I Love the Fringe
Eric Koller as Fool Koller. a show not to be missed at the Hill Street, Theatre, 19 Hill Street, Edinburgh
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The Hill Street Theatre
19 Hill Street, Edinburgh Tel: 0131 226 0026
venue 41 - grid ref D3 -
A venue dedicated to Quality... Telegraph
www.universal-arts.com
A cut above average....Scotsman
At the Hill Street Theatre one can be assured that every show you see there will be a great entertaining performance, that should not be missed while visiting the Edinburgh Fringe....USA Weekly News
The Hill Street Theatre has been magically created from an historic Masonic Lodge in the heart of Georgian Edinburgh. This award-winning theatre celebrates
19 years of popular drama.
Fool Koller-ERIC KOLLER
Mr Bean on acid..
Holland's most famous Mr Bean
g that it is hard to find words to describe it....a show that you would regret for ever in not making the effort to see.....USA Weekly News
World famous rubber limbed comic genius ERIC KOLLER from Holand, springs into the UK for the very first time...this guy did not use a plane, train or boat to get across the English Channel from Holland.. he just sprung his way to the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. ERIC KOLLER is his definate explosion of his unique cartoon-like comedy and dry humour. A visual tour-deforce,
Imagine Mr Bean on acid..
www.erickoller.nl
www.myspace.com/erickoller
dates: 1-25 August ( not 13 August)
Time: 22.45 (23.45)
For Tickets: www.edfringe.com Tel: 0131 226 000
Venue: 0131 226 6522
Now Is The Hour
It's set entirely in a lifeboat after a torpedo incident in WWII. An epic true story. Torpedoed by a Uboat and marooned in alifeboat, a handful and survivors endure physical an dmental torture, their lives poised between the elements and persistance of hope.
Presented by Crossroads Theatre:
19 Hill Street, Edinburgh. Tel: 0131 510 0022
Preview: August 1-12, 14-19, 21-25. 16:05 Price:5
August 3-12, 14-19, 21-25 16:05 Price: 11(9)
Time:1hr 10 mins
Lindsay Michie's Fringe Shows Have Talent
had a great successful night in the 3rd of August, 2008 at the Base Entertainment Venue, 69 Cowgate, Edinburgh with over 100 Fringe acts performing and having their 10 minute Taster Fringe previews promotional clips filmed.
EdinburghFringeFest.com has now heard that the Fringe Shows Have Talent Team and the USA Weekly News
have been spending a few days reviewing and
filing shows at
The Hill Street Theatre
19 Hill Street, Edinburgh Tel: 0131 226 0026
venue 41 - grid ref D3 -
A venue dedicated to Quality... Telegraph
www.universal-arts.com
A cut above average....Scotsman
At the Hill Street Theatre one can be assured that every show you see there will be a great entertaining performance, that should not be missed while visiting the Edinburgh Fringe....USA Weekly News
The Hill Street Theatre has been magically created from an historic Masonic Lodge in the heart of Georgian Edinburgh. This award-winning theatre celebrates 19 years of popular drama.
Children's Shows
Aesop The Storyteller
Comedy
Fool Koller-ERIC KOLLER
Mr Bean on acid..
This is a show that is so amazing that it is hard to find words to describe it....a show that you would regret for ever in not making the effort to see.....USA Weekly News
World famous rubber limbed comic genius ERIC KOLLER from Holand, springs into the UK for the very first time...this guy did not use a plane, train or boat to get across the English Channel from Holland.. he just sprung his way to the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. ERIC KOLLER is his definate explosion of his unique cartoon-like comedy and dry humour. a visual tour-deforce,
imagine Mr Bean on acid..
www.erickoller.nl
www.myspace.com/erickoller
dates: 1-25 August ( not 13 August)
Time: 22.45 (23.45)
For Tickets: www.edfringe.com
Tel: 0131 226 000
Venue: 0131 226 6522
Dance & Physical Theatre
Mime for Laughs
Musical & Opera
Anna Skubik and Marlina Dietrich in Broken Nails and
also a as guest artists in Morgan Carberry's Striking Gold, their both shows have received an over five star rating from the USA Weekly News and are on the short list to receive a 100 Star USA Weekly News Award on the 24th August, 2008 to be presented on the 24th August, 2008 at at ClubWest- home of the Invasion Festival. The Invasion Festival is an exciting new International Festival which has been launched by the well known London Theatre producer Kevin Williams with the support of Tartin Silk being the main sponsors of the Invasion Festival held each year at ClubWert Venue, Quincentury Hall, Royal College of Surgeons, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DA. www.invasianfestival.com
Striking Gold
Caberet performer
Morgan Carberry
You will know you have struck gold when you see Morgan's show with her special guest stars
Anna Skubik and Marlina Dietrich
A perefct way to end your Festival Day!!!!
Morgan Canberry returns tot he Fringe for her solo debut, following outstanding reviews in 2005
takes you from California to Broadway to Europe's golden decadence!!!!
A caberet sparkling with golden classics
from Garland, Sinatra, Piaf, Dietrich, and more...
You will strike gold for sure when you see this stunning multi talented artist single-play and dance the night away..you will hbe left wnating much much much more....USA Weekly News
Theatre
Anotyher Kind of Silence
Baldanders
Broken Nails
Chekhov's Clown
...Etcetra...
Friday Kahlo:Viva La Vida
Now Is the Hour
One Day I'll Go to Compostela
Real Humane Person Who Cares and All That, A
Red Peppers
Up the Republic!
Up The Republicby Max McGuiness
Fireworks, Fascism and Leather pants....
9.30 pm August 1st-25th ( Not the 13th)
www.uptherepublic.org - www.universal-arts.co.uk
Contrarian Theatrical Productions presents
Up the Republic!
A new play by Max McGuinnessAugust 1st ? 25th 2008 at 9:30pm
Hill Street Theatre
A Universal Arts Venue
(Fringe Venue 41)
Previewing at the King's Head Theatre, London, for one night only: Saturday July 26th, 9:15pm. Tickets on 0844 412 2953 or at www.seetickets.com
?Max McGuinness has cleverly caught the jittery context and atmosphere that encircle the City of Light and challenge the Enlightenment itself.?
Christopher Hitchens
Presented by SOLD productions on behalf of Contrarian Theatrical Productions
(not suitable for Communists)
The Play
Facism, fireworks and leather pants.
Up the Republic! is the playwriting debut from acclaimed Irish journalist Max McGuinness, centred around a bitter mayoral election campaign in Paris fought between two former lovers. Workshopped for a week at the Burton-Taylor Studio in Oxford to sell-out audiences and critical acclaim, the script has been developed over the past twelve months into a blend of comedy, politics and frivolity best suited to the Edinburgh Fringe.
Up the Republic! runs at 9:30pm from August 1st - 25th at Hill Street Theatre, Edinburgh, previewing at the King's Head Theatre, London, at 9:15pm on Saturday July 26th for one night only.
Directed by Max McGuinness, the show features Nicholas Bishop (BBC's Hustle) as Georges Duclos and Lola Peploe (The Queen, Hustle) as Brigitte Papon, with Eileen Cooney as Nathalie and Ben Upson as Charles.
The play draws on the tradition of classical French farce, adopting its defining compositional feature, the rhyming couplet, as a means of setting up gags and producing the atmosphere of surreal lunacy which successful comedy requires. This makes for an extremely innovative work of theatre which combines an irreverent treatment of ideas with a playful approach to language and staging. You will not, we confidently predict, have seen the like of it. The play s French setting will inform the audience about another culture (admittedly subject to egregious distortion), though local parallels will be easy to find. The audience will also be challenged by the politics of Up The Republic! For, notwithstanding its principal concern for comedy, the play is a riposte to moral relativism and a defence of the inherent superiority of liberal values. Its enough to make Lenin spin in his tomb.
The Crew
I don't suppose, Charles, that you found any smoking guns, Beneath their unprepossessing buns? Georges
The Actors:
Nick Bishop George Duclos/ Nicolas Sarkozy
Nick Studied English at Oxford University where credits included McMurphy in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and Hoederer in Crime Passionnel at the Oxford Playhouse as well as 'Bottom' in the Oxford University Dramatic Society's touring production of A Midsummer Night's Dream to Japan. Following Up The Republic!, he will appear in Love's Labour Lost at the Rose Theatre, Kingston, directed by Sir Peter Hall.
Lola Peploe Brigitte Papon
Lola Studied modern languages at Oxford University and trained at The Drama Centre in London. Theatre credits include Cymbeline (Cheek By Jowl). Film work includes The Queen and Bernado Bertolicci's The Dreamers. Television includes The Shell Seekers(ITV) and Hustle.
Eileen Cooney Nathalie Weil
Eileen studied at Brava in Paris and at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin. Theatre credits include Julia in 1984 (The Photographic, New York), Banquo in Macbeth (Academy Theatre, New York) and '2' in the UK and Ireland premier of Priory Productions' Nine. Film includes Say That You Love Me (Dina Jacobsen), New Orleans Mon Amour (Michael Almereyda) and Lost and Found (Erica Dunton).
Ben Upson Charles Dupont/ TV Cameraman
Ben trained at the Webber Douglas Academy where his roles included The Bridegroom in Lorca's Blood Wedding and Gloucester in Richard III. Since Leaving drama school he has worker on many short films and commercials.
The Artistic Team:
Max McGuinness Playwright & Director
Max McGuinness is an author, playwright and journalist, whose work was shortlisted for the 2005 Francis MacManus Short Story Competition. He is a columnist and blogger for The Dubliner magazine, book reviewer for The Irish Times, and has worked as a foreign correspondent in Africa. His directing credits before Up the Republic! include The Gigli Concert at the Moser Theatre, Oxford; acting credits include The Weir at the BT and Six Characters Looking for an Author at Oxford Playhouse. He was also the 2nd Assistant Director on the short film Paris Noir.
S?bastien Carlier Designer
S?bastien Carlier studied at the Beaux Arts architecture school in Paris, where he now works as an architect and a set designer. He has collaborated on the redesign of the Eurostar Terminal in Paris and won the international urbanism and architecture competition for the design of Khandama's district in La Mecqua. Since 2003, he has worked regularly with the director Alexander Zeldin, designing a touring production of Barca's The Constant Prince in Cairo, Alexandria, London and Oxford. He has recently designed the set for a production of Ravel's Spanish Hour and the Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg.
Christopher Nairne Lighting Designer
Chris has designed the lighting for over thirty productions in London and Oxford, including the Forgotten Classics at the Kings' Head Theatre, Into the woods and The Caucasian Chalk Circle at the Oxford Playhouse, and a tour of Love's Labour Lost to Tokyo.
Naomi McCurdie Costume Designer
Naomi studied graphic design and fashion at the London College of Fashion and Billy Blue in Sydney. She currently works as a brand specialist for the fashion designer Vanessa Bruno.
The Production Team
Ben Monks Producer
Ben is executive producer of Grey Light Productions, a London-based company dedicated to producing new writing for the stage. Credits for them include BANK and other plays at the King?s Head Theatre, Uncle Barry at the Blue Elephant Theatre and American Voices at the Greenwich Playhouse, produced as part of Grey Light?s series on contemporary American writing in conjunction with The Metropolitan Playhouse, New York. Ben was fundraising manager for Irina Brown and Timberlake Wertenbaker on the world premiere of Jenufa at the Arcola Theatre last year, and produced The Oxford Revue in Girl Meets Boy at the Underbelly in 2006 and Under Milk Wood at C Venues in 2007. He has over 25 producing, marketing and technical credits on professional and student productions at half a dozen venues within Oxford, and was assistant programming director of theatre and contemporary art at the Centre Mathis in Paris in 2007.
Jessie Fortune Ryan Producer
Jessie is an associate director at the Paradise Row Gallery. She studied art history and modern history in Florence and Rome. She has been an artistic assistant to Joseph Kosuth in Rome and the sculptor Barry Flanagan. She has also worked for the charity Clothesline. This is her first foray into theatrical production.
Oliver Zeldin Production Manager
Oliver has worked with his brother Alexander on the New Horizons Festival where he was company manager and associate producer for Powder her Face at the Mariinsky in October 2007. As a director he has trained under Michael Grigsby at the Abingdon Film Unit, where he produced and directed You Can't Dip Doritos in Jazz, a short film shown at the OxDox Festival. Recent film credits include working as the Director of Photography on Snakeboats, which was shot on location in Kerala, India. He also worked as tour manager on his brother's production of The Constant Prince at the Arcola and the Oxford Playhouse. He has also worked as a concert promoter in Oxford, notably producing Live at The Long Room, a collaboration between improviser Pat Thomas and virtuoso Egyptian traditional musicians Ragab Sadek and Amin Shahin. He has also promoted a regular jazz night.
Outhouse Marketing and Communications Solutions
Outhouse Marketing and Communications solutions was founded this year with a mission statement to deliver high-level integrated marketing, press and communications solutions for events. Concentrating on theatre, we provide companies with a sophisticated strategy adapted to their needs and spread amongst a capable and multi-talented team in order to coordinate successful graphics, design, distribution, press and front of house.
Outhouse delivers publicity services of a professional standard, aiming to expand the reach of productions, particularly those produced by young companies early on in their development, and to drum up press interest. Outhouse marketed a modern adaptation of Tis Pity Shes a Whore in February which gained broad regional press coverage in Oxfordshire and sold out. We are involved in ongoing marketing for the Oxford Salsa Society and Puppet magazine. Current work includes Spring Awakening at the Oxford Playhouse and the Twelfth Night Garden Production.
SOLD productions Public Relations
Jonas Muir-Wood Web Design
Jack Sanderson-Thwaite & Andrew Firth Sound Recording
Conrad Frankel Draughtsman
Grant Greenway and Philip Greenway Construction
Sabine Tilly and Oliver Zeldin Photography
Hill Street Theatre - Venue 41
12.25 (1.30) 1-24th August (not Weds)
Tickets: £5-£9 (Family discounts and concessions available)
Download a sound sample at www.myspace.com/leonthepoet
The two famous guys that both seem to be on
acid... they both have their audiences
in stiches and rolling in the aisles
Rubber Man Comic from Holland Eric Koller and
the master of mime comedy from Polland Ireneus Krosny posing for the press after their performances at Hill Street Theatre, 19 Hill Street, Edinburgh.
Marie Celine Lachaud is her self penned
One Day I'll go to Compostela at the Hill Street Theatre, Edinburgh.
Marie Celine Lachaud and her back pack are ready to
take her one woman show to every corner of the world,
so that everyone can enjoy this wonderful
human story that everone can connect
to in their own lives
Broken Nails
In this meserizing study of feminity and the power of Stardom. marlene Dietrich is played by a puppet operated by the fictional young girl servant apprentice (extremely talented Polish Anna Skubik), carer and lover. In her heyday, Dietrich has been a symbol of the ideal woman and an object of desire, now is older and disillusioned about physical beauty.
Marlina Dietrich, Anna Skubik from Broken Nails and Morgan Carberry from Striking Gold
Marlina Dietrich and Anna Skubik from Broken Nails have also performed as guest artists in Morgan Carberry's Striking Gold, their both shows have received an over five star rating from the USA Weekly News and are on the short list to receive a 100 Star USA Weekly News Award on the 24th August, 2008 to be presented on the 24th August, 2008 at ClubWest- home of the Invasion Festival. The Invasion Festival is an exciting new International Festival which has been launched by the well known London Theatre producer Kevin Williams with the support of Tartin Silk being the main sponsors of the Invasion Festival held each year at ClubWert Venue, Quincentury Hall, Royal College of Surgeons, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DA. www.invasianfestival.com
BROKEN NAILS
Marlene Dietrich, old and unhappy, spent the final 13 years of her life in her house in Paris. Away from camera flashes and family, she died alone. The play is an intimate portrait of the star who created a new image of the woman – beautiful, independent, enjoying love, being the object of desire of both sexes, distanced, passionate, unearthly.
It is a depiction of sacrifices made for love and beauty, and the price one has to pay to parley with fame.
Author and Director : Romuald Wicza Pokojski
Actrees: Anna Skubik
About Broken Nails
1. "Marlene Dietrich known as a symbol of Beauty and sensuality, on the other hand a ruthless and destructive woman. Many photographs with the image of the movie star decorates the entrance and one of the rooms at Wicza Theatre. Anna Skubik has tried to face such a picture of a star in the performance " Broken nails. The thing about Marlene Dietrich."
The author and director of the performance is Romuald Wicza – Pokojski, who created a play in which one enters into dialog with anm everlasting legend of Beauty.
On a suitcase ( considerably big suitcase ) sits a young woman and presents us the history of her made up meeting with Marlene Dietrich.
Anna Skubik perform a hard and double role, as an actress and animator. Woman all the time is accompanied by a puppet – mannequin animated by shoulder. It is and absorbing grasp of the subject and it is far better and more secure than playing parts of famous people.
The biggest trump of the actress is her play with voice. Guided puppet Marlene charms with a low and hoarse voice, she is no only tempting and seductive but also hysterical and squeaky. Animating such a puppet requires a constant dialog – both figures are equally important. The relation between them is built through word, dance and struggle. The stage is dominated by Dietrich, maybe the actress gives her too much space? It seems more interesting when both of them are equally important participants in the conversation. Puppet – mannequin is constantly close to the body of the actress, the animator of the gives the puppet her part of the body ( usually shoulders, butsometimes also legs). It makes spectators fell that those two figures are fused together. This effect is frequently used to build up a
situation in which an actor is dominated by a puppet."
Author: Emilia Admiszyn
www.kulturalnytorun.pl
2. "The attempt to make a performance concerning the last days of life of the mass icon of imagination usually means a suicide.
Describing a twilight of a great artist, it is easy to fall into
creating a biography supported by unsophisticated pedagogy, or simply
into cliché. Romuald Pokojski – the director of " Broken nails" – avoided such sandbanks, creating a performance in which a puppet theatre wittingly interlaces with acting.
Even so the performance is close to women's sensitivity, which seems to be familiar with the idea of the body ageing. The story of a great actress has its universal and ultimate dimension. It deals with people – great ones and insignificant ones."
Author: Grzegorz Giedrys
Gazeta Wyborcza
3. " Marlene Dietrich fascinated not only men but also the fair sex. She charmed Anna Skubik with her unique personality . Anna is a young actress and puppeteer who decided to create a monodrama with a puppet regarding the life of the German figure. Although the performance "
Broken nails "is not a summarized biography of the artist but a peculiar study of feminity - everlasting, archetypal but also moving, fragile and unstable. The actress under the supervision of a director
and author of the performance – Romuals Wicza – Pokojski, is not trying to bring Marlene Dietrich to life but tells about living legend and everlasting and cruel right passing. The significant fact of juxtaposition of the sexes during constructing the play helps to elicit from the performance the optical manner of looking at woman,
not making a feminists' manifest out of it.
Multiformity is presented by a complicated relation between puppet and animator, or rather puppet and actor. Anna Skubik does not limit herself only to leading a puppet but she also creates her own figure.
The simplest analysis of their dependence indicates a contact star – maid, which after few moments becomes disturbed by an explicit suggestion of a romance between women. Another thing which is marked by linking an imaginary vision of the ideal woman in comparison to a lost girl with a profuse imagination. It may seem that in all those relations, the puppet manipulates the woman, however, the role played by Anna Skubik can also be interpreted as an embodiment of youth in contrast with the old woman, constant spectrum of passing, and finally death.
The meaning can be easily noticed by the nature of the animating process. The puppet is made of material, with proportions of woman's body, the actress is all the time in a close, even intimate contact with her, to finally show the scene of a cabaret show where they becomes an integral entity. During dialogs Anna Skubik lends to the puppet slightly hoarse voice, while she as a figure uses the timid and girlish voice..
Author: Alicja Rubaczak
Nowa Sila Krytyczna
Another Kind of Silence
A New play about the environmentalist Rachael Carson
A story of love, the Ocean, politics and birdsong
Rachael Who??? Rachael Carson. Born 1907. Died 1964
Meet this remarkable woman as she reveals stories she never told in her life and hear how they reverberate today.
Rachael Carson Scientist, writer, peopmeering ecologist - proved the link between persicides an dtheir damage tot he environment, and single-handed took on the US Government and agro-chemical industry in her groundbreaking book 'Silent Spring', published in 1962. She was also a woman of failing health and intense provate passions.
this is not a history lesson. It is not about fear and despair. It is a love story.
This theatre piece enables a contemporary audience to appreciate the courage of Rachel Carson once again.
The show continues to tour in 2008. It is suitable for small arts venues, colleges, conferences and other non-theatre spaces. Click HERE to see our technical requirements.
In addition to the performance, audiences can meet the writer/performer for a post show discussion. It is also possible to book an additional talk/workshop from an expert on related topics such as pesticides, environmental health issues and cancer. To find out more about these talks, click HERE.
For more information see Tour Dates, or click HERE to contact us.
Liz Rothschild - Theatre PractionerLiz Rothschild - Theatre Practioner trained as an actor at the Bristol Old Vic and worked at Derby Playhouse for several seasons, the Sherman Theatre and Theatr Clwyd.
She has toured with Northern Studio Theatre Company, Riff-Raff Company and the young National Trust theatre company.
For the past 14 years she has been directing a theatre company based in Swindon involving performers with learning disabilities - Partners Theatre Company for Reach Inclusive Arts. She has directed a series of site inspired community performances and founded and runs an inter-generational arts project in Oxfordshire called Bridging the Gap.
She often works through a devised process developing a script with a group of performers. This is her first piece of writing for a performance of this kind.
Rachel Carson
Born: May 27, 1907
in Springdale, Pennsylvania
Died: April 14, 1964
in Silver Spring, Maryland
Rachel Carson, writer, scientist, and ecologist, grew up simply in the rural river town of Springdale, Pennsylvania. Her mother bequeathed to her a life-long love of nature and the living world that Rachel expressed first as a writer and later as a student of marine biology. Carson graduated from Pennsylvania College for Women (now Chatham College) in 1929, studied at the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory, and received her MA in zoology from Johns Hopkins University in 1932.
She was hired by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries to write radio scripts during the Depression and supplemented her income writing feature articles on natural history for the Baltimore Sun. She began a fifteen-year career in the federal service as a scientist and editor in 1936 and rose to become Editor-in-Chief of all publications for the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
She wrote pamphlets on conservation and natural resources and edited scientific articles, but in her free time turned her government research into lyric prose, first as an article "Undersea" (1937, for the Atlantic Monthly), and then in a book, Under the Sea-Wind (1941). In 1952 she published her prize-winning study of the ocean, The Sea Around Us, which was followed by The Edge of the Sea in 1955. These books constituted a biography of the ocean and made Carson famous as a naturalist and science writer for the public. Carson resigned from government service in 1952 to devote herself to her writing.
She wrote several other articles designed to teach people about the wonder and beauty of the living world, including "Help Your Child to Wonder," (1956) and "Our Ever-Changing Shore" (1957), and planned another book on the ecology of life. Embedded within all of Carson's writing was the view that human beings were but one part of nature distinguished primarily by their power to alter it, in some cases irreversibly.
Disturbed by the profligate use of synthetic chemical pesticides after World War II, Carson reluctantly changed her focus in order to warn the public about the long term effects of misusing pesticides. In Silent Spring (1962) she challenged the practices of agricultural scientists and the government, and called for a change in the way humankind viewed the natural world.
Carson was attacked by the chemical industry and some in government as an alarmist, but courageously spoke out to remind us that we are a vulnerable part of the natural world subject to the same damage as the rest of the ecosystem. Testifying before Congress in 1963, Carson called for new policies to protect human health and the environment.
Rachel Carson died in 1964 after a long battle against breast cancer. Her witness for the beauty and integrity of life continues to inspire new generations to protect the living world and all its creatures.
Biography by Linda Lear, at www.rachelcarson.org
Positive News
from around the world
www.positivenews.org
Universal Arts
was formed in 1998 by Tomek Borkowy and Laura Mackenzie Stuart by amalgamating Arts International Exchange (est. 1994) and Eastern European Media Services (est. 1993). It acts as performing arts promoters, agents, producers and arts related consultants.
We believe that in a market economy theatre production is like any other product, which has to be well developed and marketed to attract potential buyers (i.e. receiving theatres, festivals and, most of all, audience).
The original aim of Universal Arts was to assist international theatre companies to extend their touring reach by showcasing work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and marketing it to international theatre and festival programmers. This has since extended to developing a world-wide agency and a production arm of the business.
Universal Arts Theatre
Hill Street Theatre
Tomek Borkowy – Artistic Director
Laura Mackenzie Stuart –Managing Director
For many years Laura has worked in business and financial administration of the arts. From 1990 – 1998 she was Deputy Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest arts festival. Particular areas of responsibility included co-ordinating the needs of over 700 companies coming from all over the world each festival, running the Festival Box-office (turnover of £1.5m in 8 weeks) and running the Sponsorship Department. Membership of the Society’s Management Committee provided 8 years experience in forming a solid foundation for arts business management. Laura joined Universal Arts in 1998 as Managing Director. As the year-round representative of professional touring companies in the UK and abroad she has formed close working relationships with Visiting Arts and a number of British Council offices and gained financial support for a number of clients. Laura has worked with the Producers of a number of shows which have been launched during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and which have gone on to reach international acclaim. She also has a broad based knowledge of current industry standard marketing practice and a proven track record in running large departments and controlling and implementing all aspects of current employment legislation.
For more information please contact Universal Arts:
Tel +44 131 478 0195
e-mail: admin@universal-arts.com
18 Queensferry Street,
Edinburgh, EH2 4QW,
Scotland, United Kingdom
contact: admin@universal-arts.com
tel: +44 (0)131 478 0195 | fax: +44 (0)131 478 0185
Amazingly talented Gael la Cornec in
FRIDA KAHLO: VIVA LA VIDA
"The one to watch"....The Stage
"Poetry on stage"....Metro
"Funny, heartwarming, moving and poigant: an excellent production"London Theatre Guide
"FRIDA KAHLO: VIVA LA VIDA definately deserves it's USA Weekly News over 5 stars rating and is tipped to obtain a 100 Star USA Weekly News Award for the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe....an absolutely brilliant and entertaining performance" USA Weekly News
The Hill Street Theatre proudly presents:
the UK Premiere of Multi award-winning Latin American Play
FRIDA KAHLO: VIVA LA VIDA
By Humberto Robles
Permormed by: Gael la Cornec,
Directed by Luis Benkard
Art, Passion, Obsession: an explosive portrait of the woman who gave birth to herself. Sharp, witty and bursting with colour. An intimate journey in the life of Latin America's greatest female painter
18:55 on the 3rd till the 25th August, 2008
Try not to miss this one..
In fact plan a whole day to see a few shows at the Hill Street Theatre and meet the artists, friendly helful staff and others in the Hill Street Theatre Bar.. finish off the night with some great entertainment from Morgan Carberry and friends in Striking Gold, a caberet sparkling with classics ..It will be a day to remember!!!!
Louis Barabbas & the Black Velvet Band
Rousing, heart breaking and foot stomping"..BBC Radio
at the Hill Street Theatre, Venue 41, 19 Hill Street Edinburgh at 6pm to 7pm 3rd August till 21st August
On Sunday the 10th August, 2008 Australia's funniest & funkiest contemporary black comedia Sean Choolburra will be appearing as a special guest artist playing Didge with the band..."his humour, acting & didge playing was awesome"..St Andews School-Darwin.."Exciting & very entertaining"...Berry Springs Primary School- Northern Territory
At the Hill Street Theatre one can be assured that every show you see there will be a great entertaining performance, that should not be missed while visiting the Edinburgh Fringe....USA Weekly News
The Hill Street Theatre has been magically created from an historic Masonic Lodge in the heart of Georgian Edinburgh. This award-winning theatre celebrates
19 years of popular drama.
Fool Koller-ERIC KOLLER
Mr Bean on acid.. have to be quick to get tickets for Fool Koller and Mine For Laughs be Holland's most famous Mr Bean
.. it is hard to find words to describe it....a show that you would regret for ever in not making the effort to see.....USA Weekly News
You will have to be quick to get tickets for FOOL KOLLLER snd MIME FOR LAUGHS befor the both sell out for this year's Edinburgh Fringe
also check out all the other world class shows at the Hill Street Theatre, 19 Hill Street, Edinburgh, every show at the Hill Street Theatre and received the over 5 star rating by the USA Weekly News and are all on the short list for recieiving a 100 star USA Weekly News Award.
The final winners of the 2008 100 star USA Weekly News Awards will be announced at the award night to be held at the Edinburgh Fringe Finale Special 2008 100 star USA Weekly News Award to be held at at ClubWest- home of the Invasion Festival. The Invasion Festival is an exciting new International Festival which has been launched by the well known London Theatre producer Kevin Williams with the support of Tartin Silk being the main sponsors of the Invasion Festival held each year at ClubWert Venue, Quincentury Hall, Royal College of Surgeons, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DA. www.invasianfestival.com
The 2008 Edinburgh Fringe Shows that have already been reviewed by the USA Weekly News and have been recieved an over 5 star rating by the USA Weekly News and are on the short list to the considered for a 100 star USA Weekly News Award include the following:
Life at the Molecular Level-on at the UnderBelly, brought to the Edinburgh Fringe by Present Attempt who one a 100 star USA Weekly News Award at the 2007 Edinburgh fringe with their Play, Attempt 3.4 which was also chose to be made into a feature film by the INL News Group;
Bad Dog Variety- on at the Underbelly, brought to the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe by Dog-Eared Collective who describe themselves as renegade entertainment. The DEC whack off a riotous skectch show where live stunts, comedy and cabaret collide.
So sharp we had to use special scissors-'More laughs than any other three Fringe Shows put together'..Stage Edinburgh 2007.
Sean Choolburra's Ín Didge'Kids Workshop-at the Sweet ECA..Lively Australian indigenous culture showcase, learn Australian dideridoo, dancing, fire making and folk law. Sean's humour, acting and didge playing was awesome ..St Andrews School Darwin.
Éxciting and very entertaining..Berry Springs Pimary, Northern Territory.
Sean Choolburra's 'Live and Deadly- Sweat ECA. Australia's funniesr and cheekiest contemporary black commedian will yarn, rap, dideridoo and dance. fresh from the Melbourne Comedy Festival 2008. Á winning formulae: stand up, stories and deadly dancing..Adelaide Advertiser; 'Hillarious story telling'..Melbourne Age.
'Sean Choolburra's Ín Didge'Kids Workshop and 'Live and Deadly are a must see..both shows combined provide a wide range of interesting entertainment and education value about Seans roots as an indigenous Australian aboriginal and Sean's hillarious look at everyday life..USA Weekly News
UP the Republic - at the Hill Street Theatre by Max McGuiness..Fireworks, Fascism and leather pants..Çleverly Catches the jittery context and atmosphere that encircle the City of Light and challenge the Enlightment itself."...Christopher Hitchens.
Striking Gold - at the Hill Street Theatre..Morgan Carberry presents a cabaret sparkling with golden classics.
Morgan Carberry returns tot eh Fringe for her solo debut, following outstanding reviews in 2005..."Carberry gives a finely observed character performance...'Thee Weeks. 'Carberry..stands out, as knowing just how far to go over the top'..Edinburgh Guide..
Fool Koller...at the Hill Street Theatre... Hollands most loved rubber limbed comic genious springe into the UK for first time.
www.erickoller.nl; www.myspace.com/erickoller.
Adolescence, Adulthood and the Ever Widening Chasm - Alex Petty's Free Fringe Laughing Horse Espionage Venue..presented by Whisperies Chasm. Adolescence, Adulthood and the Ever Widening Chasm. Two boys and a girl explore the idea that we're all going to end up cursing a world that promised us too much. With laughs.www.myspace.com.whispieschasm.
Now is the Hour at the Hill Street Theatre. a world premier presented by Crossroads Theatre..A true story of those who lived and died in The Laconia Incident...by David Walter Hall..'Memerising'..The Scotsman (Cross Road Blues),'Entirely compelling'Edinburgh Evening News (Meslier)
A real Humane person who Cares and all that... at the Hill Street Theatre. A Play by Adam Brace-Directed by Jamie Harper..Á nasty little play about savagery and how we need it...Brillinat Times'' Éxcellent writing..shocking and insightful'...Scotsman
Mime for Laughs...at the Hill Street Theatre... form Momo Mime Comedy Theatre..." A merciful release form ther mann-wth-a-microphone formula. Polish superstar Ireneusz Krosny arrives in edinburgh trailing plaudits form accross the world. if anyone can win Britain ove ewith silent comedy, it'll be this down to earth, clown-meets-mime artist." ... The Guardian
Louis Barabbas & the Black Velvet Band...at the Hill Street Theatre.." Rousing, heart-breaking and fott stomping"..BBC Radio
Louis Barabbas & the Black Velvet Band are one of the best and unique bands for their music, theatre and entertainment performance that the UK has produced this century..these guts are heading for stardom without doubt..USA Weekly News
Noel Coward's Red Peppers... at the Hill Street Theatre... from Be-Jou Productions, UK.
One of the most well acted and entertaining shows at the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe..no one will walk away from this show
disappointed..USA Weekly News
Baldanders at the Hill Street Theatre..Kompania Dommsday, Poland..performed in english by man and a puppet, Baldanders is inspired by the fantastical worlds of Luis Borges, edgar Alan Poe, and Topor. it portrays the relationship between the masyter of a freekshow and his caged victim. They are surrounded by a hollow world in which people trapped in self-delusion, attactyed by flashy rubbis and instant gratification. It's a world that prevents the completion of anything meaningful. Baldanders is a thoroughly original reflection on our own existence and the eternal question of life and identity..
Another Kind of Silence at the Hill Street Theatre...A gripping and must be told story of love, the ocean, politics and birdsong...
A new play about the environmentalist Rachel Carson.
This show is not a history lesson. it is not about fear and despair. It is a love story
"Well written, sharply intelligent, topical, tight and engrossing throughout"..Matt Holland, Director, Swindon Literature Festival; "A poetic Tour-de-force"..Newbury Weekly News; "Liz Rothchild breaths new life into Rachael Carson"...Johnathon Porritt, chair of the UK Sustainable Futures Commission; " It is rear to see such integrity in the theatre these days"..Nightingale Theatre, Brighton; ":Liz Rothchild give sthe audience an acadamy award performance of a love story with an important message and reminder about some of the important issues concerning the survival of our world that has to be told..USA Weekly News
If you want your show reviewed for a 100 star USA Weekly News Award
send an email to email to: usaweeklynews@gmail.com
the winners will be announced at the 100 star USA Weekly News Award Fringe Finale Party Night to be held at at ClubWest- home of the Invasion Festival. The Invasion Festival is an exciting new International Festival which has been launched by the well known London Theatre producer Kevin Williams with the support of Tartin Silk being the main sponsors of the Invasion Festival held each year at ClubWert Venue, Quincentury Hall, Royal College of Surgeons, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DA. www.invasianfestival.com
FOOL KOLLER and Ireneusz Krosny at the end of their shows at the Hill Street Theatre..
FOOL KOLLER as himself, just a fool, and Ireneusz Krosny with his show MIME FOR LAUGHS,
must both be on acid..the are just to funny, zanny and cazy to be straight..the both have the
same effect on their audiences who just do not stop laughing all the way through their extremely hillarious and funny shows with the audience demanding more and more...USA Weekly News
FOOL KOLLER- This rubber limbed comic genius ERIC KOLLER springs into the UK for the very first time.
FOOL KOLLER is his definative explosion of this unique cartoon-like comedy and dry humour. A visual tour-deforce
Imagine Mr Bean, Ronnie Corbet, Ronnie Barker, the famous Goons and and John Cleese all on acid
MIME for LAUGHS
1-25 at 920pm at the Hill street Threatre...THE BEST COMMEDY MIME IN CHICAGO!
Fresh, funy irresistible..."Chicago Reader"Critics Award".."The cream of the crop: Polish superstar Ireneusz Krosny arrives in Edinburgh trailing plaudits from across the world..The Guardian.
"It is hard to find words to describe it....a show that you would regret for ever in not making the effort to see".....
USA Weekly News
World famous rubber limbed comic genius ERIC KOLLER from Holand, springs into the UK for the very foirst time...this guy did not use a plane, train or boat to get across the English Channel from Holland.. he just sprung his way to the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. ERIC KOLLER is his definate explosion of his unique cartoon-like comedy and dry humaor. a visual tour-deforce, imagin Mr Bean on acid..
www.erickoller.nl
www.myspace.com/erickoller
dates: 1-25 August ( not 13 August)
Time: 22.45 (23.45)
For Tickets: www.edfringe.com Tel: 0131 226 000
Venue: 0131 226 6522
Now Is The Hour
It's set entirely in a lifeboat after a torpedo incident in WWII. An epic true story. Torpedoed by a Uboat and marooned in alifeboat, a handful and survivors endure physical an dmental torture, their lives poised between the elements and persistance of hope.
Presented by Crossroads Theatre:
19 Hill Street, Edinburgh. Tel: 0131 510 0022
Preview: August 1-12, 14-19, 21-25. 16:05 Price:5
August 3-12, 14-19, 21-25 16:05 Price: 11(9)
Time:1hr 10 mins
STRIKING GOLD
El Dorado Cabaret
Presented by Universal Arts
Hill Street Studio Theatre, Venue 41
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY – Morgan Carberry
American cabaret artist Morgan Carberry hails from San Diego, California, where she began singing at the age of five while training as a classical musician on piano, flute, violin, and organ. She continued her education at Wellesley College in Boston and the Université de Provence in France, developing a onewoman show exploring the monologue in French theatre called Seule en Scène. Morgan first came to Scotland on a prestigious Marshall Scholarship in 2004 to complete her Masters in Musical Theatre Performance at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Following this, she trained at the Drama Centre London, where she obtained her M.A. in European Classical Acting including
performances at Shakespeare’s Globe and at the Vakhtangov Theatre Institute in Moscow.
After spending an eventful year in New York, which included coaching a former theatre student who was starring as Jane Banks in Broadway’s Mary Poppins, Morgan returned to Edinburgh in September 2007 to pursue her M.A. in Arts and Cultural Management at Queen Margaret University. As the Scottish Marshall Scholar, she is delighted that her time in the U.K. has led her to fulfill her lifelong dream of sharing these diverse experiences through her own original cabaret show.
Striking Gold will be performed nightly (exc .Tues.)
from 1-25 August at 11:15 pm.
Performances are at the Hill Street Studio Theatre, Venue 41, 19 Hill St., EH2
3JP (parallel to the north side of George St. between Frederick and Castle Streets).
For further information, please contact: Morgan Carberry for Universal Arts
07910 333 601 | morgan@universal-arts.co.uk | www.eldoradocabaret.com
www.universal-arts.com
Lindsay Michie's Fringe Shows Have Talent
had a great successful night in the 3rd of August, 2008 at the Base Entertainment Venue, 69 Cowgate, Edinburgh with over 100 Fringe acts performing and having their 10 minute Taster Fringe previews promotional clips filmed.
EdinburghFringeFest.com has now heard that the Fringe Shows Have Talent Team and the USA Weekly News
have been spending a few days reviewing and
filming shows at the base entertainment venue.
The Hill Street Theatre
19 Hill Street, Edinburgh Tel: 0131 226 0026
venue 41 - grid ref D3 -
A venue dedicated to Quality... Telegraph
www.universal-arts.com
A cut above average....Scotsman
At the Hill Street Theatre one can be assured that every show you see there will be a great entertaining performance, that should not be missed while visiting the Edinburgh Fringe....USA Weekly News
The Hill Street Theatre has been magically created from an historic Masonic Lodge in the heart of Georgian Edinburgh. This award-winning theatre celebrates 19 years of popular drama.
Children's Shows
Aesop The Storyteller
Comedy
Fool Killer-ERIC KOLLER
Mr Bean on acid..
This is a show that is so amazing that it is hard to find words to describe it....a show that you would regret for ever in not making the effort to see.....USA Weekly News
World famous rubber limbed comic genius ERIC KOLLER from Holand, springs into the UK for the very first time...this guy did not use a plane, train or boat to get across the English Channel from Holland.. he just sprung his way to the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. ERIC KOLLER is his definate explosion of his unique cartoon-like comedy and dry humor. a visual tour-deforce, imagine Mr Bean on acid..
www.erickoller.nl
www.myspace.com/erickoller
dates: 1-25 August ( not 13 August)
Time: 22.45 (23.45)
For Tickets: www.edfringe.com Tel: 0131 226 000
Venue: 0131 226 6522
Dance & Physical Theatre
Mime for Laughs
Musical & Opera
Striking Gold
Caberet performer
Morgan Carberry
A perefct way to end your Festival Day!!!!
Morgan Canberry returns tot he Fringe for her solo debut, following outstanding reviews in 2005
takes you from California to Broadway to Europe's golden decadence!!!!
A caberet sparkling with golden classics
from Garland, Sinatra, Piaf, Dietrich, and more...
You will strike gold for sure when you see this stunning multi talented artist single-play and dance the night away..you will hbe left wnating much much much more....USA Weekly News
Theatre
Anotyher Kind of Silence
Baldanders
Broken Nails
Chekhov's Clown
...Etcetra...
Friday Kahlo:Viva La Vida
Now Is the Hour
One Day I'll Go to Compostela
Real Humane Person Who Cares and All That, A
Red Peppers
Up the Republic!
Hill Street Theatre - Venue 41
12.25 (1.30) 1-24th August (not Weds)
Tickets: £5-£9 (Family discounts and concessions available)
Download a sound sample at www.myspace.com/leonthepoet
THE INAUGURAL FRINGE FILM FEST
AT THE FILMHOUSE EDINBURGH THIS
SATURDAY 2nd August
FROM 10AM TILL 12.30PM…
Book At Ticket now from Tickets-Scotland
http://www.tickets-scotland.com/gigs.html
PLUS…DON'T MISS
THE EDINBURGH FRINGE TASTER PREVIEWS AND A HOST OF OTHER EXCITING EVENTS
AT THE BASE, COWGATE STARTING ON 3RD AUGUST 3PM TILL LATE -
ENDING ON SUNDAY 24TH AUGUST WITH THE ED FRINGE FINALE GALA NIGHT
WHERE THE WINNERS OF THE USA WEEKLY NEWS 100 STAR AWARDS
WILL BE ANOUNCED
Book At Ticket now from Tickets-Scotland
http://www.tickets-scotland.com/gigs.html
ANYONE WATING TO PERFORM OR PREVIEW AN ED FRINGE SHOW
CONTACT LINDSAY MICHIETel: 0780 469 1535 lindsay.michie@gmail.com
oinfo@edinburghfringefest.com
FOR MORE INFO AND TICKETS,
Book At Ticket now from Tickets-Scotland
http://www.tickets-scotland.com/gigs.html
Universal Arts
was formed in 1998 by Tomek Borkowy and Laura Mackenzie Stuart by amalgamating Arts International Exchange (est. 1994) and Eastern European Media Services (est. 1993). It acts as performing arts promoters, agents, producers and arts related consultants.
We believe that in a market economy theatre production is like any other product, which has to be well developed and marketed to attract potential buyers (i.e. receiving theatres, festivals and, most of all, audience).
The original aim of Universal Arts was to assist international theatre companies to extend their touring reach by showcasing work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and marketing it to international theatre and festival programmers. This has since extended to developing a world-wide agency and a production arm of the business.
Universal Arts Theatre
Hill Street Theatre
Born in Warsaw, Poland, he graduated with a Master’s Degree from the State Academy of Theatrical Arts in Krakow. Tomek Borkowy has nearly 35 years of experience as actor, director, producer, theatre manager, agent and drama teacher. Since his first professional appointment as Artistic Director of the repertory theatre company ‘Young Theatre’ in Krakow in 1978 he has worked on literally hundreds of theatre and film projects. Film and TV management includes running Eastern European Media Services UK. His original agency work focused mainly on Eastern European theatre companies. Recognising the central role which the Edinburgh Festival Fringe continues to play in the promotion of international productions he has worked closely with the Fringe for last 18 years. His impressive track record in presenting innovative international professional work won him a Herald Angel Award. A natural extension of this work was to develop the year-round touring potential of key clients. Developing such links is an on-going priority for Universal Arts in order to maximise the sales advantage to its clients.
Laura Mackenzie Stuart –
Managing Director
For many years Laura has worked in business and financial administration of the arts. From 1990 – 1998 she was Deputy Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest arts festival. Particular areas of responsibility included co-ordinating the needs of over 700 companies coming from all over the world each festival, running the Festival Box-office (turnover of £1.5m in 8 weeks) and running the Sponsorship Department. Membership of the Society’s Management Committee provided 8 years experience in forming a solid foundation for arts business management. Laura joined Universal Arts in 1998 as Managing Director. As the year-round representative of professional touring companies in the UK and abroad she has formed close working relationships with Visiting Arts and a number of British Council offices and gained financial support for a number of clients. Laura has worked with the Producers of a number of shows which have been launched during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and which have gone on to reach international acclaim. She also has a broad based knowledge of current industry standard marketing practice and a proven track record in running large departments and controlling and implementing all aspects of current employment legislation.
For more information please contact Universal Arts:
Tel +44 131 478 0195
e-mail: admin@universal-arts.com
18 Queensferry Street,
Edinburgh, EH2 4QW,
Scotland, United Kingdom
contact: admin@universal-arts.com
tel: +44 (0)131 478 0195 | fax: +44 (0)131 478 0185
"The one to watch"....The Stage
"Poetry on stage"....Metro
"Funny, heartwarming, moving and poigant: an excellent production"London Theatre Guide
"FRIDA KAHLO: VIVA LA VIDA definately deserves it's USA Weekly News over 5 stars rating and is tipped to obtain a 100 Star USA Weekly News Award for the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe....an absolutely brilliant and entertaining performance" USA Weekly News
The Hill Street Theatre proudly presents:
the UK Premiere of Multi award-winning Latin American Play
FRIDA KAHLO: VIVA LA VIDA
By Humberto Robles
Permormed by: Gael la Cornec,
Directed by Luis Benkard
Art, Passion, Obsession: an explosive portrait of the woman who gave birth to herself. Sharp, witty and bursting with colour. An intimate journey in the life of Latin America's greatest female painter
18:55 on the 3rd till the 25th August, 2008
Try not to miss this one.. in fact paln a while to see a few shows at the Hill Street Theatre and meet the artists and others in the friendly Hill Street Theatre Bar.. finish off the night with some great entertainment from Morgan Carberry and friends in Striking Gold, a caberet sparkling
with classics ...
don't miss ...
Aesop The Storyteller
Hill Street Theatre - Venue 41
12.25 (1.30) 1-24th August (not Weds)
Tickets: £5-£9 (Family discounts and concessions available)
Download a sound sample at www.myspace.com/leonthepoet
Leon is co-founder of Touchwaves, an innovative group combining spoken word and music improvisation.
For more information, visit www.touchwaves.com
Aesop The Storyteller
World Premiere – Edinburgh Fringe, August 2008
At the 2006 Fringe, Leon Conrad was poet-in-residence at the First Edinburgh Food Festival. At the Edinburgh Fringe in 2007, he was invited back to be poet-in-residence at the Pleasance. This year he presents the world premiere of an entertaining and thought-provoking show featuring an original blend of traditional storytelling and performance poetry. Aesop The Storyteller is suitable for all the family from ages 6 and up.
Brief Synopsis
From the moment of his birth, Aesop seems to be born with everything against him. He’s ugly, hunchbacked, lame and mute. On top of it all, he’s born a slave. Through a combination of native intelligence, luck and divine intervention, he’s granted two very special gifts – the gift of wisdom and the gift of speech. He learns to modify his insights to make them more palatable by wrapping them up in fables, drawing on characters from the animal world to illustrate his points.
Aesop uses his gifts and storytelling abilities to talk himself out of slavery, until one day he chooses to tell one story too many … and has to face the consequences.
Aesop is said to have been born around 620BC. Over 2,600 years later, few people know his own story, but his fables are as relevant today as they were in his lifetime. Leon Conrad wrote Aesop The Storyteller in 2007, to commemorate the 200th anniversary year of the passing of the Act of the Abolition of the Slave Trade. In it, Aesop’s own life story is interspersed with some of his best-loved fables. The show is suitable for family audiences – ages 6 and above.
Performance Details
Hill Street Studio, 19 Hill Street (parallel with George St)
Venue 41 - 12.25-13.30 (1 hour, 05 minutes)
Friday 1st August 2008 to Sunday 24th August 2008 (not Wednesdays)
A book of 12 newly versified fables with accompanying CD by Leon Conrad also called ‘Aesop The Storyteller’ is published by Aladdin’s Cave Publishing. Further details are available on request.
A fellow called Aesop in a big market square.
Used to spin clever stories right out of thin air …
They tell of adventure, of hope and despair,
Of talking trees, rabbits, the fox in his lair …
Would the most potent spells work half as well if they weren’t in verse? And in The Spiderwick Chronicles, how much of Thimbletack’s charm is down to his habit of using rhyme?
Leon Conrad is a performance poet who understands the power of using poetry to tell stories and performing them out loud.
In August 2006 Leon was poet-in-residence at the First Edinburgh Food Festival. In August 2007, he was invited back to be poet-in-residence at the Pleasance. At this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, Leon will be performing the world premiere of an entertaining and thought-provoking show – Aesop The Storyteller.
Brief Synopsis
From the moment of his birth, Aesop seems to be born with everything against him. He’s ugly, hunchbacked, lame and mute. On top of it all, he’s born a slave. Through a combination of native intelligence, luck and divine intervention, he’s granted two very special gifts – the gift of wisdom and the gift of speech. He learns to modify his insights to make them more palatable by wrapping them up in fables, drawing on characters from the animal world to illustrate his points.
Aesop uses his gifts and storytelling abilities to talk himself out of slavery, but one day he chooses to tell one story too many & has to face the consequences.
Aesop The Storyteller is available to tour and performing rights are available as well. A full synopsis of the play is available on request.
Leon writes stories, plays and performance poetry to commission.
His collection of 12, flowing, easy-to read fables in verse is published by Aladdin’s Cave a publisher specialising in crossing the boundaries between various forms of storytelling – from printed to animated to oral and live performance in innovative ways.
A sample audio file can be found at www.myspace.com/leonthepoet
Contact details
Performance Details
Hill Street Studio, 19 Hill Street (parallel with George St)
Venue 41 - 12.25-13.30 (1 hour, 05 minutes)
Friday 1st August 2008 to Sunday 24th August 2008 (not Wednesdays)
Is this the oldest tale being told on the 2008 Fringe?!
Over 2,500 years have passed since Aesop is thought to have been alive. He’s one of the best-known and best-loved storytellers of all time. Yet few people know his own story,
Aesop The Storyteller is set to change all that. It’s probably one of the oldest stories being performed on the Fringe – and if not, almost certainly the least known one.
Aesop The Storyteller is a play written by Leon Conrad to commemorate the 200th anniversary year of the passing of the Act of the Abolition of the Slave Trade in 2007. In it, Aesop’s own life story is interspersed with some of his best-loved fables. The show is suitable for family audiences – ages 6 and above.
A veteran of the Edinburgh Fringe poetry circuit, Leon is no stranger to the Edinburgh Fringe. In August 2006 he was poet-in-residence at the First Edinburgh Food Festival. In August 2007, he was invited back to be poet-in-residence at the Pleasance.
This year, he brings a virtuosic blend of performance poetry and storytelling to the fringe. Aesop’s story will be brought to life once more, interspersed with some of his best-loved fables.
êêêêê
Truly excellent … completely enthralling … storytelling as it should be … Go and discover this sparkling jewel.
Jane T, Scotland, 4 August 2008, www.edfringe.com
I have never found verse more attractive, immediate or thought-provoking … a thing of great beauty … understated and wonderful … good for the children.
John Stirling, Scotland, 4 August 2008, www.edfringe.com
SPECIAL FLYER PRIZE OFFER
Will you be one of the lucky people to find a specially-stickered flyer for Aesop The Storyteller – or even better, two matching ones? If so, you could win a CD of fables or a book and CD worth £12. Look out for a flyer for Leon Conrad’s show, Aesop The Storyteller. At the bottom right hand corner on the back of the flyer there’s a placeholder. It’s worth glancing at – because if yours has a sticker showing one of two scenes from the Fable of The Fox and The Stork, which is one of Aesop’s fables told in the show, you’ll be able to take it to Venue 41 (Hill Street Theatre) and exchange it for a free CD featuring 12 newly-versified Aesopic Fables by Leon Conrad.
If you’re lucky enough to match up flyers with two scenes, you’ll be able to exchange them for a book and audio CD worth £12.
Leon Conrad’s collection of 12 Versified Aesopic Fables, called Aesop The Storyteller, with charming black and white illustrations by Alessandro Scafi, is published by Aladdin’s Cave, ISBN 978-0-9556391-0-4.
ABOUT LEON CONRAD
Leon is an experienced performer, storyteller and performance poet. In August 2006, he was Poet-in-Residence at the First Edinburgh Food Festival and was invited to return as Poet-in-Residence at the Pleasance Dome at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2007. To date, he has performed in London, Moscow and Edinburgh. Leon is co-founder of Touchwaves, an innovative group combining spoken word and music improvisation. For more information, visit www.touchwaves.com
Broken Nails and Emigrants at the
2008 Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Emigrants
Presented by Universal Arts
Is re-located from the stage to a camper-van (37 year old mercedes J 508 D). the limited space, just 11 spectators at a time of Polish Euro emigres; thier hopes, dreams and desires mixed with their struggles, their greed and vodka
Venue: Rocket @ Demarco Roxy House
2 Roxburg Place, Edinburgh, Venue 115,
Tel: 0871 750 0077
ABOUT €MIGRANTS
BY THE WICZA TEATER
WHERE IS THIS VAN HEADED
„Here – just as on TV – the viewer sees everything in close-up. Thus, there was a need for a change in the actors' performance.
The audience meets the actors when they are in the middle of their everyday life – while making early morning tea, taking a bath, eating breakfast. Everything is real: the tea is made with boiling water, the car smells of warm upholstery, exhaust fumes, cheap tinned meat and vodka poured into shot-glasses.
The performance keeps in suspense. No part lasts too long, there are no superfluous elements. The Wicza Theater plays the viewers' emotions. The actors performing as the main characters, Radoslaw Smuzny and Krystian Wieczynski, draw from the text all the emotions and humoristic values, without touching upon pretence or excessive expressiveness.
At the very end of the performance, the car sets off. The driver threatens the other character to kill him. At the same time, everything in the car is shaking – things fall down from the shelves, the door to the bathroom open and close uncontrollably (…)"
Auhtor: GG (Grzegorz Giedrys)
Gazeta Wyborcza,
THEY MAKE THEATRE IN A VAN
„- We are staging Emigrants by Slawomir Mrozek and, just as emigrants, we coop up in a jalopy. There is a toilet, a sink, a cooker… we make tea, fry tinned meat. And we are make a performance about two lonely guys abroad – a highbrow and a lowbrow, who have nothing in common, except for accommodation – says Radoslaw Smuzny.
Smuzny is the lowbrow worker in Emigrants. Not so long ago, he appeared in a Hollywood production „Master and Commander: The Far Side Of The World", accompanying Russell Crowe himself. The film has just received 10 Oscar nominations. The other character in Emigrants is performed by Krystian Wieczynski (28 years), who spends his holidays performing as a mime in the streets of Paris. In order to see the world, Radek and Krystian, do not have to emigrate "
Author: Zofia Kraszewska
Super Express,
JUST LIKE DRZYMALA
„The most recent performance by The Wicza Theater resembles… a reality show.
They fall out and make up. Insult and com