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!

Non-Player Character: Live Virtual Reality Musical

Location: Imaginex at YOTEL Edinburgh in association with ZOO – Imaginex (Venue 572)

Dates: Aug 2nd-25th

Time: 21:00

Price: £15.00 Concessions £10.00

Ticket Link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/non-player-character-live-virtual-reality-musical-1

Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

Hi! I’m Brendan Bradley and I’m an actor and writer from over 100 TV shows, movies and video games. As a creator, I’ve always explored new technologies starting in early YouTube series to founding The Innovation Lab at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. During the pandemic, I released free tools and tutorials for artists stuck at home and became a Finalist for The Producer Guild of America’s Innovation Award. Since then, I have live theatre in virtual reality at festivals and conferences around the world. 

Tell us all about your show!

Non-Player Character is a fully interactive and original musical in virtual reality. I play characters in a fictional video game who rely on audience interaction to co-create and guide my journey. Four “players” join me on-stage wearing virtual reality headsets with no preparation, rehearsal or (often) experience in virtual reality and I fully improvise and respond based on their actions and decisions. The seated audience can see the virtual worlds and characters projected on a big screen behind us and they can use their phones to vote on key decisions and spawn objects in the virtual world. 

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

Much of virtual or digital theatre relies on instructing the audience on how to use the technology, similar to immersive theatre where the performer is both an actor and a guide. I wanted to invert this relationship by portraying a character without any agency who relies on the audience to guide them through the open-world style gameplay. The performance is constantly “handing off” control between myself and both audiences (on-stage and seated) which allows us to consider the control and connection we each possess in our daily lives – especially when navigating new and difficult experiences, like grief or loss.  

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

Much like our show, the Fringe has a robust community and engagement online which means I’ve already begun connecting with artists from across the globe to share our journeys and process. I’m reuniting with old friends friends from SOLVE IT SQUAD and I SELL WINDOWS to and making new friends from KAFKA’s METAMORPHOSIS, THE SIGNALMAN, PLOTTERS, GIRLHOOD and I’M NO BILLY, HE’S A TIM. We’re also excited to be part of the #ZOO24 roster which gives us a community of fellow fringers at ZOO!  

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 Edinburgh Fringe – I’ve done the New York and Los Angeles, and it’s been a lifelong dream to be a part of this strange summer camp! The best advice I’ve received is to practice a lot of self-care. This is “the olympics of live art” and is described by pretty much everyone as “madness.” I’m told FOMO is a part of it so to embrace that your Fringe experience is going to be unique and weirdly wonderful with an emotional and physical rollercoaster. I’ve been planning my list of shows and activities… as well as using the stair master at the gym to prepare for walking on an incline. 

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

The Non-Player Character team has the unique opportunity to be artists in residence at YOTEL Edinburgh so every morning will start with a company breakfast to check-in and review the day – notes from the last show, outings, flyering, shows we want to see… and then meet back one hour before our 9PM show every night. After the performance, we plan to host a talkback with audience and mingle in the bar. 

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

My hope is to meet hundreds of other storytellers and theatre lovers, like myself. 

Ok, where is your favourite place to eat at the Fringe? 

Please give me YOUR recommendations! 

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

Join me at the show on the 2nd and I’ll tell you after our premiere! 

Top tips for travelling around the Fringe and getting to shows on time?

Our performance is quite accessible via the local trams/bus on Princes St. that also help audience move between venues up and down Bridge St as well as between New Town and Old Town.

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

The first items in my bag are a good jacket, comfortable shoes and a blank journal. 

what’s the secret to successful flyering? 

We hope it’s finding similar shows/artists and cross-promoting with them! 

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

I am brendanAbradley on every platform and you can follow (and share) our show using #NPCmusical and NPCMUSICAL.COM

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

SINGULAR PLAYABLE MUSICAL