Visiting the Edinburgh Fringe?

You'll have noticed by now that neither Hugh Hughes or Hoipolloi can be found at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In the years that we haven't performed, it often feels like a bit of a mixed blessing - I'm not having to worry about how many people are booked for today's show but also, I feel a little left out, missing that kind of daily adrenaline charge.

Last year I didn't even have a visit to the Fringe but I can't stay away for long and so last weekend I was pounding the cobbled streets looking to be entertained.

I thought I'd share some tips for the best stuff I saw. Oh, and by the way, I'm also heading back to the Fringe from 24 to 28 August so if you have any tips on what to see during that period, I'd love to hear them!

Right, here goes...

The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik (Underbelly, 18.00)

I'm going to start with the best show I saw during my three days because if you get bored of reading this blog post, I don't want you to miss out on a real gem!

The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer - Trailer from Tim Watts on Vimeo.

Delightful, magical, charming, irresistible - lots of adjectives that I'd use to describe this show. It's a beautiful love story mixing animation, puppetry and music and I'd defy you not to fall in love with it. I saw it on Saturday and have been raving about it to anyone I can find (including you now). I've noticed that in the last two days it's been sold out so definitely one to get booked in to in advance.

Shows with a Hoipolloi connection

As I've mentioned, we don't have a show of our own on this year. But if you're craving some form of Hoipolloi-related show, why not try the following...

3rd Ring Out (Pleasance, various times from 18 August)

This hasn't started yet but Steffi, our Associate Director, is performing as part of it once it opens. Taking place inside a container, you're immersed straight into disaster emergency planning and your responses will effect the future. I saw this piece last year at PULSE and it's a really thought-provoking piece on climate change and our ability to deal with a changing world.

To Avoid Precipice Cling To Rock (Bedlam, 16.30 until 13 August only)

You've only got a few days left to catch this one and enjoy a bit of Hoipolloi history. Josie, Shon and Steffi's daughter making her Fringe performance debut! Josie is of course a Fringe veteran in many ways, having grown up spending August flyering for various Hoipolloi productions over the years. But it's great to see her taking to the stage as part of this fantastic ensemble of young female performers.

Show Me The World (Underbelly, 12.00)

This one's connected to me, as I've been mentoring the company for the last few months. Winners of IdeasTap's Edinburgh Award, this is a show written specially for and performed by a really exciting group of talented young performers. Some of the language in the show isn't for the faint-hearted but it really captures those late teenage moments of growing up and moving on. EDIT: they've just got a 4* review from Whatsonstage

Other gems that I enjoyed...

Vertigo (Bedlam, 15.25 until 13 August only)

Another show to catch if you can in the next few days. I really loved the charm and wit of the two performers and towards the end, a delightfully emotional twist caught me by surprise.

Cloud Man (Hill St Theatre, 11.00 until 24 August only)

A really enchanting piece for young audiences about the search for the elusive Cloud Man. Worth catching even if you don't have any children to take, I adored the detailed puppetry in this.

2401 Objects (Pleasance Courtyard, 16.40)

I first saw Analogue's work in 2007, receiving a Fringe First on the same day as Hugh Hughes (for Story of a Rabbit). I've enjoyed following their development over the last few years and I was so excited by this piece. It's fantastically confident and assured, capturing beautiful fragments of a fascinating true story.

Hoipolloi's interns storm Fringe Festivals!

I'm really excited that two ex-Hoipolloi interns are also performing on the Fringe this year -although only one is on in Edinburgh, the other is performing in London as part in Camden Fringe.

You can catch Sara (who worked with us in 2007/08) in Sold at Pleasance Courtyard at 11.10 and David (who worked with us in 2008/09) in Hamster Town at the Camden People's Theatre until 17 Aug.

Right, I think that's all for now. If you see any of these, I hope you enjoy them and looking forward to hearing your tips for what to catch when I return to Edinburgh at the end of August.

Posted by Simon Bedford (Executive Producer, Hoipolloi)

With thanks to the Edinburgh Blog for the photo

The Last Post

My last post (for now).

I spent the whole festival wanting to film Hugh's pre-show warm up but feared he may think it intrusive. Before the last show, however, I threw caution to the wind and captured this gem without Hugh knowing.

Whoever guesses what's on his iPod wins a prize.

Sunset

In the last few days my limbs have turned to jelly, my voice has dropped two octaves and gone croaky like Yoda and if I walk over anymore Edinburgh cobbles my feet will start screaming and frogmarch me back onto proper pavements.

But I refer you once again to my patented definition of Festival Fatigue to stress that whilst my body is wrecked, my mood remains indefatigably good. As much as I'm looking forward to going to bed for a week once I'm home, I'm sure I'll be missing the festival before too long.

At the Total Theatre Awards ceremony the other day, one of the speakers pointed out something obvious but very important. Every one of us knows what an endurance contest the Edinburgh Festival is, we know we're signing up to an utterly exhausting month and yet we troop back, year after year. It's pretty special.

*

Today is my last day working for Hoipolloi, for now. I am refusing to articulate this fact with any degree of finality, as I feel sure that I'll stay in touch with everyone at the company and work with them again before too long, in some capacity or another.

I have an anecdote which I've found myself referring to a lot whilst working for the company, or when I explain to people what Hoipolloi means to me. This feels like a good time to share it with the wider world.

In 2007 I visited the Edinburgh Fringe and saw Hugh Hughes in Story of a Rabbit. (I was already a Hoipolloi fan, having seen Floating and My Uncle Arly on previous tours.) That hour in Pleasance Two remains one of the most unforgettable experiences I've ever had at the theatre. Like so many who've seen the show, I laughed and I cried. And I cried and I cried and I cried.

When I left the theatre and shook hands with Hugh, I wanted to tell him that he'd completely altered my perspective on theatre. Sadly I couldn't because I was still crying and also feeling a bit embarassed because I was covered in tears and snot. My equally snot-covered friend Hannah and I staggered into the sunlight and sat down with a drink to calm our nerves. We continued crying for at least 20 minutes, during which time a number of people tried to flyer us for shows, only to find two weeping individuals, sobbing into pints.

Less than twelve months later I was at the National Theatre Studio working on Hugh Hughes' future production Invisible Town. About 18 months later I was creating 360 with Hugh, for which I'm now credited as an Artistic Collaborator. If you'd tapped me on the shoulder, as I sat at that table crying, and told me that I'd be working with Hugh within a year, I'm sure I wouldn't have believed you.

I probably don't need to say (and wouldn't be able to find the words anyway) how much those experiences have meant to me.

As well as loving every minute I've spent with the creative team at Hoipolloi, I need to say a huge thank you to Simon my 'boss' for the year and a wonderful mentor. And we're all bidding a fond farewell to Louise Coles who has been Hoipolloi's Administrative Director for the past five years. Louise boarded a plane for Perth two days ago. She's returning to her native Australia after several decades away, to run Perth's Blue Room. We all wish her the best of luck!

So here's to Hoipolloi, to Louise, to Edinburgh and to what is sure to be a fun-tastic final performance of 360 tonight. Hugh's been hinting that he has something special planned. I dread to think...

The Doubtful Guest nominated for a Total Theatre Award

I'm delighted to report that The Doubtful Guest has been nominated for a Total Theatre Award! The show's going extremely well with sell-out performances and happy audiences. It runs at Traverse until 30 August, click here to book tickets.

Congratulations also to the teams behind My Name Is Sue and 6.0 How Heap and Pebble Took on the World and Won, both of which have also been nominated. They were two of my favourite shows of the festival so far and I've mentioned them both on this blog before. Richly deserved, well done!

Hugh Hughes in... 360 was also 'Longlisted' for a Total Theatre Award. I honestly have no idea what this means but we'll take it as a compliment! Click here to book your tickets for 360.

Daydd James, who co-wrote and performs in My Name is Sue gave us a lovely compliment yesterday: "Hugh Hughes is the best show to exit-flyer because the audiences always come out so open and happy!" And at last night's performance, a man arrived wearing is 'Making Connections' badge from Floating. A true fan.

Hoipolloi's Big weekend

Hugh played to a sold out house last night (boosted by four stars and a great write-up in the FT) and numbers are looking strong for tonight too. It's lovely to see the Pleasance Courtyard looking nice and full and to be out and about talking to people about the show.

360 has settled into place beautifully and there were some lovely moments during last week's performances. My favourite was when Hugh invited the audience to sing Happy Birthday to a woman who'd told him on her way in that she was turning 22. Hugh then remembered that there's a piano stored behind the curtain at the back of the stage, and dragged it out before recruiting another audience member to play along. He made me giggle when he stopped everyone just before we were about to start, to say, "Hang on a minute, does everyone know the tune?"

We had a celebrity visit from Daniel Kitson, who'd seen Hugh's work before and enjoyed 360 too. (I would recommend and link to his show as a courtesy but he sold out so long ago that there's really no point.)

I finally saw My Name Is Sue last week, having had it recommended to me by everyone I met. And I enjoyed it so much I went back the next night! Wonderful character comedy and songs: deranged and exhilarating in equal measure. The only show that will have you leaving the theatre singing, "We're all going to die" whilst feeling ten times happier than when you came in!

GO AND SEE MY NAME IS SUE AT PLEASANCE TWO AT 9.45PM
(I don't use capital letters lightly)

And whilst you're at it, click here to book tickets for Hugh Hughes in... 360 and click here to book tickets for The Doubtful Guest. I'm going to leave with you a video trailer which should seal the deal...

Four stars in the FT

Four stars in the Financial Times this morning and it's looking like a busy weekend. I got soaked yesterday but the sun has come out and I must dash to the Courtyard. Sorry the blog's been a bit quiet the last few days, it was all we could do to stay dry and the laptops stayed at home. But we're having a blast and it's great to see all The Doubtful Guest lot again. Don't forget that The Doubtful Guest opens on Tuesday at the Traverse!

WhatsOnStage have just published a lovely interview with Hugh, click here to take a look.

Unfortunately I can't find the FT's review online (although I've read the print copy) and suspect it may be for subscribers only. But I'll keep digging this afternoon and post a link if I can find it. It's a lovely write-up.

Roll up, roll up for Hugh at Pleasance Courtyard, 7.05pm and The Doubtful Guest at Traverse from Tuesday 18th.

PS Thanks to Venice van Someren for this Edinburgh photo, which amused me!

Scotsman centre spread & a defence of flyering

Grab a copy of The Scotsman today for big feature on Hoipolloi and an interview with our Artistic Director Shon. You can click here to read online but really, I'd advise you to buy a copy in order to fully admire the big photo adorning the centre spread. We enjoyed passing it round the breakfast table this morning.

Hugh Hughes in... 360 has had another four star review, this time from The List. I think a full review will be printed in the magazine tomorrow, but click here for a truncated version in the meantime.

Today Josie and Chris, our street team stalwarts, bid farewell to flyering and start enjoying the festival as punters. They worked incredibly hard for the first week of the festival and it paid off, with sell out shows for the last four nights!

As ever, a lot of people in Edinburgh are flyering and, equally inevitably, a lot of people are moaning about it. (Mainly prima donna actors who didn't realise this was part of the deal in Edinburgh!) But I'd like to offer a defence of flyering. Because although it's tiring work, I actually really enjoy it.

Marketing a UK tour from the Hoipolloi office is a slightly imprecise science. We do our best and we normally sell pretty well but it feels very remote from the real people who come and see our work. Plus, at the end of it all, you still don't really know why someone came to see a show or didn't, or if they enjoyed it.

Flyering is the opposite and refreshingly so. I still find it funny when people ask, "Have you seen the show you're telling us about?" (Lots of flyerers work for agencies and flyer for a different show every day.) Yes, I've seen the show and yes, I'm genuinely enthusiastic about it. And it's exciting to be out and about talking to people, and passing that enthusiasm on.

Often people tell us they've enjoyed other Hoipolloi shows and are delighted to discover that we're back at the festival. I spent about twenty minutes telling one couple all about Hugh's adventures in Australia and I've bumped into a few Edward Gorey fans who are already looking forward to The Doubtful Guest. It's fantastic when the audience come into Pleasance Two and you recognise people you've spoken to during the day. And even better when they bound up to you after the show to tell you how much they've enjoyed it!

Of course, there are some less friendly people (thought they're in the minority). Josie found a woman who sat at her table, completely and utterly ignoring anyone who tried to talk to her, refusing to even acknowledge their presence until they stopped talking and went away. And Josie saw this as something of a challenge. She decided to see how long she could go for before the woman gave up and just told her to go away. A war of attrition began and I'm sad to say that Josie was outdone. But she had been standing there rabbiting away for at least fifteen minutes, which is a good effort by any standards.

Other favourite moments have included, Marieke telling someone that if they bought tickets for the show she'd marry them... at which point the man produced two tickets which he'd already bought! And Chris flyering someone who seemed quite interested but then said, "Oh, the time doesn't quite work for me. I've got badminton at six."

Marieke and I will be back out this afternoon. Do come and say hello if you see us.

And click here to book tickets for Hugh's show tonight, Pleasance Two, 7.05pm.

Hugh Hughes Edinburgh diary

Another 360 sell-out last night and four stars from Metro this morning! The review is so good that I really want to quote the whole thing. I think the line we'll end up sticking on our flyers is, "inclusive and delightfully daft, he's the favourite teacher you never had". But in truth, I prefer, "If you've ever had an existential crisis whilst staring into the eyes of a sheep, Hugh Hughes is the man for you"! Click here to read the other bits.

I mentioned in my last post that Saturday's show was unusual. I wasn't in the theatre that night but Hugh has written an account for us. Here it is:


"Saturday's show was full of strange occurrences. I met the audience as they came in. My Uncle Trevor was there, so it was nice to have a familiar face, and I met a man called Patrick, his wife Judith, two sets of twins, four Lauras and a man whose forehead I thought I recognised.

Ten minutes after that, I was walking through Llangefni when a plane flew overhead so low that the whole audience ducked. It was so loud that I had to stop the show for a moment. Even afterwards, the space was vibrating and I found myself wondering if the plane had left a stripe across the sky, so I ran outside for a moment to have a look. I think a lot of people in the audience were probably wondering too and it was easier for me to look because I was already standing up.

When I came back there was a green woman in the audience, who hadn't been there before. Then she collapsed, her neck giving way and her head toppling, first very slowly and then like the moment a rollercoaster goes over the edge. She hit her head on a gong which made a noise which rippled across the space, changing the atmosphere like flicking a switch. I stopped the show and found it quite amazing that we really were having an 'is there a doctor in the house?' moment. A woman in a nurse's uniform jumped out of the audience. She had a klaxon and a megaphone and was shouting and the noise of the plane was screaming again and before I knew it Annabelle our Stage Manager was evacuating the venue.

I thought about continuing the show outside the courtyard but there was a lot of background noise and it would have been hard to find a space. But soon Annabelle told me that the green woman was fine. She'd had a fainting spell and the nurse had said she needed air but actually she'd just got a bit hot and dizzy. She said sorry to me on the way out, even though she didn't need to, and she wasn't green anymore which was a relief.

The audience trooped back in and I went back onstage. It was weird because there was no way I could just pick up where I left off and pretend nothing had happened. But oddly, that was exactly what we all had to try and do together. The audience seemed in good spirits, after all they'd chosen to come back in and hear the end of the story! But in order to do that, it was like creating a mass amnesia where we pretended to forget that anyone had turned green. I went back to Snowdon and wondered if the woman had fainted when we were here last because she suffered from vertigo."

Four stars and a full house

A sell-out show, four stars from Chortle and a couple of radio interviews for good measure... yesterday was a busy day for Hugh Hughes. And I think he gave his best performance of 360 yet.

The day started in the Fresh Air FM studio, where Hugh was joined by Hoipolloi's Artistic Director Shon Dale-Jones. Click here to listen again to Shon discussing Hoipolloi's fifteenth anniversary and The Doubtful Guest's upcoming run at Traverse. And click here for Hugh, who talks about 360 before sharing some anecdotes about life on Anglesey and growing up with Gareth.

We had a boost mid-afternoon when we heard on the grapevine that Chortle had published a review. After a mad scramble to find a laptop and some wi-fi, it was high-fives all round as we read the glowing review! Steve Bennett described 360 as "life-affirming" and "guaranteed to put a spring into your step", giving it four stars. Click here to read the full review.

By the time the doors to Pleasance Two opened at seven o'clock, there wasn't a single ticket left. We're delighted that the show is proving so popular, so early in the festival. And Hugh himself is over the moon, as pleased as ever to be talking to audiences before and after the show, greeting people who've seen his previous shows and making friends with newcomers.

With no rest for the wicked, Hugh only had time for a quick drink after the show before he jumped in a taxi and made his way to the Leith FM studio to round off the day with another interview. We both got a bit baffled, as the taxi dropped us off miles from where we were supposed to be. But we got there just in time!

Hugh will be onstage again at 7.05pm tonight at Pleasance Two. Click here to book your tickets. If last night's anything to go by, you'd better get in fast!

I'm already looking forward to my Hugh Hughes pick-me-up tonight. I saw Simon Stephens' new play Sea Wall at the ungodly hour of 9.45am and I couldn't have hoped for a more poetically desolate start to the day. I'm in the Traverse bar at the moment trying to collect myself but not having much luck so far. Catch it if you can but not until you've booked for 360 AND The Doubtful Guest!

Hugh Hughes, the man himself! Hurrah!

And we're off! Hugh Hughes had a fantastic opening night. I was in Pleasance Two just before the show began. When Hugh opened the door to greet his audience, I heard the man at the front of the queue shout, "Hugh Hughes, the man himself! Hurrah!" And things just got better from there...

Flyering yesterday was fun. It's always great to be out and about, talking to people about the show. Lots of people had seen Hugh's shows before and were delighted that he was back. And we also had lots of new converts. Several people grabbed me on the way out to say how much they'd enjoyed the show and how glad they were to have been pestered by our flyering team!

Yesterday also marked a step further into the online era for Hoipolloi. Last night, Hugh asked an audience member named Charlie to help him with part of the performance. And after the show, Charlie contacted us via Twitter to say how much he'd enjoyed it! This has always been our ambition: a two-way conversation with our audiences. And although Hugh's had plenty of email from fans before, I think this was his first tweet!

Click here to book your tickets for Hugh Hughes in... 360. We were close to a full house yesterday, and if that's anything to go by the show will be selling fast from here! And if you're in Edinburgh already, please come and say hello. We'll be flyering all afternoon in the Courtyard.

Hugh Hughes in... 360 is on at 7.05pm in Pleasance Two.

We've arrived!

I'm relaxing in the Traverse Bar at the moment. It's terribly civilized and I'm admiring several Doubtful Guest posters adorning the walls.

But this afternoon all attention will turn to Hugh Hughes' brand new show 360. Tonight is our first Edinburgh performance and in a moment I'll be heading for the scrum of Pleasance Courtyard for my first bout of flyering!

The show is on at Pleasance Two at 7.05pm... hope to see lots of you there!

Throughout the festival, we'll be Blogging EVERY day and tweeting more often than you can imagine, so keep your eyes peeled and keep in touch.

Here's to Edinburgh 2009...

Latitude - our best ever wet weekend

Well we've just about dried off... And despite the rain, we had a fantastic weekend at Latitude! Hugh Hughes' special preview performance of 360 went down a storm and we all found time to see some brilliant acts.

My highlights were Grace Jones and The Gossip (and not just because I love strong women). Regina Spektor was fantastic and I fell in love with 1927 all over again (...more strong women).

Slightly further off the beaten track, we enjoyed the endearingly adolescent Ruby And Her Whorses, a super-subversive performance by David Hoyles and my favourite ever stand-up Andy Zalztman. (Choice one-liner: 'Don't complain about being eaten by a horse if you play polo dressed a sugar cube.')

Our most magical festival moment came on the opening night, in the form of La Reve, a commissioned performance by The Irrepressibles. Imagine an alternative baroque orchestra, with musicians dressed in Tim Burton (or even Edward Gorey)-esque costumes performing in the Human Music Box (pictured below) but at night, with the lights shimmering off the lake.


And I must also give a massive shout-out to the people running a shop stall which at night transformed into an unofficial jungle 'stage'. Dancing in the rain with twelve other people - all totally comitted members of the Junglist Massive - was a delight!

Most importantly, Hugh Hughes' performance in the Theatre Tent on Sunday was a great success. With so many other things on offer, it was to Hugh's great credit that the audience grew and grew as the show went on until the tent was absolutely packed. And 360 is in fantastic shape, with just one more preview to go before Edinburgh!

I should take this opportunity to say hello to Harvey, who Hugh invited on stage to play the role of Gareth. Harvey is eight, the same age as Gareth in the story Hugh wanted to tell, and he gave a great performance - thank you!


Don't forget that 360 will head to Reading's South Street Arts Centre on Thursday for a performance at 8pm, with tickets at just £5. Click here to book! We hope to see lots of you there.

Finally, Hoipolloi must thank everyone who made Latitude happen. It was a wonderful festival which we would all heartily recommend. And most importantly, thank you to Emma Bettridge and all at Pleasance for inviting us to be part of Latitude's Picks of the Pleasance season.