Click here to view photos of Nottingham at the Fringe.

A note from your Edinburgh Co-ordinator: Michelle Ghatan

The Edinburgh Fringe is the world’s largest Arts Festival. This year the festival, held in the historic capital of Scotland during the month of August, offered over 28,000 performances in 261 venues, with 1,800 different shows. One of those productions was Persae by Nottingham New Theatre, directed by Sam Grafton:

‘The coalition of the willing plunder Iraq. A mutilated war hero is presented to America’s first lady. Persae by Van Badham, ‘a major talent’ Guardian, is Aeschylus’ ‘The Persians’ updated for the warfare of sound bytes and surgical strikes’.

Preparing the Fringe show and performing it for three weeks at the festival was a fantastic opportunity for numerous New Theatre members.

Click here to see the Persae poster and 4 star review from The Scotsman

This year, several other New Theatre members took productions to the Fringe and received similar success.

Written by our very own President Charlie Brafman, Ankle Productions’ ‘Cast Aside’ is to be showcased at the New Theatre this February, following its successful stint at the Festival, with some proceeds hoping to support the Edinburgh cause 2007.

Click here to see the four star review from Three Weeks

The Slippery Soap Box from Shut Yo Face was also written by New Theatre members. Jim Rastall and Rufus Tanner’s production was described as a ‘bittersweet comedy, intelligent in its immaturity, makes you laugh until you cry until you laugh at how much you are crying until you wee a little and nervously titter inwardly whilst still laughing outwardly. Fun times’.

Click here to see one viewer’s thoughts on the production.

Ali Blackwell, another New Theatre member, took Come on, Jeeves! to the Fringe with his company Theatrical Theatrics Productions (ttproductions.com), and their production was a sell-out show.

Click here to read the four star review from Three Weeks.

This year, we hope to take another cracking piece of theatre to Scotland’s capital. In order to make this possible however, we need to raise a lot of cash! As well as selling refreshments before our shows and during the intervals, we are hoping to stage the annual Stars in their Eyes and 24hr play! These are great opportunities to get involved in all the fun New Theatre has to offer, especially if you have not been cast in a play for the season.

If you have any fundraising ideas, are interested in raising money, want to help with events such as Stars in their Eyes, or would just like to be involved in any aspect of Edinburgh preparation, then do not hesitate to give me a call on: 07941 479 249 or email me at: michelleghatan@hotmail.com

If anyone is interested in Directing a play to take to Edinburgh this year, get thinking and planning! We will be holding the proposals meeting a few weeks into the Spring Semester.

Would you like to Sponsor the New Theatre Edinburgh Production 2007?
You would receive enormous amounts of advertising and publicity, and not to mention, supporting quality student drama. A great opportunity for businesses and companies alike.