Today, Daniel Wishes of Book of Shadows talks about the anxiety of bringing a brand new show to the largest arts festival in the world.
Have you ever had a cool idea for a show? An idea that you love so much that you can’t stop thinking about it? An idea that loops in your brain like that weird German song from TikTok? An idea that resonates with you on such a deep and profound level, that the idea becomes the core of your identity? Like you and the idea are one? If so, then the worst possible thing you could do with that idea would be to turn it into a Fringe show and premiere it at the world’s largest theatre festival. Which is, of course, exactly what we decided to do this year.
We have performed at Edinburgh Fringe for the last four years in a row, doing a style of weird cinematic shadow puppetry that is difficult to explain, let alone convince people to see. But we worked hard and eventually began to find an audience over the years by following one simple rule: Bring polished, established shows. Never try untested material.
“Look, everyone at this festival dreams of making a hit show. But not everyone has a cool idea.“
Last year’s festival was our most successful ever. We brought two different shows and for the very first time in Edinburgh, began having sell-out shows. It felt amazing.
Now, remember that cool idea? Let’s say, you just had your best year ever at Fringe and are trying to plan the next one. Would this be the best time to finally make your dream show, or the worst? Will your previous successes help make your dream come true? Or will this new show fail and completely destroy the positive reputation that you have spent years trying to build up? Will every criticism towards the show feel like an attack against your very soul?
Whoa. Hey. Calm down there, friend. Don’t let these anxiety-inducing questions give you 4 a.m. existential panic attacks every night. The truth is that there’s no other way to find out the answers than by trying it. And lucky for you, we’re doing just that, so that you don’t have to. All you need to do is sit safely on the sidelines with your popcorn bucket and watch the show.
Just to clarify, when I said “watch the show” just now, I meant it as a metaphor to mean, observe the results of this huge risk we’re taking. But I also want to say without any metaphor, please actually watch our show! I am literally begging you.
“We brought two different shows and for the very first time in Edinburgh, began having sell-out shows. It felt amazing.“
Look, everyone at this festival dreams of making a hit show. But not everyone has a cool idea. Lots of folks do Shakespeare or improv. And that’s totally fine. I mean no disrespect. But a cool idea is like a wrapped-up piece of chocolate that you find randomly lying on the ground. It might be totally fine to pick up and eat, but you’re probably not going to want to risk it. However, if you see someone else pick up that chocolate and begin shoving it into their mouth, are you really going to turn away and not watch what happens?
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