A modern-day twist on Ibsen; Hedda is bored. She spends her days manipulating the people in her house, hiding behind the lenses of her CCTV cameras and a facade of decency.
The arrival of her ex-lover ignites flames of passion and destruction, unravelling her true desires. He’s got a woman under his arm, money in his pockets and a plan to change the future. Time without Hedda seems to have only done him good.
An invitation into the decadent world of a newly married woman, engulfed in a competitive, high-tech and male-dominated environment. Between Campari shots and lines of Cocaine, she embarks on a mission of destruction.
Hedda
Wonderlabs
Theatre (drama, modern)
Venue 236 – Greenside @Infirmary Street – Forest Theatre
A brand new scheme to support artists at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
theSpaceuk Supported Artists Programme is a brand new scheme to support new companies and new work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The programme provides artists with the space and skills needed to turn their creative new ideas into a reality. theSpaceUK looks to support work for all audiences across a spectrum of arts representing the vibrant and diverse community that is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The Supported Artists Programme provides bespoke support for artists/companies based on their individual needs to cultivate, catalyse and develop innovative new productions. This year, theSpaceUK offered a programme of support for three artists, all at early stages of their careers.
Each artist was given tailored support – and each brought their work to the festival to develop audiences and work on their show.
There was emotional drama from Helena Fox and Ella Pound, an exploration of love and sex spun out in slam from Sarah Richardson and a dark comedy musical experience from Slap ‘N’ Tickle Theatre Company.
Blue & Pip
Blue is sick. The doctors aren’t listening. And the sea is making the illness worse.
1.5 million people in the UK suffer from endometriosis, a long-term and potentially debilitating womb condition. It takes sufferers on average 8 years to be diagnosed, with misdiagnosis common and testimonies often dismissed by medical professionals. Blue & Pip brings these experiences, so rarely depicted or discussed, to the fore.
A new piece from writer, performer, and drag artist Helena Fox, the creator and co-writer of five-star, award winning Edinburgh Fringe musical Rust, which was shortlisted for Best Musical at the Edinburgh Fringe 2019 by Broadway World and Musical Theatre Review.
Ella Pound, part of the team behind Edinburgh Fringe musical On Your Bike, which won the Musical Theatre Review’s Best Musical Award 2021, and Penn Balint, who successfully directed new-writing piece Attrition at the National Student Drama Festival in 2022.
Previous praise for Helena Fox ★★★★★ ‘Close to flawless’ Musical Theatre Review
GirlPlay
GirlPlay is an exploration of love and sex spun out in slam.
After sold-out previews in both Dublin and London and an international tour as an audio play, award-winning playwright and performer Sarah Richardson makes her Fringe debut with GirlPlay. We follow the story of one woman’s ever-changing relationship with her body and sex.
This contemporary piece of theatre was created in response to the historic Repeal-the-8th referendum in Ireland, premiering as part of Dublin Fringe Festival, 2019. Richardson’s debut full-length play was adapted into an audio play and toured to digital festivals in 2020 and 2021 including Stockholm Fringe Festival, Online@theSpaceUK and Galway Theatre Festival. GirlPlay had sold-out in-person previews at Camden People’s Theatre in October 2021.
★★★★ ‘Littered with firsts – and thirst’ The Stage (audio version)
Spit Me Out
A saucy, song-filled, slapstick evening but looks can be deceiving …
Spit Me Out weaves original songs, movement and slapstick comedy through naturalistic scenes. Spit Me Out, looks at the boundaries between sex and violence and how they have influenced the female sexual experience. It addresses the crisis of sexual violence against women and challenges why it happens.
Slap ‘N’ Tickle is an award-winning theatre company formed in 2020 by East 15 Acting School alumni. The company has a vision to empower and explore the female narrative.
★★★★ ‘The cast of ‘Spit Me Out’ have created something timely, important and quite special’ Voice Magazine
WINNERS ‘Spirit of The Space UK’s Online Fringe Award 2021’
Charles Pamment, Artistic Director of theSpaceUK, said ““Since 2015 we have supported new writing by making it possible for work to come to the festival that would not have been affordable otherwise.
“When the festival was cancelled in 2020 and we received some art council funding we immediately ring fenced funds to assist in bringing supported work to the live platform as soon as it was possible.
“The whole existence of EdFringe relies on participation, performers are the oxygen and crucial is that we embrace any opportunity to make it easier and more affordable for creatives to bring their work.
“We are proud to be pioneer this level of support for artists”.
Granhøj Dans has announced some changes to its schedule of shows as part of this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. An Eve And An Adam will now run at Dance Base until August 21 at the new time of 20.30.
This timeslot was formerly where the production of This is Not Swan Lake had run but this show has finished its run early and was taken down from August 10, due to travel problems with one of the artists.
Members of the public who have tickets for This is Not Swan Lakewill be contacted by the box office and offered a full refund or tickets for an alternative show.
STONE – FACE – BOOK
This solo performance with award-winning dancer Mikolaj Karczewski is a personal portrait made in collaboration with the obstruction master Palle Granhøj. Drawing on his father’s background as a miner, Mikolaj uses whimsical choreography to breathe life into the stones, finding music in them and from that music, dance arises. Stone – Face – Book is produced in close collaboration with PlatformaFestival in Klaipeda.
“An outstanding stage fantasy with the incredible high-flying acrobatic dancer MikolajKarczewskialone on stage among the collection of gray stones of memories.” Danstidningen
A beautiful, profoundly naked performance presented as nature intended. This is a performance celebrating the pure, authentic, original beauty of nudity – as a contrast to the versions given to us by social media. Increasingly we see uncovered bodies readily exposed all over social media. All kinds of pornography are easily available and widely consumed. Modesty no longer exists when it comes to the naked body in virtual culture, yet young people feel shamed by natural nudity. In this provocative show, Palle Granhøj asks: ‘what has happened to our relationship to our natural nudity?’
An intense and high energy experience featuring 8 musicians and 9 dancers, on stage live at the beautiful Dance Base
Boléro was written in 1928 as ballet music and the work is one of Ravel’s last and most famous. PalleGranhøj has transferred the music’s intensifying signature to a deconstructed version – and finally in its full length. The intensity of the melody and dancers increases throughout BOLERO – EXTENDED, giving it a powerful, uplifting, trance-like quality in a unique and iconic performance with nine dancers and eight cellists live onstage.
★★★★★ “A captivating performance that leaves the audience euphoric” Cphculture
“a dizzying experience” Danstidningen
Age suitability 12+
Dance Base Studio One
Aug 23-25 19:00 (1h) £16.00 (£14.00/£10.00) Aug 26-28 19:00 (1h) £18.00 (£16.00/£10.00)
The Granhøj works are part of the #DANISH showcase at Edinburgh Fringe 2022 presented by The Danish Arts Foundation and produced by WILDTOPIA. The showcase is supported by The Embassy of Denmark in the UK.
WAS THE PLEASANCE RIGHT TO CANCEL SECOND SADOWICZ SHOW?
THE ROW over the cancellation of Jerry Sadowwitz’s show at the EICC shows no sign of abating.
The Pleasance axed the controversial comedian’s second show at the venue following ‘an unprecedented number of complaints’. Pleasance chose not to go into further detail about the nature of the complaints following the cancellation of Saturday’s show.
However in a further statement yesterday, The Pleasance said: “We became immediately aware of content that was considered, among other things, extreme in its racism, sexism, homophobia and misogyny.
“We will not associate with content which attacks people’s dignity and the language used on stage was, in our view, completely unacceptable.
“We received an unprecedented number of complaints that could not be ignored and we had a duty to respond.”
Late last night Sadowicz, a veteran of the Edinburgh Fringe, tweeted:
It seems incredible that any Scottish venue would be unaware of the controversial nature of Jerry Sadowitz’s humour – it’s not as if he’s some unknown new kid on the block!
If Jerry Sadowitz’s brand of humour ‘does not align with the Pleasance values’ why book him in the first place?
You will never cross the street in the same way again!
DON GNU digs into the tediousness of everyday routines in search of poetry and humour in a performance with muscular physicality and edgy stunt tricks.
One ordinary day, four ordinary men take a walk through a city. They readily follow unwritten and strict rules of good behaviour and norms of social etiquette until one of them suddenly decides to rebel …
With trademark DON GNU “everyday stunts” and raw physicality, WALK-MAN is a performance in which the ground is literally swept away from under the feet of four men walking. In a world where rules, norms and routines no longer apply, a pedestrian is not simply a person crossing the street and common understanding of “good behaviour” falls apart. You will never cross the street in the same way again!
WALK-MAN is the first performance of a trilogy about the extraordinary experiences of ordinary life.
DON GNU guarantees physical action theatre and dance combined in a playful and poetic man-power universe!
The company was founded in 2010 by the two choreographers Jannik Elkær and Kristoffer Louis Andrup Pedersen, who also constitute the artistic duo at the helm of DON GNU. Today the company is one of the most touring companies in Denmark.
In addition to extensive tour activities in Denmark, DON GNU has also toured in all the Nordic Countries, South Korea, Canada, big parts of Europe and Cuba.
Enjoy the 75th Edinburgh Festival Fringe by experiencing a variety of incredible shows and sampling the delicious food on offer at some exciting venues around the city.
From breakfast to lunch all the way to dinner, with a pitstop for a delicious snack and tipple or two on the way, here is a full itinerary for the perfect foodie day at the Fringe, courtesy of Edinburgh University Students’ Association’s (EUSA) unique city venues.
Breakfast
Begin your day bright and early and head out to catch an early bird show. The glorious Gilded Balloon at Teviot, located in the heart of the fringe, is the perfect venue for a morning performance.
Why not grab a coffee and a light breakfast at Linton&Co? Then head to the Gilded Balloon’s Garden which is completely sheltered and the perfect place to sit at to shelter from the famous Scottish rain. Enjoy your delicious breakfast while flicking through the Fringe magazine and choose your shows for the day.
Lunch
During the fringe visitors will be spoilt for choice with delicious lunch options. If you don’t want to venture too far from the Gilded Balloon at Teviot, then head to nearby Charles Street and enjoy a delicious Bross Bagel or try the best macaroni cheese on offer in Edinburgh at Mac Love. If you are looking for a lunch option that is perfect for both meat lovers and veggies, then look no further than the Screaming Peacock, where you can enjoy a mouth-watering selection of meaty and veggie burgers.
If you’re heading to watch a show at Potterrow Plaza, maybe you’re braving the two new interactive simulation performances installed by the Pleasance Theatre Trust? The perfect post-show lunch stop is Mint Falafel to pick up some delicious flatbread wraps for lunch.
Snacks
If the mid-afternoon hunger hits, head on over to Chunks Ice Cream on Charles Street outside the Gilded Balloon. The best place to satisfy any sweet tooth with yummy churros, ice cream and coffee, from the team behind one of Scotland’s most successful street food vans, Crema Caravan.
Dinner
After a full day at the fringe enjoy bite to eat before heading for a late-night show. Choose between a large selection of options including Edinburgh favourite Pizza Geeks, located at The Pleasance Courtyard, and sample some of the capital’s best pizza on offer. If you’re in the mood for pasta try a dish from the Barnacles & Bones delicious pasta menu, also found at The Pleasance Courtyard.
Luxford Burgers (which was founded by an Edinburgh University student) is also on hand to serve up the freshest, delicious burgers.
Drinks
Grab a lovely refreshment on your way to the show and choose between a selection of drinks from Scottish-based Stewart Brewing or Sea Change Prosecco, as well as Coors, Prahva, Carling, Staropramen, Guinness, Rekorderlig ciders, Johnnie Walker, Gordon’s Gin and Fever Tree, all found at Gilded Balloon, Pleasance Dome and The Pleasance Courtyard.
To get the latest news from EUSA’s venues, follow:
Stand-up comic Anu Vaidyanathan used to be an international triathlete, who became a mum and then she was history.
BC:AD (Before Children, After Diapers) is an invitation to anyone that finds themselves slightly overdrawn, mostly obscure and definitely needing the sound of another voice to reason with their own challenges.
In her debut standup hour, Anu paints a peripatetic picture of a comedian, filmmaker and sometime engineer who loves endurance sports, including parenting.
From the equatorial latitudes of Madras, India to the glacial confines of Munich, Germany, the throughline of BC:AD is anything but a line. It resembles a cooked thread of spaghetti. Or string cheese past its due date, with enough twists and turns to make the most ambitious wedgie, jealous.
If before children, Anu was considered unique for being one of few women to race triathlons, after diapers she finds herself being the least common multiple. A mum. And that might be something to write home about.
Anu Vaidyanathan is a filmmaker, comedian and engineer whose memoir Anywhere But Home was long-listed for the Mumbai Film Festival’s word-to-screen market in 2016. Her feature scripts have found themselves at the final rounds at Sundance and Rotterdam.
As a comedian, she has gigged across greater Europe and London and has trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and Ecole Philippe Gaulier in France.
Introducing Scary Biscuits’ music season at Pleasance at EICC.
Some of Edinburgh’s best musicians showcasing at state of the art venue EICC – great sound, comfy seats… and air con! (And an ice cream stand and deckchairs for chilling out after!)
A genre-busting bunch of tunes, songs and performers: award winning singer songwriters, folk, rootsy blues rock, insurgent country, punk, Afrobeats, americana and a hint of mariachi.
Dive into a world of music and stories with a diverse group of performers, with a wide range of ages and experience, including two female fronted bands.
Be transported for a short while into a world of Scottish folk, a backstreet rock joint with a hint of Memphis, a west African Friday night party, or a New Mexico cantina with a whiff of tequila and desert dust.
The Half Price Hut is a great place to discover something new at the Fringe, by trying a show that starts that day (or the next morning) for half the usual price.
This year’s Half Price Hut offers are located in the Fringe Box Office (180 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1QS) from 10:00 till 18:00, Monday to Sunday – and, to make things a little easier, we’ve made the daily Half Price Hut listings available on our website so you can see what’s on before heading into town.
Be quick though, as ticket allocations are limited – once they’re gone, they’re gone!
All Half Price Hut purchases have to be made in person – and remember to say the words “Half Price Hut” to make sure you get the discount!
The weather forecast is pretty toasty over the next few days (by Edinburgh standards, at least!) so remember to wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water.
Our access tickets service is available to help anyone with an access requirement make the most of the Fringe – if this could be of use to someone you know, please feel free to pass it on.
Drop in on the street events taster stage at Cathedral Square to enjoy free outdoor snippets of full-length Fringe shows –you can find the daily street events line-up on edfringe.com.
