Hi NTW Community!

Sorry for being quiet the last couple of days I have been rushed off my feet! 

The Golden Cowpat has been taking over my life! I have been flyering for hours everyday! We have had lots of venues and industry people in to watch the show, which is very exciting for its and the company's future! Lots of press people in, which is again great for the future of the show. Here are a few examples of our reviews: 

The Stage: Click here to see review.

The Primary Times: Click here to see review.

Fringebiscuit:Click here to see review.

The mile is getting feisty! There is tough competition and everyone is vying for every passer-by's attention. Here are some images to highlight this:

I've come to the realisation that the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is not about making money because more than likely you will lose it and no wonder! There is no other environment where you will have this much direct competition. It is about networking and finding a future life for your piece of work. There are so many venues and production companies that are looking for work to programme and take on for their future seasons. This is true for both the UK and internationally. The money that may be lost in ticket sales can be made back if the production gets future bookings or great press quotes which lead to further bookings and this is what Edinburgh is so great at!

I've noticed that there is a blog debate happening about Welsh work and support for Welsh work at the fringe (click here to go straight to it) and I have, of course, put my two pennies worth in. Since Sunday I have seen 6 pieces of international work (not part of the International Festival but the Fringe), some directly supported by its country of origin and others not, and so my next blog post is going to be focused on this work and the way it has been produced and ended up at the fringe.

In addition to the 6 international shows that I have seen, I have seen . . .  I CAN'T REMEMBER EVERYTHING I HAVE SEEN! Sorry! Mind Edinburgh meltdown! I have seen 4 other shows: After the Rainfall by Curious Directive (click here to book), Bane 3 by Whitebone Productions (click here to book), I Heart Peterborough by Eastern Angles (click here to book) and Mayday Mayday by Theatre Damfino (click here to book).

After the Rainfall is a creation by Curious Directive was beautiful and captivating to watch. They created stunning images. The show consisted of a number of different narratives being woven and told together. My only issue with the piece was that I didn't understand why these narratives had been woven together. I loved the inventive style in which the narratives were told (through physical theatre, projections and soundscapes) but (I saw the show on Tuesday) still don't understand why they were told to me and why they all had to be told to me at the same time. Maybe I missed something or the show just wasn't written for someone like me, but overall I felt style took over substance. A company to watch though and one I will follow in the future.

Bane 3 is the third in a trilogy of comical storytelling shows which tell the story of a hitman called Bane. It's a one-man show with no set, no props, costume changes and recorded sound effects. The show is performed by Joe Bone and accompanied by a sound track played live by guitarist Ben Roe. Joe Bone is a one-man movie he cleverly sets up the scenes by using sound and gesture motifs, so as you know exactly where the action is taking place all the time. He brings every character to life through facial expression, physicality and voice. An amazing storyteller and actor, I'd love to see him perform in something else. He genre specific techniques such as montage, flashbacks and such - It is seriously like watching movie. I cannot recommend this more if you want something easy-going, not intellectual in the slightest and funny.

I Heart Peterborough is one of the best pieces of new writing I have seen this year. Joel Horwood is multi-talented. Not only did he write the play but he directed it as well. I am sure he will become a powerhouse of British theatre and is definitely one to watch. I'm not sure how linked to Peterborough the play really is and whether the title does it justice because I think it could be set in any town in the UK which is a positive not a negative. The play tells the unconventional story of a Father and Son, who are both played by exceptional actors. The actor playing the Son has exceptional watchability and star quality. If you're still about in Edinburgh it is definitely one to see before it hits the West End and you have to pay West End prices. Charming, quirky and just the right amount of unnerving.

Mayday Mayday by Theatre Damfino is another one-man show, (There are lots of one-person shows up in Edinburgh this year!) but one that is closer to the performer than most. The show is honest and moving. Tristan Sturrock, a performer from Kneehigh, theatrically tells the story of his recovery from a broken neck. It is very much from his own perspective and so is very truthful but maybe sometimes a little one-dimensional. It is creative in its telling, which is what you would expect from a member of Kneehigh, and is engaging through out. I'm a tough cookie but at points I felt myself welling up, as well as moments where I was laughing as well. 

Well that's all for now! I'm off to play box office roulette again! Wish me luck!