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!

The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria

Location:   Pleasance Dome – QueenDome (Venue 23)

Dates: Aug 2nd-13th, 15th-28th

Time: 17:20

Price: £13 Concessions £11

Ticket Link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/brief-life-mysterious-death-of-boris-iii-king-of-bulgaria

Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

My name is Joseph Cullen, Exec Producer of Out Of The Forest Theatre and co-writer (alongside Sasha Wilson, Artistic Director) of ‘The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria’. I also play King Boris III in the show, and Sasha & I are also affianced, so there are far too many hats and far too many mixed emotions for this to work (surely?) 

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

For VAULT Festival 2020 we decided we wanted a change from our previous three-word titles (Off West End Award Winning ‘Bury The Hatchet’ / ‘Call Me Fury’ – Lyn Gardner, ‘like a spell… a good spell’) and so we went for a really really long one that kinda made enough sense to work.

 Tell us all about your show! 

The ‘Boris of Bulgaria’ Show as we shall call it for brevity, is a story of hope. 80 years ago this year, when all of Europe seemed to turn its back on an entire race of people (and many many other marginalised groups), Bulgaria said ‘no’. And – to be fair – a few other places also said ‘no’, and you don’t know about them either. These pockets of hope across a continent, where the people (people, just people, extraordinary ordinary people) saw what everyone else was doing and they knew they were outnumbered and it was easier to say yes but they said ‘no’.

This is a Bulgarian story, and one that needs to be told to as large an audience as possible. We took inspiration from Dr Michael Bar-Zohar’s incredibly accessible book ‘Beyond Hitler’s Grasp’, and he introduced us to characters, stories, people – Liliana Panitza, Metropolitan Stefan, Dimitar Peshev – these are names lost to history. But these three people did more for humanity than most of us can imagine. But if somebody passes on their story, perhaps we can imagine. Even The Smallest David Can Become A Goliath. 

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

Gosh. As a company we have really enjoyed watching the progress of solo artists James Rowland (‘Piece Of Work’) and Callum Patrick Hughes (‘Thirst’), also our mate David is coming out of retirement with a one-man show about Orson Welles so… we are very much looking forward to ‘Raising Kane’ as well.

These are all shows that have already or would do very well roaming the country visiting the arts centres and village halls, where the audiences are just as deserving but often dismissed. We’ll be doing everything we can to engage with culture made by non pale-male-stale artists, keen to strike a balance. For the sake of hopeful sycophancy – we have been overwhelmed by the ongoing care shown to us by The Pleasance, so in return we’ll be making the most of our Pleasance passes and catching as many shows as we can in the rooms with the yellow signs on (and putting our well-earned money behind the bars no doubt!) 

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. 

As a company this is our first time. As a performer myself I have thrice visited The Edinburgh Fringe. In a production of ‘The Star Child’ (2011) with members of the University of York DramaSoc, again with a play called ‘Contrast’ (2014) by a very talented now US-based director Rory McGregor (but I knew him first – great guy, smelly housemate), and then as a solo performer I did a few stand up gigs a few years ago (2017). 

My advice – 

Drop the phrase ‘Going To Edinburgh’ from the story you are telling yourself, it is nothing but BAGGAGE and it’s weighing you down and distracting you from what you are really doing. You have a story that you need to tell. A really important story. And you have a lovely house where you live, and it would be lovely if you could just tell the story near your house where you live where all of your stuff is. But that’s not how storytelling works, the people near there have already heard your stories. And they’re bloomin’ sick of them.

So you pack up the most essential trinkets you’ve collected and you travel to a place where other people travel to share stories. And you tell your stories for (if you’re lucky) money, and the people pay you twice with the applause you didn’t get as a child. It’s magic. So go and tell a story in the distant city of Edinburgh, but don’t for a second think you’re ‘GOING TO EDINBURGH’ because what a silly thing for anyone to do. And then go home, and tell your mum about Edinburgh. Tell the story for her benefit, not for yours. Because she was wondering what was happening in your story the whole time, just wishing she could be a part of it in some small way. Not everyone is as fortunate as I am, but if you are, just tell your mum how it was, even if you’re bored of telling the story, because sometimes we don’t tell the stories we need to tell, we tell the stories other people need to hear. 

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

In Edinburgh? Favourite? ‘Those Magnificent Men’ (2011) – taught me everything I know, and more I haven’t figured out yet. Two cracking performances, inventive visual storytelling, self-aware. *chef’s kiss* 

A production of ‘Sweet Charity’ (also 2011) taught me so much. Gosh. That really is one of those – ‘if you know you know’, you know? 

Recently – ‘Operation Mincemeat’ (The Musical – West End) – they are a phenomenal talent as a company, and I think we may visit the same tailor, for we are cut from very similar cloth. They are truly excellent storytellers, and musical theatre has been a love of mine for a very long time. Sasha has seen OM at least 5 times and we are looking at dates for the next trip, so if you haven’t seen it – go! 

Favourite one liner you have done in a show and why? 

Best line I’ve ever written – ‘You may speak six languages my love, but you are rarely asked to think deeply in any of them.’ (it’s actually a robust jab at my unnecessarily talented co-writer / fiance who is not only a cunning linguist and exceptional writer, but also the finest Shakespearean Actress Of Her Age and much deserving of larger stages.)

What have been some of the most unique and different comedy shows you have seen this year and why? 

Live comedy this year, very little. Although we have seen a couple of brilliant early career female standups – actually our Production Assistant Lorra Videv is brilliant and our friend Gabi MacPherson is absolutely going places I tell ya.

We watched Hannah Gadsby’s stuff on Netflix – very, VERY good thank you very much. Watch that. And to be honest I’m enjoying all the screentime given to Hannah Waddingham (long may it continue), and we are just waiting for the day that our dear friend Holly Morgan is cast as Hannah’s niece or sister or something. If we write it, we speak it into existence. Holly Morgan once handed out her CV to every audience member at her shows, she’s a grafter and a true talent. This is me doing sort of the same thing to my limited platform on this bulbous sphere of dirt and tax returns, and saying here’s Holly’s online CV she is the best thing since sliced bread (first sold 1928)  https://mmbcreative.com/clients/holly-morgan/ – HIRE HER you will not regret it x 

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

Observe my state of dishevelment in September and ask me if I figured it out. 

Best thing about performing at the Fringe? 

The praise I’ve sought for 32 long years. 

The most challenging thing about performing at the Fringe? 

The knowledge that every action has an equal opposite reaction. 

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

Pen & Paper 

A Water Bottle 

Some Mayonnaise 

What’s the secret to successful flyering? 

Get somebody else to do it. 

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member? 

Can I say my mum? Because then I KNOW I’d get a standing ovation (and a cuddle). Or maybe J R R Tolkien, just in case he’d pat my shoulder and tell me how clever I was. But probably (*looks to camera, winks*) – You, The Viewer. 

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

Twitter – @OutOfThe_Forest 

Instagram – @outoftheforesttheatre 

Email Us – info@outoftheforesttheatre.com

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

Because F*** Fascism.