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!

Spy Movie: The Play!

Location:   Above at Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33)

Dates:  Jul 30th -10th, 12th-17th, 19th – 24th

Time: 12:55

Price: £15 Concessions £14

Ticket Link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/spy-movie-the-play

Hello! Tell us about yourself?

Jack: Hi! I’m Jack Michael Stacey – actor, writer, and unapologetic spy nerd. I co-wrote SPY MOVIE: The Play! with Matthew Howell after years of working in the wonderfully chaotic world of theatre, including The Play That Goes Wrong. My passion lies in making people laugh—and pushing the limits of what you can do with a theatre, an audience, and a bit of gaffer tape. (Don’t be weird). 

Matt: I’m Matthew, co-writer and also playing Albert Cabbage in Spy Movie: The Play! We’re back at the fringe, bigger and better than ever, just like Roger Moore in Spiceworld The Movie. 

Tell us all about your show!

Jack: SPY MOVIE: The Play! is exactly what it says on the tin—an over-the-top, low-budget spoof of high-budget spy movies. It’s a play-within-a-play, where a frustrated screenwriter puts on her Hollywood blockbuster live on stage after being rejected by the studios. We’ve got Agent Jane Blonde fighting international villains, helicopters, lasers, and zero gravity… and zero money. It’s part Bond, part Fringe madness, with a lot of heart and even more confetti.

Matt: Spy Movie: The Play! is full of action, thrills and sex sex sex!… Suitable for the whole family.  

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

Jack: I’m always excited to see new comedy and theatre. Anything with big risks, bonkers ideas, or a sense of joyful chaos is right up my alley.

Matt: Anything Gary Starr is doing this year. Tarot, Rob Auton. I’ll also be keeping an eye out for new clown shows. 

Have you done the Fringe before? Any advice for new performers?

Jack: Yes—we were here last year and learned loads. No, that’s not a mistype. We didn’t earn anything. My advice: pace yourself. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Embrace the weirdness, connect with other creatives, and accept that no one’s had enough sleep. Oh, and always remember the backup USB.

Matt: This year if you see someone wearing a bucket hat don’t bother flyering them. They are probably just there for Oasis. 

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

Jack: Wake up in a tiny room surrounded by props. Coffee. Flyering. Do own show. Grab food (maybe) drink (deffo). See someone else’s show. Then another. Then another. Sleep. Repeat.

Matt: I agree with what Jack said although I also eat before the show as well. 

Favourite place to eat at the Fringe?

Jack: Oof. The courtyard. Expensive but close.

Matt: I always find that eating at the fringe is sort of a blur of carbs, sauces, pastries and at times expensive proteins like pulled pork. You do it a lot, usually quite quickly and very often it’s not very healthy. At least it’s not for a whole month… oh wait. 

Best thing about performing at the Fringe?

Jack: The audiences! Every day brings a new crowd with new energy. You never know if a particular bit will get chuckles or a full-blown guffaw, and that unpredictability is electric. Also, there’s a bit of audience interaction and improv in our show so it’s always buzzing. 

Matt: The audiences, the atmosphere, and the shows. There  are so many unique and exciting performances to see. It really is like a treasure trove of theatre. 

Hardest part of performing at the Fringe?

Jack: Balancing the joy with the work. It’s a festival, but we’re a new company with a show we really have faith in and we want as many people to see it as possible. 

Matt: It is never fun doing a show with a hangover. 

Anything special you bring from home?

Jack: My pants. Socks I can buy. 

Matt: My dignity, always forget to bring it back though. 

Best hacks to save money?

Jack: Don’t take a show to The Fringe. 

Matt: Don’t ever do a show at the Fringe ever! If you do, then team up with other performers, things like accommodation are then much cheaper. 

Top three items every performer must take?

Jack:

1. Gaffer tape.
   
2. Cable Ties.
   
3. Pass & Calling Card… And Backup gaffer tape. 

Matt: 

1. The Encyclopedia Britannica, I have a copy from 2009 consisting of 30 volumes. 
2. A bookshelf. 
3. A coat.
   

What’s the secret to successful flyering?

Jack: Don’t be weird or desperate. Be bold, and make it personal. Love your show and people will want to see what is to love. 

Matt: People love to hear about what you are doing. Being friendly goes a long way. 

Where can people follow you on social media?

Jack: We’re on Tik Tok, Instagram and Twitter/X at @spymovieplay. Come for the puns, stay for the behind-the-scenes chaos.

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Three words – why should people come and see the show?

Jack: Ambition. Chaos. Joy.

Matt: Shaken, Stirred, Jiggled.  

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