess, but I’ll suggest a vitamin D supplement, a portable water vessel (as in drinking, not sailing), and some sort of physical representation of your itinerary and other vitals in case of a very belated Y2K.

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

Ruth Jones.

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

Instagram: @lockedinfringe Twitter: @lockedinfringe and our Facebook page, in that order.

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

Just. Plain. Fun.