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!
Tale of the Firebird
Location: Central at Assembly Roxy (Venue 139)
Dates: Aug 6th-16th, 18th-23rd, 25th-30th
Time: 18:15
Price: £16.50
Ticket Link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/tale-of-the-firebird-concerto-for-violin-fire-acrobatic-orchestra
Hello! Tell us all about your show!
Tale of the Firebird reimagines a virtuosic violin concerto as a fully embodied theatrical experience – there’s lots happening! It was composed by my long-time collaborator Chloé Charody specifically for The Freestyle Orchestra, an ensemble with a defining twist: each musician is also a highly skilled circus artist – often performing both disciplines at once.
With a compelling musical landscape, the show blends live instrumental performance with aerial arts, dynamic group acrobatics with instruments, fire eating and fire spinning, contemporary dance, physical theatre, and aerial harp – yes you’ll probably see things you never thought musicians would do. For us, these disciplines are all intrinsic elements of the score.
Suited to audiences of all ages and backgrounds, it unfolds as a vivid, fairytale-like, deconstructed narrative tracing the legend of the Phoenix, the mythical creature with the ability to be reborn through flame (appropriate for this interview!). Looking deeper, the story of resilience and renewal speaks to urgent global realities and to the enduring power of one of humanity’s greatest weapons against oppression: hope.
What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe?
So many amazing artists! Looking forward to catching up with mates from Gravity & Other Myths, YUCK Circus and One Fell Swoop. Circumstances and the France Showcase of °Up: Violin vs Football look intriguing! We’re also looking forward to getting along to a trad session or two, and remaining open to where the post-show nights take us.
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.
Yes I did a part-run at the Fringe in 2024 with a smaller-scale show, LIMBO: Sonata for Acrobatic Violinist & Acrobat (also featuring music by Chloé Charody), but this is our first time with The Freestyle Orchestra bringing a production of this scale with 12 artists.
There’s not really a single way to do Fringe, with so many variables like show size, genre, aims etc! For me, helpful things this time were early planning in regards to venue, funding applications and budgeting, getting advice from people we trust, and being clear about why we want to do Fringe and what the goals are. Still, I’m definitely learning a lot – which is also great.
I’ve never organised a wedding, but I imagine planning a full Fringe season is probably pretty similar! For a large part of the year expect seemingly endless decisions, differing opinions, a stream of deadlines, extra offers, upgrades, people telling you things you “absolutely must have” – if you’re a bit of an overthinker like me it can be hard to know sometimes! I often remind myself – hey, if these are my toughest decisions today, then I’m incredibly fortunate compared to a lot of people in the world.
By the time you actually get to Edinburgh – that’s the fun part. It is intense and amazing. I think the key things are to pace yourself, make sure to get enough rest and recharge time, take as many opportunities as you can and enjoy it!
Talk us through your daily routine for a day at the Fringe
First – coffee. Then eventually warming up to the breakfast of champions – Vegemite in any and all forms – before going out and flyering in a couple of strategic locations and potentially catching a show. Warmups and prep for our show starts around 2hrs before heading over to the venue for setup – this year we’re on at 6:15pm at the wonderful Assembly Roxy Central which is pretty sweet! We’ll do a line & rigging check, run a couple of skills on stage, preset and go time. Post-show packup/cooldown, high-five Assembly’s amazing techs, chat with the audience a little, snacks and then see how the energy feels – maybe a little more flyering or kicking back and checking out some comedy or late-night cabaret.
Ok, where is your favourite place to eat at the Fringe?
I’m not a huge foodie myself, so I’d have to say my favourite place is on stage – eating fire
I did ask around the group though and got Edinburgh Street food for variety, the fries at Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips and Yamato for an occasion. Also Tuk Tuk Indian right near our venue (Assembly Roxy) has a house Masala Cola that is special!!
Best thing about performing at the fringe?
The audiences hands down, and the Edinburgh vibe!
Do you bring anything special from home to make it feel more special whilst you are away?
Vegemite
What are your best hacks to save money whilst at the Fringe?
Having access to a kitchen, the ability to make coffee and packing snacks will go a long way!
If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefreestyleorchestra
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freestyleorchestra
Welcome to The Phoenix Remix 
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