Tag: Theatre

Don’t Call It A Comeback (or do, I can’t really stop you).

So this is the first real Fringe I’ve done anything in since 2019, and it has been a festival of weird accidents from start to finish.

It started end of July when I broke my leg, and I genuinely thought I’d have to pull out of the festival. I did not. I kept to the show I had commited to, where I thought I’d just be a stage manager and just occasional have to awkwardly appear on stage every now and then.

Instead, I have ended up being a performer and stage manager, all on crutches, doing quick quips and CLOWNING of all damn things. The last 2-3 nights, that show has ended up with 30+ audience members chanting my name, and being recognised in the street and being heckled by audience members who have seen the show before. Tonight during that show, I led the entire audience in karaoke version of I Believe In A Thing Called Love. You had to be there.

Then earlier today, I got a message asking if I’d like to cover a show for the week as the original host had to pull out. Its supposed to be a showcase of spoken word/mixed bill sort of thing. I’ve done those shows before. Sure, I’ll run a week long show for the Free Fringe with 8 hours notice! What could go wrong?

It was short notice and no other acts turned up. But the audience did.

So I downloaded the poems from my old Edinburgh Horror Show, and accidentally did my first ever solo Fringe show. I’ve not done a solo show since coming out as trans, I’ve done a couple of variety nights but never a solo show. And honestly, I never thought I’d do another solo show again because of transitioning because of a fear of judgement/persecution/transphobic arseholery.

But tonight I did it, I did a full show an audience of 6 complete strangers. They actually loved it. People willingly put money in the bucket for a poetry show that no one knew anything about, 2 people cried (which is my personal hallmark of victory to make at least one person cry). I felt confident, in control, and felt like my most complete self for the first time ever.

(Also, technically that show was so last minute that there were no posters or flyers for the show, and I live local, so therefore have no overheads and have technically made a profit at the Fringe which is absolutely bizarre and hilarious).

Anyway, come along to Banshee Labyrinth at 8.15pm for the mysterious PBH Spoken Word Showcase where I have no idea what’s going to happen on until the moment the show starts and then come see The Ritual at 9.30pm in the same room for Extra Emilie in your life.

2017 – A Year in Review

A long short summary of 2017.

Another year over, and what a year it’s been. It’s had ups and downs and tears and laughter and clichés and bad metaphors. It has been a year.

But I have never felt as successful as I have coming out of this year. This year, I did so many things I didn’t expect me to do ever.

I won not one but two poetry slams, I performed music on stage for the first time since 2013, I managed to write 100 Poems in 100 Days (I still don’t know how I managed that).

I had my first ever stand-up comedy gig (it was terrifying, it was amazing), I got to perform alongside one of my poetry idols and busted some more comedy and broke my roleplaying game cherry with The Comedy Roleplaying Hour at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

I had my first paid feature poetry gig, I wrote, produced and performed my first ever full-length poetry show at the Edinburgh Horror Festival, and became part of the team that run the Edinburgh Horror Festival.

I had my first ever compere gig, started a new cabaret band/duo, and started work on a new live poetry event with a good friend of mine which is due to debut early next year. And finally, to top it all off, I was named Stage Time Promotions ‘Best Poetry/Spoken Word Act of 2017.’

Across music, comedy and poetry (and hosting) I’ve performed 36 times this year. That’s insane. That’s 36 more performances than I expected to do in my life. There’s so many people in my life that I need to thank. This has been unexpected. For the first time in 25 years, I feel proud of myself.

It’s not been without its battles. Mental health, homelessness, nerves, losing friends, drifting away from people. No life is 100% perfect.

But this year came pretty damn close.

I’d like to say a huge thank you to all of you, the people who’ve read the poems, the people who have listened to/watched me perform. The people who have let me perform (Inky Fingers’ wonderboys, Freddie and Ross, the beautiful Lloyd and Matt behind The God Damn Debut Slam, my good friend Ross who I produce the Freakeasy Showcase with, the Edinburgh Horror Festival, and the organisers of From The Horse’s Mouth).

My sound operator, Graham, and poster designer, Ash from We All Have Fears.

To all my friends who have supported me and listened to my surrealist ramblings while trying to write something. To all my friends who have been there on any level. My friends online and on the earth. There are so many of you. I can’t thank you enough.

And finally, thank you, dear readers. You don’t know me, and yet you’ve taken the time to stick around and read this. You’ve read the blogs, you’ve read the poems. You’re amazing. And I love that you’ve been hanging around, commenting when you can. Liking, sharing, communicating, supporting. Thank you.

Bring on 2018 and the next adventure!

‘We All Have Fears’ – Done!

So, this past year I feel I’ve managed to go from strength to strength. This is due to the following things:

  1. I’ve managed to get out and make new friends and rebuild some old friendships.
  2. I’ve started to build momentum on the Scottish spoken word scene. People recognise or have heard of me now, and that’s weird.
  3. I’ve got a small, fantastic fan base that just keeps to be building.
  4. I’ve had my first paid poetry gigs. Hot damn, people actually want to book me and pay me for this stuff.

And finally, on top of this, I mnaged to write, direct and perform my first, full length solo poetry show. And it was received well. I’ve had constructive feedback and know how to work on it. I reckon it may end up hitting up the Edinburgh Fringe next year.

I’d like to thank everyone who had helped, my friends Ross, Isla, Heli and Oliver, Theresa, Dave, David, Gemma, Ricky and everyone else who came to the show or helped or listened to me rant or kept me sane with cups of tea, my sound guy, Graham, and my graphic designer, Ash.

A huge thanks goes to Edinburgh Horror Festival for opportunity to debut this show.

A hundred thank yous go out to the Amanda F*cking Palmer Official Page group for helping with the research for the show.

Further thanks go out to Stage Time Productions for their review of the show (that you can read here!)

And finally, thank you to all of you. You who have been reading and commenting away. Thank you for your support and dedication.

#PoeticAnswers 50 – Is There An Art To Being A Stage Technician?

Yes.

Allow me to shed some light,
Hear me out on this matter,
There is as much artistry backstage
As there is on the stage.

Sonic, scenic and visual artists
Set the scene and the score
And illuminate the microcosms
Of stage and screen while
Remaining unseen and unheard
While building walls of sound and
Tapestries of light and
Entirely illusory worlds.

Because it’s a big-top circus
And we’re the juggler, and trapeze, and the balancing act
Performing behind the scenes.
Getting everything ready before
The clowns enter the stage.
Playing God,
Controlling the light they walk in,
Adding the music and sound to the mundanity,
Cueing them into life.

We are valid true artists.
Hiding in shadows,
Lighting the way
Making the music,
But staying out of the spotlight.
Forever alone in black space,
Making every day our magnum opus
While no one pays attention
To the man behind the curtain.

Question from ‘A Curious Follower’ from WordPress!