Fringe 2022: Performer #SNAPCHATZ, Episode 13

The 2022 Edinburgh International Festival Fringe promises to be like nothing we’ve seen in decades, or perhaps ever. The first full staging since pandemic restrictions were lifted, there’s been an overwhelming appetite from performers to get back into the maze of pub function rooms, re-purposed cold stores, and for the select few: fully functioning theatres.

In this series of #SNAPCHATZ, I put 3 questions to artists scheduled to appear this year, and ask you, dear reader, to consider each for your August delectations. These final two episodes are special, bumper editions to maximise coverage for these brave performers before the August madness

Ali Brice: I Tried To Be Funny, But You Weren’t Looking

📍 PBH’s Free Fringe @ Banshee Labyrinth – Chamber Room
📅 Aug 6-28
🕖 4:50pm
🕖 Running time (approx.): 1 hour
👥 Created by: Ali Brice
💰 Pay What You Can
🎂 18+
🎭 Not fully wheelchair accessible

Who are you/what is your show?

Hi, I’m Ali Brice, I am an actor and comedian. My show is called I Tried To Be Funny, But You Weren’t Looking. It’s on at the Banshee Labyrinth on Niddry Street at 4.50pm every day from 6th – 28th August.

What sets your show apart from the rest?

It explores a very personal, very serious subject in a very funny, very silly way. I was in a bad way a few years ago and tried to end it all. Most shows about that would save that detail until the cliched ’40-minute sad bit’ and use it for sympathy, but I get it out within the first 10 minutes and go from there. The show isn’t really about that though, it’s a celebration of getting a second chance to embrace life. It’s a show written for the me of a few years ago. If 2018 Ali had seen this show, I’d like to think he would have made some different decisions.

Your dream audience turns up to see the show, who’s watching?

If just one person sees the show in Edinburgh and feels less alone or goes on to make some changes in their life – no matter how small or seemingly insignificant – that makes them happier, then that will be enough. That will be my dream audience. That, or a guy who came to my show in 2018 who called himself Farkleharsen comes back. He was the best audience member I have ever had. Anyone who was there will tell you how special it was.

Cyclopath

📍 Laughing Horse @ City Cafe – Hollywood
📅 Aug 4-28
🕖 9:35pm
🕖 Running time (approx.): 1 hour
👥 Created by: Dion Owen
💰 Pay What You Can
🎂 16+
🎭 Not fully wheelchair accessible

Who are you/what is your show?

My name is Dion Owen I am a professional Canadian comedian based out of Montreal. I am also an avid cyclist so I combined my two passions to create Cylopath, a comedy tour done mostly via bike. This will be my fourth. First one was across Canada and the other two consisted of gallivanting around Europe. This year’s show is called Cyclopath: Bikes vs Capitalism (spoiler capitalism is winning… handedly…).. The show is material honed from years of performing with an emphasis on my passion for bikes and my unfettered rage against capitalism.

What sets your show apart from the rest?

To snub faux humility I work hard at this and am really coming into my own. Most of the jokes are well crafted (a handful are shit) the show overall has a nice tone and ideally a small message of hope/empowerment. I also have a friendly Canadian accent and look like Jason Momoa.

Your dream audience turns up to see the show, who’s watching?

Well my dad recently died so I would love a chance to see him again. So that above all else! Realistically though I am happy to try and connect with anyone who wants to see a comedy show. Millenials who bike and own nothing are the easiest to connect with because we share a lot of life experiences. Also Ol Russell Brand I’d like to spin a yarn and convince him to join me on a leg of the standup/cycle tour or Andy Zolzman

Foundations

📍 Underbelly, Cowgate – Belly Button
📅 Aug 4-21
🕖 5:20pm
🕖 Running time (approx.): 1 hour
👥 Created by: Wrong Tree Theatre Company and Ultraviolet Productions
💰 From £6.00
🎂 8+
🎭 Not fully wheelchair accessible

tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/foundations(opens in a new tab)

Who are you/what is your show?

We are a company of Durham alumni and emerging theatre makers who are thrilled to be bringing our devised family show Foundations to the Edinburgh Fringe! Foundations tells the story of a disillusioned teenage girl MJ, who stumbles upon an underground world of robots played with puppets. Forming an unlikely friendship with a young robot named Pins, the two characters begin to teach each other about their worlds, blurring the boundaries between human and machine. But as MJ slowly discovers the truth about the sinister being controlling the underground, she realises her life may be far more wrapped up with this world than she first thought… A Pixar movie brought to life onstage using physical theatre and puppetry, this whimsical show will hopefully put questions in your head and a smile on your face.

What sets your show apart from the rest?

Our show is made unique through our two beautiful steampunk hand and rod puppets, made especially for this production. Puppetry is such an underused medium in commercial theatre, as people associate it with slapstick Punch and Judy style children’s shows. However, we have found that, while our puppets are indeed popular with our younger audience members, they also have a wonderful ability to suspend audience disbelief and instantly transport you into the fantastical world of the play. As a company, we have spent hours in rehearsals discovering the unique possibilities of our puppets; how to make them breathe, shrug, and cry; how to bring them to life as distinct characters. Our audiences end up feeling a deeply human connection to these inanimate objects. And this makes the point that technology is ultimately a part of us. Movies often portray the threat of robots overtaking the world, when in reality it is humans who make robots, meaning the things we fear about robots are really things we fear about ourselves. By simultaneously being human and not human, our puppets encourage these discussions in a way that audiences of all ages can enjoy and relate to.

Your dream audience turns up to see the show, who’s watching?

We would love for families to come and see our show, as there is nothing quite like an engaged audience of children laughing and gasping with shock at the right moments! Even if you don’t have children in your group, you can definitely still enjoy our show, as its playfulness and heart-warming story transcends age. And if any tour producers or programmers happen to stop by… our set is easy to transport and we’re raring to go!