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!

NIUSIA

Location: Former Womens Locker Room – Summerhall (Venue 26)

Dates:  Jul 31st -10th, 12th-17th, 19th-25th

Time: 13:20

Price: £17 Concessions £14.50

Ticket Link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/niusia

Hello! Tell us about yourself?

Hello! My name is Beth! I’m a queer Jewish playwright and performer from Australia.

Tell us all about your show!

NIUSIA is a one-woman show created by myself and co-creator and director, Kat Yates. NIUSIA is the true and remarkable story of my Nana, Niusia – a survivor of the holocaust who endured 6 years in Auschwitz – and the unexpected journey I take to understand her, and consequently herself. The show really zooms in on the diasporic experience: what it is to form a connection to culture when it was so severely severed by generational trauma, and how can my Nana be a hero and a bitch at the same time?

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

Kinder, Altar, Shitbag, The Ceremony, Skinny, Little Squirt, Motorboat, 1925…there are SO MANY!

If this is your first time – what are you looking forward to?

The atmosphere! Meeting other artists! Seeing art from across the world! AND I’ve never been to Scotland before. The chaotic energy of fringe combined with pacing around a history-filled city, watching work by international and local colleagues is very, very exciting. Also being about to bring my Nana’s story back to Europe is really quite special.

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

Eggs on toast is how my day will begin. I am firmly in the “hell yes, breakfast” camp. I’m sharing accommodation with the casts of Kinder, Altar, and Dad Genes, so if anyone’s up and about I’ll whip them up a bit of breaky and a coffee and give them all cuddles. I’ll take myself out for a walk around my local area(!!!) to slowly wake my body and brain up before returning home to properly warm up and prep for the show. NIUSIA asks quite a bit of me vocally, so a long slow warmup is a non-negotiable for me. I’ll make my way to the theatre (in costume, so I can flyer on the way!), and get ready to smash through the changeover. At 13.20 I take to the floor, and invite audiences to journey with me as I try to reckon with my Nana Niusia’s complex legacy. Curtain down! Changeover! Pack my cossie into my backpack, eat my lunch (that I packed the previous day, take note, future Beth) and venture out.

If it’s an understudy day, I’ll race over to Underbelly for the 14:50 showing of Altar. As the brilliant Evie Korver’s understudy, I get the privilege of performing Em Tambree’s beautiful text four times during fringe, so I’ll go from buoyant Beth and panther-esk Niusia to ice-queen Sutton. Show changeover! performance! Changeover! Now, I’ve never been to Edinburgh Fringe before, so what happens next is yet to be seen. But seeing as many shows as I can and connecting with as many artists as I can is a must.

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

Getting to see art from outside not only your artistic circle, but outside your city, state, country, wheelhouse. And meeting the incredible people behind these delicious and mind-bending works. What a TREAT.

What is the hardest part about performing at the Fringe?

Balancing FOMO with resting and taking care of yourself

Do you bring anything special from home to make it feel more special whilst you are away?

My diary. It comes everywhere with me and is my little companion when I have things to think about or celebrate.

What are your best hacks to save money whilst at the Fringe?

Meal prepping and BYO snacks!

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

Vocal nebulizer, eye mask, and snacks!

What’s the secret to successful flyering?

Quality over quantity – scope people out and have conversations rather than stuffing flyers into their hands. See who you’re talking to.

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

A few places! @Bethpatersonaus and @arypresentation

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

Complexity, humour, anti-war

Thank you again for all your support in reading and engaging with the website.

If you want to help support the website then you can! You can buy Holly a cup of tea (and a biscuit!)