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!

Because

Location:   Studio – theSpaceTriplex (Venue 38)

Dates:  Aug 1st -9th, 11th-23rd

Time: 15:05

Price: £12 Concessions £10

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

Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

My name is Hassan Govia, and I am a London based actor and writer, and ½ of the London based theatre company, Unshaded Arts, which I co-founded with my business partner, Chiedza Rwodzi, who I met while training at Mountview. I am of mixed Caribbean (St. Kitts) and Asian (Pakistani) heritage, and driven artistically by our company mission to shine a light on universal stories driven by marginalised voices. So far, I have self-produced my first three plays with Unshaded Arts – Boujie, Bigot and Because. It wasn’t the plan to have them all start with B, but somehow it just worked out that way!

Tell us all about your show!

Because is a solo show about a thirtysomething British Caribbean male named Jade, who finds out some unexpected news about an old school foe of his – a female also named Jade. The play is structured around him talking to himself, which is his habitual means of grounding himself, but as the narrative progresses, suppressed memories come to the fore, his inner voice to become more provocative and confrontational, and he ultimately begins to spiral into an existential crisis. Think Nouveau Riche’s For Black Boys meets Black Swan.

Deep stuff, I know.

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

Fellow theSpaceUK duo Xhloe and Natasha have made impressive waves at the Fringe as independent artists, and I’m excited to watch their three Fringe First winning shows. 

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. 

No, this my fringe debut on all counts – as a performer, writer, producer and audience member. It’s actually been really useful talking to people who visit the fringe as audience members because it’s given great insight as to what the audience experience is like, and the kinds of things that can help your show to stand out from their perspective. I have a quite a few colleagues from my workplace from Newcastle who go to the fringe almost every year and it’s been great hearing from them, and another colleague used to put on shows as a student, so the first hand perspective has been invaluable.

I think the most important thing I’ve learnt thus far is that it’s never too early to start planning, whether you’re staging a show or coming along to experience the shows. And, believe me, the deadlines creep up on you! It actually pays to be organised – or, rather, being organised can actually save you some money.

Whether it’s registering your show by the early bird deadline, or taking advantage of discounted outdoor advertising space by getting your orders in early, the latter being crucial because they sell out in no time. And even as an audience member, knowing what shows you want to see and how much time you need to get from one venue to another because I understand that can be easily overlooked. I’ve watched some fringe vlogs that document experiences like this, which have been equally educational and entertaining!

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

The unexpected, because, quite frankly, I don’t know what to expect. I’ve heard some amazing things, and I’ve also heard some not so amazing things. I decided to do the fringe this year as I am aching to grow as an artist, and really needed a platform to give my career a boost, candidly speaking.

I’ve worked for several years producing work and acting in shows on the London fringe circuit, and Edinburgh Fringe is the biggest platform I have had to date, which is incredibly exciting. But I am also humbled by the fact that it can feel like a make or break experience. More than anything, I am looking forward to throwing myself in at the deep end, and taking advantage of everything that the experience has to offer.

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

I’m anticipating a perform-eat-sleep-repeat-esque routine, peppered with flyering and trying to experience as many shows as possible. Let’s see how we get on! 

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

Performing. I self-produce to give myself the opportunity to do just that!

What is the hardest part about performing at the Fringe?

Maintaining the stamina to perform at a high level day after day, especially if you have a longer run and are self-producing your show, navigating other responsibilities aside from performing.

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

My laptop. I rely on it more than my phone.

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

Making sure the ‘round up’ function is activated on your banking app so you can bank your spare change every time you spend on your card (especially since I understand that many venues are becoming cashless). Two birds with one stone.

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

I have two definites: fashionably comfortable footwear (for the hours of flyering) and sea moss gel (for the immune system). Struggling for a third but I suppose a portable phone charger wouldn’t be a bad idea. 

what’s the secret to successful flyering? 

Making a genuine connection with your potential audience, and knowing your show well enough to be able to sell it with as few words as possible. Challenge accepted.

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

@unshadedarts on Instagram, TikTok, X and Facebook. We also have a growing YouTube channel.

My personal Instagram is @someguycalledhassan

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

Innovative, honest drama.

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