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BBC Comedy Writers’ Workshop: An Overview

Yesterday I chummed my other half to a BBC Comedy Writers’ Workshop at Potterow.  I wouldn’t describe myself as a comedy writer per se, but book nine is down as being humour and any help is welcome.  I’m not sure what it will entail – probably pictures of animals with whimsical captions.

It being a rainy Tuesday, the event was only about 2/3 full.  It took place in a tent with a lovely star cloth ceiling which kept getting lighter and dimmer on a constant loop and there were also chandeliers, because the beeb likes to spend our license fee on grandeur.

Unfortunately we arrived right as the names of the panel were being read out, so I don’t know exactly who they all were.  Hopefully this high quality iPhone picture will help you to identify, from left to right: a writer called John who started out by sending a couple of sketches to producers he liked, Caroline who commissions stuff for Radio 4, Sarah Millican, James Cary, Jane who is from some sort of production company, and one of the guys who is in charge of Newsjack.  Continue reading “BBC Comedy Writers’ Workshop: An Overview” →

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When I Met Amanda Palmer

As some readers may know, in another life I am a bit of a freelance journalist.  Not enough of one to be able to give up administrative temping (unless I wanted to live in a shoe somewhere, but that would be ridiculous – where would I plug in my laptop?); but enough that occasionally I get to do interviews.

This being festival time, I managed to secure a couple of pretty cool ones.

Continue reading “When I Met Amanda Palmer” →

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Book Bloggers Unite

Do you like books?  Do you like blogging?  Then why not come to a book blogger meet up as part of the Edinburgh book festival?  Bethany Anderson is here to tell us more…

As Scots, we’re used to being left out. America has it all, and England (or London, anyway) has quite a few. But book blogger events in Scotland? Naw.

Scotland may only be wee, and OK there aren’t millions of us, but that’s no reason that we shouldn’t do something. Since no one else was, I have taken it upon myself to gather together some bookish types in Scotland.

What better place and time than the Edinburgh International Book Festival? On Thursday August 18th, book bloggers are invited to meet just outside Charlotte Square Gardens at 7.30pm (if we meet outside the entrance then we won’t be in everyone’s way).

The idea is to get to know each other – where do you blog? Why? Let’s share hilarious blogger anecdotes – like that one time you read that crap book, or the one time when someone spammed your blog, or that one time (or several) where you got drunk and did x, y, or z. I believe this is also known as socialising.

We can meet, grab a drink, meander round the gardens and pester some fellow bookish buddies. Then, at 9, if the feeling takes us, we can take a peek at the Unbound event or go for a drink elsewhere – whatever out blogger hearts want!

Hopefully, some fun times will be had and some friendships made. At least everyone should have a new blog to look at! Who knows? Maybe we’ll bump into each other more often during the festival!

Bethany Anderson is a writer who blogs about books at http://subtlemelodrama.blogspot.com.  She tweets as @subtlemelodrama.

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Forest Fringe Prepares to Leave Bristo

If you’ve been reading religiously, you will have heard a lot about Edinburgh’s Forest Cafe on the blog over the past couple of weeks.  Apologies to readers who aren’t based here but there is a reason for it; namely that this is likely to be the last time the building is used in the Fringe Festival.  They’re obviously hoping to leave Bristo Place with a bang, so that when they find a new venue it’ll have something amazing to live up to.  Forest volunteer Harry Giles somehow found the time in amongst poetry marathons and readings to write this guest post on what to expect from the Forest’s swansong.

This August is (probably) the Forest Café’s last Festival season in 3 Bristo Place. That makes us sad.

But it hasn’t stopped us programming an amazing month. Forest is a year-round multi-arts centre, with a gallery, gig rooms, spoken word events, library, workshop space, and much else besides. We’re also a free venue: it’s free to put work on here, and free to see it. So when August comes around, with eager, bigger audiences, we use it as a chance to champion what we do the rest of the year – or show off a wee bit – showcasing the fringes of the arts world.  With free and liberated events providing space to the marginalised (or just plain awesome), Forest is a venue  that programmes what commercial venues won’t. Plus we throw some pretty awesome parties.
Continue reading “Forest Fringe Prepares to Leave Bristo” →

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Toto Tales: What we’re doing and why it’s different

In another of my Edinburgh Festival guest posts, Mara from Toto Tales explains why they got involved with the fringe and why adults and children alike will be drawn to their colourful brand of theatre.

Performing in the Fringe is an experience not be missed.  The panic stations, the chaos, the utter joy, the thrill of audiences coming to see your work, and of course the anticipation of reviews…

This year Toto Tales is collaborating for the first time with iTheatre, a Singapore based childrens theatre company.  It’s an exciting time for us all, as there is so much newness to this experience.

Our show Under the Baobab Tree (‘A Must See’ in The Stage yesterday, WOOHOOO!!) is an exciting blend of puppetry, ridiculously interactive storytelling and plenty of music and dancing to keep anyone happy.

Continue reading “Toto Tales: What we’re doing and why it’s different” →

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What I Know About Creating Fringe Shows So Far

Today I have a guest post from blogger and Fest Magazine kids editor Ruth Dawkins on how husband Young Dawkins’ 2011 PBH Free Fringe show, What I Know About Women So Far, has been a definite team effort.

It’s not always easy being married to a poet. Young and I use up a significant number of babysitting credits not on romantic dinners, but on evenings in dingy pubs, where I sit and watch him reading to half a dozen people. He is always shouting ‘that’s a poem’ in the middle of our conversations, and rushing off to scribble down a phrase or idea. And we spend hours trekking around stationery shops looking for just the right notebooks, because no others will do (yellow Levenger – A4 – lined).

I have always consoled myself with the thought that maybe, one day, Young would write a lovely poem about what a wonderful and supportive wife I am.

In some moment of madness, earlier this year, Young agreed to do a solo show as part of the PBH Free Fringe. He may have still been on some crazy, slam-induced adrenaline high after his time at the Poetry World Cup in Paris, or he may have genuinely thought it was a good idea… I will never know.

All I know is that it has taken over our lives for the last couple of months. We had no idea what was involved (and I use ‘we’ intentionally – this has certainly been a joint venture). Doing a ten minutes slot at someone else’s show is one thing; doing a whole hour by yourself is quite another.

Continue reading “What I Know About Creating Fringe Shows So Far” →

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