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!

Talkies: Improvised Classic Hollywood Comedy

Location:   Just The Tonic At The Caves – Just Up the Road (Venue 88)

Dates: Aug 15th-27th

Time: 20:00

Price: £10 Concessions £8

Ticket Link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/talkies-improvised-classic-hollywood-comedy

Hello! Tell us about yourself?

We’re Ghostwriters, the group behind Improv Sherlock, and taking a new show to the Fringe for the first time since 2015 – TALKIES! (if you’re into our other work you can read our Improv Sherlock interviews here and here and here)

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

Trial and error! When we devised the show at the Bristol Improv Theatre it was called “Screwball”, after that genre of classic romantic comedy. But more people get ‘Talkies’ – and the new name suits our cast of amazing smooth-talkers…

Tell us all about your show!

To quote our own blurb: “Inspired by the greatest rom-coms and love songs in history, this hilarious show conjures the golden age of Hollywood, improvised live before your eyes by an award-winning supergroup of UK improv.” That about covers it! Can we add that it’s the best thing we’ve ever made? 

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

We’re into “Food” at the international festival, and the revival of Oak Tree at the Lyceum, for two totally different takes on the unexpected in theatre. We’ve not seen many previews but are excited for offline performances from Frey Parker and Laura Raomoso, as well as ever-interesting mainstays like Lucy McCormick and Rachel Parris. And of course, we have our own shows to plug – Austentatious, Murder She Didn’t Write, Racing Minds, 2020 visions, Character Building experience, My Father’s Nose… and Improv Sherlock, our beloved original show. 

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.

We’re all old hands. We feel like the Fringe is changing a lot at the moment, and people are giving more to come here, so we’ll give the usual advice more strongly: take care of yourself. In whatever form that takes: supportive chats, novels, boozy picnics on the meadows, sleep. Actually, that last one’s for everyone.

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

The show is made of them, and we don’t write them down. Some that stick at this moment of writing are  “I’m sharp but tasty, like an olive on a sword” and this exchange at the climax of a show: 

(horrified) “You make a living from crime?”

“…I get by”

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

We’ve not done a good job of seeing previews, so how about we plug  “A Strange Loop” at the Barbican for its glorious meta-twistiness – It’s been a while since the Tony award, they need the publicity – and we love seeing cast member Ed become Eaton Messe in the extraordinary Dragprov Revue.

Talk us through your daily routine for a day at the Fringe

We’re all in a patchwork of different shows so it involves a lot of race-walking between venues, and food-on-the-go of various levels of healthiness. Coffee reliably features, as well as stopping ourselves now and then to realise our good fortune.

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

Controversially: take it at 50% speed. You’ll miss some hyped shows and fun drinks but you’ll enjoy the things you *do * get to do. 

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

Feeling part of something bigger than yourself! Catching your heroes when they’re having a plastic pint of lager in the neighbouring seat. 

The most challenging thing about performing at the fringe?

Maintaining stamina

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

Rainwear, shoes for racewalking, pens somehow. 

What’s the secret to successful flyering?

Love the show you do; only flyer the keen. The time will fly by. 

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

Someone who mouths along with movie dialogue and imagines they were in a film half their waking life. TCM superfans. People whose top ten movie list never overlaps with their friends and life partners and whose reaction gifs are all black-and-white. We know you’re out there! Come home! 

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

We’ll be posting @improvtalkies on instagram, facebook, and even twitter if that survives til the end of August. 

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

Dreams made real !