UK Theatre Network

EDINBURGH FRINGE EUROPEAN PREMIERE

Greenwich Theatre presents in association with Susan Winter Productions, the NYC One Festival winner,

HEAVY LIKE THE WEIGHT OF A FLAME

Starring R Ernie Silva

 

One of London’s leading Off-West End venues, Greenwich Theatre, is to make a grand entrance onto the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year when they present their debut Fringe production in partnership with NYC One Festival, by bringing the award-winning American writer/performer R Ernie Silva to the Underbelly to make his European Premiere in this highly acclaimed, part-theatre/part-comedy show, HEAVY LIKE THE WEIGHT OF A FLAME.

Based on true events, this is Silva’s own autobiographical tale of a Brooklyn street kid desperate to escape. Beset by tragedy throughout his young life and spurred on by the fatal overdose of his older brother, Silva finally found the courage to gather together his possessions and his beloved guitar, Savannah, and leave the projects. Infused with the spirit of Jack Kerouac and the music of Jimi Hendrix, Silva’s journey was an inspirational one as he struggled to fight off the visions, voices and memories that tormented him, and find his true path.

Now, this captivating performer finally makes his European premiere, bringing a fresh, inspirational true story to Edinburgh.  This one-man show has been described by US press as, ‘absolutely sensational’ and ‘a gem… a work of real soul’ that ‘keeps you guessing, laughing and inspired…’ from beginning to end.

HEAVY LIKE THE WEIGHT OF A FLAME is directed by Mary Joan Negro, a TONY award nominee and a member of the Drama Division of NYC’s Juilliard School.  Commenting on this new venture, James Haddrell, Director of Greenwich Theatre says: ‘This is an exciting time for Greenwich Theatre. Presenting this unique production from New York at Edinburgh’s Underbelly, before transferring the show to our London home, is a strong indicator of the type of theatre we are becoming and the strength we are finding both on and off stage’.

Having returned to its roots as a producing theatre in 2009, Greenwich Theatre began presenting its work on-tour in 2010 with the musical Drive, Ride, Walk, and the US drama, The Temperamentals, which won the Dublin International Gay Theatre Festival’s Intercultural Dialogue Award. 

Set to be a ‘must see’ show, HEAVY LIKE THE WEIGHT OF A FLAME promises an uplifting performance, showing daily in The Dairy Room at the Underbelly between Wed, 3 and Mon, 29 August before transferring to Greenwich Theatre where it will play a limited run between 31 August and 3 September.

For tickets tel: 0844 545 8252 (Edinburgh) / 020 8858 7755 (London) or visit: underbelly.co.uk (Edinburgh) / greenwichtheatre.org.uk (London).

Show                            HEAVY LIKE THE WEIGHT OF A FLAME

Venue:                         The Dairy Room, Underbelly – Bristo Square, Edinburgh.  EH8 9AL

Dates:                          3 – 29 August

Performance Starts:     17:00

Running Times:            75mins (no interval)

Tickets:                        £10+

Venue Box Office:        +44 (0) 844 545 8252 / underbelly.co.uk

Fringe Box Office:        +44 (0) 131 226 0000 / edfringe.com

Venue:                         Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, London. SE10 8ES

Dates:                          31 August – 3 September

Performance Starts:     20:00

Running Times:            75mins (no interval)

Tickets:                        £12.50 / £10

Venue Box Office:        +44 (0) 208 858 7755 / greenwichtheatre.org.uk

Fringe Box Office:        +44 (0) 131 226 0000 / edfringe.com

OPERATION ADELMO

FIRST CAME THE 3 TENORS, then THE SOPRANOS, now… OPERATION ADELMO!

 

‘Best Comedy Musical Performer’ award-winner, Adelmo Guidarelli – The Clown Prince of Opera – is to debut his quirky, fast-paced, operatic parody, OPERATION ADELMO in the UK this August when it makes its Premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Putting Opera in the spotlight at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe may be considered by some to be a risky affair but OPERATION ADELMO has a comical twist that makes the performance suitable for both die-hard Opera lovers and self-avowed haters alike, as Adelmo explains: “I am aware that everyone hates Opera and with this in mind, I’ve created a performance that weaves Opera with pop-culture, animated with humour and irony for everyone to enjoy”.

This charismatic and completely acoustic presentation features an array of instruments, not usually linked with Opera, including the ukulele, banjo, guitar, and kazoo, in a performance that brings about a comical, multi-language, operatic treatment as Adelmo skilfully demonstrates the parallels between well-known arias and their pop-culture counterparts… using baseball as a platform!

A former security guard by day and passionate Opera singer by night, Adelmo has sprung to fame in the US where he has been compared to Danish comedian/conductor/pianist Victor Borge and English-Canadian singer/comedienne Anna Russell, as well as being cited as ‘The up-and-coming baritone of the decade’.  His voice gains him constant recognition around the globe having performed sell-out performances and earned critical acclaim from journalists; ‘confident’, ‘commanding’, ‘relevant’, ‘brilliant’, ‘breath-taking’, and ‘romantically enticing'.

Having trained professionally at Metropolitan Opera, Adelmo has worked with such operatic legends as, Lucianno Pavarotti, Gulietta Simionato, Licia Albanese, Sherrill Milnes and Robert Merrill and has performed for Queen Elizabeth II and Pope John Paul II. 

OPERATION ADELMO promises a full 75mins of pure, unadulterated fun and will be performing at the New Town Theatre – Mysterious, Edinburgh at select dates throughout August.  Tickets can be booked by contacting the box office on 0131 220 0143 or by visiting operationadelmo.com / universalartsfestival.co

Show                            OPERATION ADELMO

Venue:                         New Town Theatre – Mysterious: 98 George Street, Edinburgh

Preview:                      4-5 Aug

Dates:                          6-28 Aug

Performance Starts:     17:30

Running Times:            75mins (no interval)

Tickets:                        £5 (Preview) / £11 (£9)* / £13 (£11)*

Show Website:             operationadelmo.com

Venue Box Office:        +44 (0) 131 220 0143 / universalartsfestival.com

Fringe Box Office:        +44 (0) 131 226 0000 / edfringe.com

*select performances only

EDINBURGH FRINGE UK PREMIERE

Hollywood Hills Productions presents,

THE PRESENTMENT

Written & Directed by D. Paul Thomas

Love is immune from everything but betrayal…

Truth, tragedy, guilt and resentment all converge in THE PRESENTMENT; a modern-day, ecclesiastical heresy trial based upon true events, due to makes its UK Premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe where it performs at Paradise in Augustine’s between 6 and 29 August.

Addressing issues surrounding same-sex marriage, THE PRESENTMENT is a trial of family and faith, as one priest struggles to save his church from heresy, a family is forced to face the truth of their past when secrets are uncovered and old wounds resurface.  Commenting on this highly topical play, Executive Director, Kerry Morrison says: “It takes an issue that evokes so much emotion, confusion and division, and provides a safe place in which to explore all facets.  It would be hard to emerge from the play feeling sure about anything except that in the final analysis, we are all human beings with deep flaws and an even deeper need for acceptance”.

Rev. Samuel Jennings, is the Prosecutor in a trial against Parish Priest, David Thompson.  In his passion to ‘save the Church’, he overlooks the diverse relationship in his own family.  When he and his wife arrive in New York City for the trial, they visit their son and daughter-in-law who share their apartment with a friend – Samuel’s former organist.  Forced to face the truth of their past, the family struggle to find a middle ground whilst navigating long-standing values and staying true to their core believes.  Samuel is forced to make a decision, to proceed or abandon his role as Prosecutor for THE PRESENTMENT.

First written in 1998 by D. Paul Thomas, THE PRESENTMENT had its acclaimed World Premiere at The Pasadena Playhouse, the State theatre of California, in 1999 where it performed for six-weeks to rave reviews, heralded by journalists as ‘a heart-wrenching drama’ and ‘surpassing theatricality’.  Recently revised, this six-character family drama is based on an incident involving a close friend of the writer, who was dying from AIDS and is also loosely based upon a trial that took place in the Episcopal Church in 1996, when a Bishop was charged with heresy for ordaining a gay priest.  This marks D. Paul Thomas’ return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe having successfully previewed his play ‘Bonhoeffer 1945’ 15-years ago.

THE PRESENTMENT promises a poignant and compelling performance.

CAST 

Gary Clemmer – Rev. David Thomas

D. Paul Thomas – Rev. Samuel Jennings

Mary Chalon – Eleanor Jennings

Nicole Gabriella Scipione – Rebecca Jennings

Nathan Wetherington – Michael Jennings

Preston Vanderslice – Jonathan Malone

Show                            THE PRESENTMENT

Venue:                         Paradise in Augustine’s (Venue 152) – 41 George VI Bridge, Edinburgh

Preview:                      6-7 Aug @19:10

Dates:                          8-14, 16-21, 23-29 Aug

Performance Starts:     21:05

Running Times:            90mins (no interval)

Tickets:                       Preview: £8 (£6.50) / £12 (£9.50)

Show Website:             www.thepresentment.com

Venue Box Office:        +44 (0) 131 510 0022 / www.paradise-green.co.uk

Fringe Box Office:        +44 (0) 131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com

EDINBURGH FRINGE WORLD PREMIERE

YOURS, ISABEL

Written by Christy Hall

1942. A World at War.  A Woman Left Behind…

Making its World Premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, YOURS, ISABEL is a new play by American playwright Christy Hall, based upon original letters written during the 1940s, performing at Paradise in the Vault between 8 and 29 August.

For the first time in centuries, women were being recognised outside the realms of the household; able to undertake jobs originally held open only to men, women’s duties were being taken to a new level both in Britain and the US.  

During WWII, over six million women took wartime jobs in factories, helping US industry meet the wartime production demands for planes, tanks, ships and weapons.  Three million women volunteered with the Red Cross, and over 200,000 women served in the military.  Yet, as the war came to a close, the propaganda changed.  Suddenly, if one hoped to be a good woman, faithful wife, and patriot, she should give up her job and return to the home.  But, as time would soon reveal, the men of WWII were not only coming back as different men, they were also coming home to different women.

YOURS, ISABEL highlights the hypocrisies of both wartime and post-war American society, capturing the emotions and viewpoints of women from the era. 

Isabel McMeniman is an independent woman with somewhat ‘radical’ ideas of a woman’s conduct in 1940s America.  Born to a second-generation Irish-American Catholic and married to a second-generation Italian-American Protestant, Isabel strives to be everything she isn’t - a dutiful, submissive, home-maker.  When her husband is deployed to fight overseas, Isabel is left with little choice but to return to her childhood home to care for her sick father.  As the US pushes ahead with the war effort, the women left behind are asked to leave their kitchens and step into the workforce, something Isabel wholeheartedly embraces.  For the first time, Isabel feels set free.  But will this new-found liberation last once the war ends and Nick returns home?

The production will be directed by Rex Daugherty, with Christy as Isabel and Matt Lutz (FILM: BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE and A WALK TO REMEMBER) as Nick.  The official American premiere of YOURS, ISABEL will be part of the celebrated 20th season at Los Angeles' Actors Co-op theatre, set to open in February of 2012. 

YOURS, ISABEL promises a captivating performance that is both stimulating and enlightening, tickets can be purchased by contacting the box office on tel: 0131 510 0022 / 0131 226 0000 or by visiting paradise-green.co.uk / edfringe.com

Show                            YOURS, ISABEL

Venue:                         Paradise in the Vault @ Augustine’s – 11 Merchant Street, Edinburgh

Dates:                          8-14, 16-21, 23-29 Aug

Performance Starts:     16:30

Running Times:            70mins (no interval)

Tickets:                        8-9 August £4

£5  

Show Website:             yoursisabel.com

Venue Box Office:        +44 (0) 131 510 0022 / www.paradise-green.co.uk

Fringe Box Office:        +44 (0) 131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com

Naked in a Fishbowl

Life, improvised…

New York City’s Off-Broadway hit, the improvised sitcom NAKED IN A FISHBOWL, comes to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to create and film six brand new episodes in front of an explosive Edinburgh audience. 

‘Very funny, indeed!’

TIME OUT LONDON

Think an unabashed, all-female ‘Friends’ crossed-with ‘Sex and the City’ but live and uncut and you’ve got NAKED IN A FISHBOWL; hailed as ‘smart, honest and fearless’, this award-winning comedy troupe is due to make their UK debut at Gryphon 2 - Point Hotel where it performs for a limited run between 22 and 27 August.

‘the next generation of Funny Girls before they hit Saturday Night Live’

NYLON MAGAZINE

NAKED IN A FISHBOWL chronicles the lives of six-women in New York City, filmed live, the performance has gone down a storm in the US, generating its own cult following and described by press as ‘one of the most exciting kinds of theatre possible’, ‘a show to see’ and the ‘brightest lights of the festival’ at the 2007 NY International Fringe Festival.

««««

TIME OUT NY

Beginning life as an experimental piece of improvised theatre back in 2004, under the title ‘What Women Talk About’, NAKED IN A FISHBOWL has developed into a radical new theatre piece which blurs the lines between theatre, television and the internet.  Having first been created into a web series six-years ago, this female comedy troupe has, since 2010, created over 30 original episodes in front of a live theatre audience, resulting in 300,000 online viewers in over 80 countries.

NAKED IN A FISHBOWL stars Katharine Heller, Brenna Palughi, Lauren Seikaly, Molly Knefel, Daliya Karnofsky, and Rachel Axelrod – select performances will also feature guest star appearances from British comediennes/actresses.

Tickets for what promises to be a riotous romp of hilarity and brutal honesty, in this wholly unique live show, can be purchased by contacting the box office on tel: 0131 226 0000 or by visiting edfringe.com

Each episode is available through iTunes and on nakedinafishbowl.com

Show                            NAKED IN A FISHBOWL

Venue:                         Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel, Gryphon 2 (Venue 109A)            

Dates:                          22-27 Aug

Performance Starts:     22:00

Running Times:            60mins (no interval)

Tickets:                        £10.00 (£8.00) (£8.00SUDO)

Show Website:             nakedinafishbowl.com

Venue:                         gryphonvenues.com     

Fringe Box Office:        +44 (0) 131 226 0000 / edfringe.com

THE BEST OF THE FEST ‘11

DRAMA:

ANDREA’S GOT TWO BOYFRIENDS / This ‘funny, touching and painful’ (-LA Daily Breeze) character study explores the developmentally challenged with humour and compassion. Andrea’s Got Two Boyfriends - which centres on the lives of three mentally challenged adults and their counsellor, and is based on the playwright’s own sister - is coming to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August, performed by New Salisbury Players from the US. Performing daily at 11:30 in Greenside between Fri, 5 and Sat, 27 August – 45-mins

YOURS, ISABEL / WORLD PREMIERE / A new play by American playwright Christy Hall, based upon original letters written by women during the 1940s.  The story focuses on the less than conventional Isabel McMeniman, an independent woman with somewhat ‘radical’ ideas of a woman’s conduct in 1940s America. The play highlights the hypocrisies of both wartime and post-war American society, capturing the emotions and viewpoints of women from the era.  Performing daily at 16:30 in Paradise in the Vault @ Augustine’s between Thurs, 18 and Mon, 29 August – 70-mins

THE PRESENTMENT / UK PREMIERE / Written by American playwright D Paul Thomas, this play is modern-day, heresy trial based upon true events.  Addressing issues surrounding same-sex marriage, the story unravels to illustrate a trial of family and faith; as one priest struggles to save his church from heresy, a family is forced to face the truth of their past when secrets are uncovered and old wounds resurface.   Performing at 21:05 in Paradise in Augustine’s between Sat, 6 and Mon, 29 August – 90-mins (with 10-mins interval)

COMEDY THEATRE

FLYERMAN / WORLD PREMIERE / A very special show is heading to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year, presented by two men – as part of their ‘bucket-list’ - whose day jobs do not involve acting or performing comedy; Flyerman is the show about shows at the world’s largest arts festival or, more specifically, the show about the soul-destroying task of flyering for shows at the world’s largest arts festival… the show also promises to expose TV’s all-round nice guy actor Peter (Blue Peter) Duncan!   Performing daily (times vary), except Sundays, in The Space @ Surgeons Hall between Fri, 5 and Sat, 27 August – 55-mins

HEAVY LIKE THE WEIGHT OF A FLAME / EUROPEAN PREMIERE / One of London’s leading Off-West End venues, Greenwich Theatre presents this highly acclaimed, part-theatre/part-comedy show from the US. Based on true events, this is R Ernie Silva’s own inspirational, autobiographical tale of a Brooklyn street kid desperate to escape. Infused with the spirit of Jack Kerouac and the music of Jimi Hendrix, this one-man show has been described by US press as, ‘absolutely sensational’ and ‘a gem… a work of real soul’ that ‘keeps you guessing, laughing and inspired…’ from beginning to end. Performing daily at 17:00 in The Dairy Room, Underbelly between Wed, 3 and Mon, 29 August – 75-mins

ROSIE THORN, BUTTER WOULD NOT MELT / Makes Bree Van De Kamp look like Waynetta Slob… particularly when it comes to bodycount! Mrs Rosie Thorn is a beacon of domestic perfection, admired for her buffed knobs and extremely moist baked goods, other villagers look up to her as an icon, unaware of exactly what Rosie fertilises her exquisitely pruned rose garden with; Chairwoman of the WI, winner of both the Queen of the May Crown and WI Moist Cake Blue Ribbon title year-on-year, Rosie Thorn can also boast the most comprehensive selection of Royal memorabilia… and a talent at disguising dead ‘accident-prone’ neighbours as pork sausage rolls at summer garden parties. Performing daily (times vary) at The Spaces @ Surgeons Hall between Fri, 5 and Sun, 28 August – 45-mins

NAKED IN A FISHBOWL / EUROPEAN PREMIERE / New York City’s Off-Broadway hit - think an unabashed, all-female ‘Friends’ crossed-with ‘Sex and the City’ but live and uncut and you’ve got NAKED IN A FISHBOWL; hailed as ‘smart, honest and fearless’, this award-winning comedy troupe aim to present six brand new episodes of this improvised sitcom in front of an explosive Edinburgh audience.   Performing daily at 22:00 in Gryphon 2 between Mon, 22 and Sat, 27 August – 60-mins

MUSICAL COMEDY THEATRE:

OPERATION ADELMO / EUROPEAN PREMIERE / First came the 3 Tenors, then the Sopranos, now… Operation Adelmo! ‘Best comedy musical performer’ award-winner, Adelmo Guidarelli – the clown prince of opera – is to debut his quirky, fast-paced, operatic parody which features an array of instruments, not usually linked with Opera, including the ukulele, banjo, guitar, and kazoo, in a performance that brings about a comical, multi-language, operatic treatment as Adelmo skilfully demonstrates the parallels between well-known arias and their pop-culture counterparts. Performing on alternate days at 17:30 in New Town Theatre - Mysterious, between Thurs, 4 and Sun, 28 August – 75-mins

MORE JEWISH CHRONICLES / ‘Master songwriter’, Daniel Cainer, returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with his newest cabaret act, and the accidental product of his own mid-life kosher crisis, More Jewish Chronicles, a follow-up to his critically acclaimed and much lauded Jewish Chronicles which has wowed audiences across the UK and at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and in New York, and is once again set to be the hottest latke of the Festival Fringe. Performing on alternate days at 20:20 in C-Aquila, between Thurs, 4 and Mon, 29 August – 60-mins

CLASSICAL MUSIC:

AIRY DELIGHTS / An annual celebration of rare and unique music, the St Clements Wind Ensemble (SCWE) return for their eighth consecutive year to provide those who wish to take time out from the fast-pace and hectic atmosphere of the Fringe, with a moment to enjoy some calming relaxation. This year, the performance features the quirky and exuberant ‘Cello concerto’ by the late Austrian classical pianist cum Jazz composer, Friedrich Gulda marking its Scottish Premiere with other highlights including distinctly individual recitals of work by Mahler, Liszt and Debussy.  Performing a limited run at Canongate Kirk, from 17:00 between Mon, 15 and Tues, 16 August - 90-mins+ (including interval).

St Clements Wind Ensemble presents

Airy Delights

The St Clements Wind Ensemble (SCWE) return for their eighth consecutive year to bring an element of classical music to this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe with their enthralling concert AIRY DELIGHTS which will perform at Canongate Kirk for a limited run between Monday, 15 and Tuesday, 16 August at 5pm.

Described by press as a ‘classical gem’ that will ‘delight auditory senses’, AIRY DELIGHTS is a classical concert of four parts; conductor, Michael Round will lead 25 accomplished musicians who come to Edinburgh from across the UK and Europe, as they perform an eclectic repertoire that spans the late-Romantic and modern periods in four distinctly individual recitals featuring works from Gulda, Mahler, Liszt and Debussy. 

Previously unheard and unseen on the Scottish stage, the quirky and exuberant ‘Cello concerto’ by the late Austrian classical pianist cum Jazz composer, Friedrich Gulda will receive its Scottish Premiere as part of the performance, featuring Johannes Oesterlee of the acclaimed Frankfurt Museumsorchester as soloist. SCWE also honour the anniversaries of composers Franz Liszt and Gustav Mahler by premiering a new arrangement by Jonathan West of the ‘Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2’ as well as extracts from 'Das Lied von der Erde' (The Song of the Earth) in the arrangement by Schoenberg/Riehn sung by up-coming, young, lyric Tenor, Edward Hughes whose latest performance at the Berliner Philharmonie was described by critics as ‘formidable’.

Presented once a year by SCWE, AIRY DELIGHTS is an annual celebration of rare and unique music, paying particular attention to wood-wind arrangements and unusual instrumental combinations. Speaking about this year’s performance, SCWE founder Maren Heidemann comments: “We are delighted to be presenting such a varied repertoire with a wide-array of fine musicians at the helm and are thoroughly excited by the opportunity to present the Scottish premiere of the truly exceptional, Cello concerto by Gulda”.

AIRY DELIGHTS is a must for lovers of classical music and an easy introduction for casual listeners.  The concerts also provide those who wish to take time out from the fast-pace and hectic atmosphere of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with a moment to enjoy some calming relaxation.

Tickets can be purchased by contacting tel. +44 (0) 131 226 0000 or visit www.edfringe.com              

Show:                           AIRY DELIGHTS

Venue:                         Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, Edinburgh

Venue No:                    60

Dates:                          Monday, 15 - Tuesday, 16 August 11

Performance Starts:     17:00 daily

Running Times:            min 90mins (with interval)

Tickets:                        £10 / £7

Box Office:                   +44 (0) 131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com