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!

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Madame Chandelier’s Grand Theft Opera

Location:   The Green at Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33)

Dates:  Aug 5th -16th

Time: 12:15

Price: £13 Concessions £10

Ticket Link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/madame-chandelier-s-grand-theft-opera

Hello! Tell us all about your show!

Hello! Madame Chandelier’s Grand Theft Opera is a family show that reimagines The Magic Flute as a video game. It’s like Mozart meets Mario Kart meets Monty Python, and then they need Carmen, Tosca and Madame Butterfly to help save the day. It has opera, jokes, snazzy costumes, audience participation, and an excessive amount of rogue projectiles.  

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

Comedy Club 4 Kids, Showstopper!, and Police Cops are some of my Fringe favourites.

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 fifth show, and I am so excited. Remember, it’s a huge achievement just making and taking a show to the world’s biggest arts festival! There were 2.6 million tickets sold last year, and almost 4000 shows were registered. The Fringe is its own immense, intense, incredible bubble and every success feels really important and every failure feels like an absolute catastrophe. But remember, there are tons of crazy things going on in the world right now, and we are so incredibly lucky to be spending an entire month just making and watching ART! What a joy! What a privilege! Also, can someone please remind me I said this when I am crying over my jacket potato on the Royal Mile because I haven’t sold any tickets? 

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

My show is at 12:15pm, which is basically the crack of dawn in Fringe time. I wake up (early) and because it’s an opera show, I do a vocal warm-up (sorry, other people in my student accommodation!)

Normally I would flyer before a show, but no one is around at 11:00am, so I perform the show and then while I’m still in costume, and slightly sweaty, I hand out flyers to attract the next day’s audience. The beauty of an early show is you have the whole day to support other people’s work, so I spend the rest of the day watching shows. Lots of people will do extra spots on compilation shows, or network at parties and bars, but I am obsessed with sleep, vocal rest, and hydration, so I don’t do any of that. Did I mention hydration? I drink so much water. 

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

Is it bad if I say I love the food trucks? I am obsessed with the samosa chat at the Jingle Bus and the buttermilk fried chicken burgers. And who doesn’t love a bit of mac and cheese? 

Best thing about performing at the Fringe?

The Fringe is like summer camp for grown-ups! (I think. I didn’t actually go to summer camp.) But I’m assuming it’s basically the same. It’s like a holiday but you’re working super hard, and you’re over-stimulated because of all the new experiences, you can eat as much ice cream as you want and no one is going to stop you.

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

I started doing the Fringe when my kids were 5 and 7, and every year they make me cards or posters which I put up in my cramped student accommodation. My daughter always does an intricate, beautiful drawing, and my son always writes encouraging messages like, “it’s hard to do a Fringe show…. don’t give up,” and decorates it with poo emojis. 

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

Go to the Free Fringe! You can see some amazing stuff there. And shop in the reduced aisle at Tesco. Yesterday’s expired mango is today’s bargain breakfast! 

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

MadameChandelierOpera on Instagram and TikTok

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

Fun! For! Everyone! 

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