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!
A Foot is Not an Appropriate Prize for the Tombola
Location: Attic at Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33)
Dates: Aug 5th-16th, 18th- 31st
Time: 15:20
Price: £13 Concessions £12
Ticket Link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/a-foot-is-not-an-appropriate-prize-for-the-tombola
Hello! Tell us all about your show!
My show is a camp collision of cosy crime and cosmic horror where a severed foot is found in one of the prizes on my character Lydia’s tombola stall. Lydia, as indomitable as ever, is determined to not let this discovery ruin the village fete and decides to try her hand at solving the mystery. The show is fun and interactive, with audience members becoming the suspects and other eccentric characters from the village and I’m unbelievably excited to be getting it in front of an Edinburgh audience!
What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe?
There are a number of people whose work I love who are bringing new shows that I can’t wait to see, like the always amazing Awkward Productions and Bróccán Tyzack-Carlin. But most of all I’m excited to see work by creatives I haven’t seen before, I think that’s the real magic of the fringe, the unexpected shows you see on a whim that absolutely blow you away. And this year I’m particularly on the lookout for camp shows that centre queer joy and solo shows that really push the boundaries of what can be shown on stage with just one performer.
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 time going to the fringe as a professional but I did come up as a student many years ago and one of the things I’ve heard lots of times from people who do the fringe every year, and something I remember from going as a student, is the importance of making sure you give yourself some time to do things that are not fringe-related. Edinburgh is a beautiful city and whilst I am so excited to see as many shows as I can I’m definitely going to carve out some time to climb Arthur’s Seat again and try and visit a few of the museums and galleries around the city that I haven’t yet visited.
If this is your first time – what are you looking forward to?
Going to the fringe this time will be very different than when I went as a student and I really can’t wait to make the most of being in a city that’s absolutely full to the brim of some of the world’s most exciting theatre and creatives. I really want to meet people, talk about theatre, and engage directly with my audiences, and there’s no better place to do that than the Edinburgh Festival Fringe!
Talk us through your daily routine for a day at the Fringe
As this is my first time as a professional artist I’m really keen to start the Fringe as I mean to go on and start a routine as early on in the run as I can. I want to make sure I get up at a reasonable time, and don’t give into lie-ins too early in the month, and kick off the day with a nice breakfast, which I’m not always good at doing, probably something like granola, with fruit and yoghurt. After that I’ll head out, maybe to catch one of the amazing family shows that are on in the morning and then get into costume and do some flyering for the show. Doing a solo show anywhere, but particularly somewhere as relentlessly busy as the Fringe, can be quite isolating, so one of my aims, and something I’m definitely going to work into my daily routine, is to meet up with a friend, new or old, every single day. And ultimately after my show, I’ve still got the whole evening to catch shows, meet up with people, and generally enjoy the fringe atmosphere.
Ok, where is your favourite place to eat at the Fringe?
It’s been a few years since I’ve been up so lots has changed but one thing I do remember is that there was a poutine truck by George Square, so I’m very much hoping that’s going to be there. I love poutine.
Best thing about performing at the fringe?
It is a place like no other, a pressure cooker crammed with some of the most exciting up and coming and established creatives. The absolute best thing about the fringe is the ability to see shows and creatives before they become well-known. The people you meet and the shows you see might be the next big thing. And whilst that can make it a very intense place, it’s just so amazing to be surrounded by so many people with exactly the same aim, to put on a great show.
Do you bring anything special from home to make it feel more special whilst you are away?
One thing I always make sure to bring with me, whether I’m away for a weekend, or a full month like the fringe, is too many books. I love books, particularly old yellowing paperbacks, and I love reading. My room at home is full of books, so in order to feel a little more at home, I always pack more books than I could read to put in a pile on the bedside table. Whether I will read all or any of the books depends on a whole host of things but I am in a really good rhythm with reading at the moment; this year I’ve already read a load including all of the Miss Marple books. Unsurprisingly I’m pretty deep into the small village murder mysteries so I imagine I’ll definitely pack and read a few of those during the fringe.
What are your best hacks to save money whilst at the Fringe?
The Fringe can undoubtedly be incredibly expensive but I have got a few plans to try and save a bit of money. I need to make sure I’m not eating out too much so I’ll be doing meal prep and packing a lunch everyday. I’ll be keeping an eye out for discounted show tickets and making the most of the first couple of preview days where ticket prices are reduced. When I came up as a student I gave up alcohol for the year leading up to the festival so I could afford it, so whilst I’m not being quite as strict with myself this year I will be sticking predominantly to soft drinks for most of the fringe. Finally I’m going to be putting a hard limit on the number of play texts I can buy, because that is definitely a way that I could easily spend far too much money!
If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?
The best way to find out more, and follow my journey to Edinburgh, would be on Instagram, where you can find me at @danmcvey1
And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show?
You should come and see A Foot is Not an Appropriate Prize for the Tombola because it is camp, irreverent and bizarre. And most importantly, it’s going to be a whole lot of fun!
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