Back at the Fringe, 2012!

It's good to be back. In a way it feels like I just came home.
As though yesterday was a Monday and last years Fringe was just before the weekend.

Already seen lots and have lots to write about, I have a much better system this year which means not having to constantly travel backwards and forwards across the city, all thought a little of that is all good. Know my way round a bit better as well.

Let's get it on.

Belated Fringe Reviews

Pirates of Penzance ****
Much Ado About Nothing ***

I sub-edited these for Caroline:
Scene of the Titans ****
Constance and Sinestra ***
13 - The Musical **

Yet More Fringe Reviews

Anton's Uncles ****
Alchemystorium ****
Homemade Fusion ****
I Love You Beause... ***
Little Shop of Horrors ***
Pollyanna meets Piaf ***
Rent **

Ok cool so here are some guidelines on reviewing I was handed and endow upon you for posterity, they have served me well: - Write in the present tense so much as possible, it makes for a more engagin read

- Avoid the use of "I" <- it's a strange one because we all have egos but it does serve a purpose, there are rare occasions where it's acceptable. Some sites liek BroadwayBaby have reviewers that always use it and they seem less professional. It's a bit silly on one level but that's how it goes.
- Personally I find having a "tack" or and angle to come at it from really helpful, some kind of overarching umbrella that eveything fits into - 200-500 words, but closer to 200 is better that closer to 500, that's the skinny policy because apparently people don't read longer articles online they will stop halfway through, I used to always write nearer to 500 first but I've become more economical over the fringe, partly because I had to becasue I'm seeing so much and partly because I've learned to say what I need to say quicker I see 240-300 as ideal really
- read reviews! It really helps to see how other people are writing to see if you like it or not or if the way they are writing is good what makes it good, if bad, what makes it bad. But in the end it's about finding your own voice.

The Rules of Engagement:
- be polite to everyone, I know you'll have no problems with this
- Don't discuss the show with anyone in the venue or in ear shot of the venue
- Don't discuss shows publically (such as on facebook) until your review is up online, we each have varying levels of how comfortable we are with talking about stuff to close people like pals who might ask before it goes up. Gareth will almost never do it except with us, I've been known not to do it as well but during the year we don't have the writers privelages to put stuff up directly so it can take a while, we're working on trying to come to a compromise to sort that out.

I will subedit your articles before putitng them on the network, not much gets changed but I find having Gareth edit my work helps so hopefully you'll feel the same. Also if you want any mentoring in that process I will offer you feedback, only because I felt I didn't get enough when I started writing as a critic, I always felt out in the cold working on my own a bit so it's up to you, I don't consider myself an expert writer or anything but everyone has something valuable to say.

Superfun!




* insulting to very poor
** poor to average
*** above average to really very good
**** very good to excellent
***** life changing

More Fringe Reviews

Hitler! The Musical *****
Miracles at Short Notice ****
Jet Set Go ***
Nine ***
From The Fire ***
I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change **
Evil - The Musical **
11 **

In print in the Shimmy Skinny today!

My feature on Muscial Theatre was printed in the Shimmy Skinny today so hopefully people all over Edinburgh will be checking it out over a cup of coffee :-D you can catch it online here:

MUSICAL THEATRE

the idea for this feature was actually originally birthed on the 27th of June - I even wrote  a blog about it you can read it here.

Illich Sketch Show @ Pilot 4 during Edinburgh Fringe

So the Illich Sketch Show was performed live for the first time in the history of the world, ever, ever last night at the Flatrate event, Pilot 4.

Euan Sinclair had this to say on the matter:
"Our first live show was every bit as chaotic as you'd imagine, but Illich went down well with that Edinburger lot. And we performed a new sketch - written three days' previous - that we intend to inflict upon YOU!! ILLICH Hath Spoken."


My brother Jono drove us down from Glasgow and kicked around, even made a cameo appearance as Illich character Mad Dog MacGraw and friends Finn Townsley, Adrianna Polito, and others turned out to support. Yay.

The 10th installment of Illich will be up on youtube shortly. Exciting stuff.

Some Fringe Reviews

The Kist *****
Fresher The Musical *****
Actions **** written with Rebecca Paul
Linn Lorkin - Hey Piano Bar Lady ****
Apply Within ***
Spring Awakening ***
Sunday in the Park with George ***
Into The Woods **