Latest news with #Fringe
Scotsman
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
A new voice rises on the farm: Sam Blythe takes the reins in Animal Farm
Guy Masterson's legendary solo show returns to Edinburgh Fringe for its 30th anniversary – with a bold new lead Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This summer at 13.00 at George Square Studio Four at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a barnyard revolution will be stirring once more. To mark 80 years since the publication of George Orwell's Animal Farm, and three decades since its world-famous solo adaptation first took the Fringe by storm, Guy Masterson's powerhouse production returns – this time with a new name on the bill. Actor Sam Blythe takes the mantle in a stirring reimagining of this theatrical classic, directed by Masterson himself. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad First performed by Masterson in 1995 and now a global touchstone of solo performance, Animal Farm has long been lauded for its visceral intensity and political bite. Now, Blythe brings his own formidable energy and physicality to Orwell's iconic cast of creatures, from the idealistic Snowball to the tyrannical Napoleon, the noble Boxer to the cunning Squealer – not to mention the sheep, hens, ducks, dogs, and even the cats. Sam Blythe in Animal Farm 'Animal magic! Not to be missed!' hailed BBC Radio, while The Times famously quipped, 'Some shows are more equal than others!' And critics agree – this new incarnation is every bit as electrifying as the original. Masterson, an Olivier Award-winner and Fringe stalwart whose solo work includes Under Milk Wood, Shylock, and A Christmas Carol, remains at the helm as director. But it's Blythe's turn in the spotlight – and he rises to the challenge with grace, grit, and a compelling stage presence honed through immersive work in Peaky Blinders: The Rise, Doctor Who: Time Fracture, and the Dickensian feast show The Great Christmas Feast. His solo Hamlet, Method In My Madness, debuted to critical acclaim at EdFringe 2024 and returns this year as a festival favourite (10:40, George Square Studio 4). With Animal Farm, Blythe transforms a bare stage into Orwell's chillingly familiar world – a world where the promises of revolution curdle into tyranny, and where the line between human and beast blurs under the weight of power. His performance is a tour de force of physical theatre, conjuring a full cast of characters with nothing but voice, movement, and sheer conviction. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As the show's 30th anniversary underscores the timeless urgency of Orwell's allegory, Animal Farm in 2025 is not just a revival – it's a reckoning. 'I mean,' asks the play with a wink and a warning, 'it could never happen to us… could it?'
Scotsman
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Viral comedian who attended 19 schools makes his Edinburgh Fringe debut
Described in a 4 ½ star review by The Student Newspaper as 'hilarious' and 'unique and refreshing,' the award-winning Aaron Wood, one of the UK's fastest rising stars, with a string of sell-out shows under his belt, and with over 100 million views online, comes to the Fringe with his highly anticipated debut hour, More To Life, from 1 to 25 August at Hoots @ The Apex - Hoot 3. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... In More To Life, Aaron hilariously describes the everyday dramas of growing up in a Northern, working class household, living on a council estate, and the relentless optimism needed to pursue your dreams. His dad left just after he was born (a decision that's hard not to take personally…was it something he said?), and at one of his NINETEEN schools, he was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD (tricky, as he doesn't 'present' as autistic). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad More To Life is a gag-heavy, relatable, upbeat and heartwarming show that talks about toxic masculinity, trying to avoid 'alphas', and the mental health issues that can plague those with seemingly little options. It's an hour that invites laughs while asking, is there really more to life than this? Aaron Wood: More To Life Aaron Wood grew up on a council estate in Stockport, Greater Manchester. He works as a carer for his disabled mother during the day and currently lives with his girlfriend in Hyde, Greater Manchester. Diagnosed with Autism and ADHD at a young age, Aaron always found school tricky and moved around many times, attending (did we mention this?) NINETEEN different schools throughout his childhood for a multitude of reasons. After struggling academically and never content with being the quiet kid class he made the predictable jump into stand up. With a reputation as a grafter, his laid back, affable style has seen him complete two back to back sell out WIP runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and landed him tour support for huge Australian comic Luke Kidgell, Tom Stade, Fin Taylor, Eshaan Akbar, Connor Burns, Carl Hutchinson, MC Hammersmith, Hayley Ellis, Liam Withnail, Josh Jones and Ignacio Lopez.
Scottish Sun
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
New secret shop planned for major Scots city – and Oasis fans will love it
The date of the opening has been revealed WONDER-MALL New secret shop planned for major Scots city – and Oasis fans will love it A NEW secret store is set to open up in a Scottish city this summer ahead of the highly-anticipated Oasis reunion gigs. The Mancunian rockers are set to play three nights at Murrayfield in Edinburgh on August 8, 9 and 12 for the sell-out megagigs. Advertisement 3 Oasis fans can get their hands on exclusive merchandise ahead of the band's Scottish gigs Credit: PA 3 The rockers are set to play three huge shows at Murrayfield in August Credit: Andrew Barr And ahead of the huge shows, Oasis will launch pop-up fan stores across the UK and Ireland. Revellers can get their hands on exclusive merchandise and vinyl, as early as this week, with less than a month until the first shows. There will huge range of Oasis Live '25 clothing and accessories on offer, including limited items and special brand collaborations. The Edinburgh pop-up store will open on August 4. Advertisement Exact location and details will be revealed nearer the time. Stores will also feature in Manchester on June 20, Cardiff on June 26, London and Birmingham on July 8, and Dublin on August 4. It comes just days after a leaked report showed council chiefs branded fans of the 'fat', 'lairy' and 'drunk'. We told how snooty Edinburgh council officials also said punters at August's shows will be mainly 'middle-aged men' who 'take up more room'. Advertisement And secret planning briefings warn: 'Concerned about the safety of the Fringe and its performers. Many performers are considering not attending for that weekend. 'There is concern about crowds . . . as they are already rowdy . . . and the tone of the band.' Inside Noel & Liam Gallagher's first Oasis show in 16 years at surprise venue where they enraged neighbour Edinburgh Fringe bosses also blamed Oasis's sell-out Murrayfield megagigs for a massive slump in ticket sales. Between the three Oasis gigs and another AC/DC show on August 21, 290,000 revellers are expected to descend upon the capital - clashing directly with the Fringe, which runs throughout most of August. Advertisement Festival promoters and venue operators fear that punters could be put off from attending the Fringe due to the unprecedented demand from music fans. Bookings for the international comedy festival, which runs throughout August, are reportedly down by 35 per cent for some shows.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Emmy award-winning TV producer swaps the control room for stand-up in Edinburgh debut
Britt Migs brings her sharp-witted, deeply personal show 'Dolphin Mode' to the Fringe following sold-out US run. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... She's won an Emmy for her work behind the scenes in American television – but this August, Britt Migs is stepping into the spotlight with the UK debut of her hit comedy show Dolphin Mode, running at Underbelly's brand-new Buttercup venue in George Square from July 30 to August 24 (not 11th). A seasoned New York-based TV and digital producer, Migs is best known Stateside for her work on award-winning broadcast and digital content. Now, she's bringing a far more personal story to Edinburgh: a blisteringly funny hour chronicling the collapse of her marriage, her bisexual awakening, and the absurd world of post-divorce dating. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The show, which premiered to a sold-out audience at Caveat in New York before selling out again during the New York Comedy Festival and at the Knockouts Comedy Festival this year, is part stand-up, part confessional – and wholly unfiltered. Britt Migs It all started on one fateful Super Bowl weekend. On the Friday, Migs lost her job. By Sunday, she was getting divorced. 'My ex-husband was extorted by a sex bot on Instagram,' she says, still stunned. 'He sent it a $700 iTunes gift card. That was when I knew I had to write a show.' The comedy that followed is both outrageous and relatable – a rollercoaster of heartbreak, online scammers, dismal dating apps, and self-discovery. With biting humour and emotional candour, Migs also unpacks the reality of coming out in her 30s, navigating queer relationships, and leaving behind the life she thought she was supposed to want. 'It turns out I wasn't just straight and sad,' she laughs. 'I was closeted and angry.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Though new to the UK comedy scene, Migs is no stranger to a live audience. She regularly hosts Sunday Sauce, a popular bi-monthly stand-up show at Union Hall in Brooklyn, and her sharp writing has appeared in Reductress, Slackjaw, and FlexxMag. Her sketches have been featured on Cracked's digital platforms. But it's this deeply personal shift – from award-winning producer to stand-up storyteller – that marks a new chapter for the New Yorker. 'Comedy saved me,' she says. 'I got divorced, came out, shaved my entire body smooth like a dolphin for a date who ghosted me, and somehow ended up here. Edinburgh feels like the right place to tell this story.' If Dolphin Mode is anything like her track record, it's one not to miss.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Oasis blamed for poor Edinburgh Fringe ticket sales days after leaked report brands fans ‘fat, drunk & lairy'
It comes just days after a leaked report showed council chiefs branded fans of the 'fat', 'lairy' and 'drunk' STOP CRYING YOUR HEART OUT Oasis blamed for poor Edinburgh Fringe ticket sales days after leaked report brands fans 'fat, drunk & lairy' EDINBURGH Fringe bosses have blamed Oasis's sell-out Murrayfield megagigs for a massive slump in ticket sales. The Mancunian rockers are set to play three nights at Scotland's home of rugby on August 8, 9 and 12 as part of their highly anticipated reunion tour. 2 210,000 gig-goers are expected to descend on Edinburgh for the Oasis concerts alone Credit: Getty 2 Fringe bosses have seen a 35 per cent decline in ticket sales this year Credit: Alamy Between the three Oasis gigs and another AC/DC show on August 21, 290,000 revellers are expected to descend upon the capital - clashing directly with the Fringe, which runs throughout most of August. Festival promoters and venue operators fear that punters could be put off from attending the Fringe due to the unprecedented demand from music fans. Bookings for the international comedy festival, which runs throughout August, are reportedly down by 35 per cent for some shows. Meanwhile, prices for accommodation are sky-high with some city-centre hotels charging upwards of £800 a night over the period Oasis are in Edinburgh. The Fringe, which heavily relies on last-minute ticket sales, is now facing a significant challenge. Organisers are expected to launch desperate last-minute efforts to boost attendance, including targeting local audiences and encouraging concert-goers to extend their stay and attend Fringe shows. It comes just days after a leaked report showed council chiefs branded fans of the 'fat', 'lairy' and 'drunk'. We told how snooty Edinburgh council officials also said punters at August's shows will be mainly 'middle-aged men' who 'take up more room'. And secret planning briefings warn: 'Concerned about the safety of the Fringe and its performers. Many performers are considering not attending for that weekend. 'There is concern about crowds . . . as they are already rowdy . . . and the tone of the band.' Inside Noel & Liam Gallagher's first Oasis show in 16 years at surprise venue where they enraged neighbour William Burdett-Coutts, founder of Assembly, the longest-running venue operator on the Fringe, told The Herald: 'We are constantly getting anecdotal feedback that people are finding it too expensive to visit Edinburgh for the festival, especially with the Oasis concerts that are on this year. 'Personally, I don't think they are a good thing. They are taking up a lot of days when the Fringe is on. 'Oasis can go on tour anytime and get the audience that they get. We are trying to attract people to Edinburgh to come to a festival which is all about introducing new talent and don't have the same level of exposure." A spokesperson for the Fringe Society said it was launching a "tactical marketing" strategy aimed at encouraging concert-goers to see Fringe shows while they are in the city. They said: 'Each year the rhythm and pattern of ticket sales is unique and can be affected by a range of factors, including timing of early ticket sales, marketing efforts, individual venue programmes, and broader economic and social factors. "As in previous years, anecdotal feedback from venues is varied. Overall numbers across August are consistent with what we expect to see at this point, and we are keeping a close eye on any emerging trends."
