Rachael Hutchings previews the Welsh shows heading up to Scotland for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
HIJINX THEATRE: MEET FRED
When and Where: Fri 5 – Thurs 25 Aug, 3.55pm, Summerhall.
What: Fred is a cloth puppet who measures in at two feet tall and yearns to be a part of normal society and have a job, girlfriend and a life without prejudice. However, when his PLA (Puppet Living Allowance) is threatened, Fred’s life begins to crumble into a descending spiral. Containing strong language and puppet nudity, Meet Fred has been struck audiences with its wit and humour, and promises to be a sublime, moving piece of modern-day puppetry, directed by Clare Williams.
How Much: £5-£10.
Info: www.festival16.summerhall.co.uk/event/meet-fred or contact the Box Office on 0131 226 0000.
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CHAPTER CARDIFF LTD: INTO THE WATER – A FAMILY DANCE ADVENTURE
When and Where: Thurs 11 – Sun 21 Aug, 11.40am, theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall.
What: A fantasy dance adventure brought to life by Elaina Gray and Up and Over It; in-your-face, experimental and contemporary Irish dancers who combine tradition with electro-pop and alternative percussion. A fast-paced, lively show set in a magical wasteland, where nothing is impossible and camaraderie and friendship are everything. Commissioned and produced by Chapter Theatre’s creative producer programme, Coreo Cymru, Into The Water is destined to be dynamic, irreverent and a whole host of excitement for Fringe guests of every age.
How Much: £8.50-£11.50.
Info: www.edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/event/565227-into-the-water or contact the Box Office on 0845 508 8515.
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FAMILIA DE LA NOCHE: GULLIVER’S TRAVELS
When and Where: Wed 3 – Mon 29 Aug, 2.15pm, Pleasance Courtyard, Upstairs.
What: A magical expedition of discovery and adventure, this whirlwind story takes audiences to places they never knew existed. When clearing out her estranged father’s possessions, Elizabeth Gulliver is struck by reminders of her dazzling childhood and the point at which it all changed. Prepare to meet mad scientists, feeble immortals and talking horses; the reality of paradise and the struggles of power are about to be canvassed in Becca Cox’s extraordinary voyage.
How Much: £6-£10.
Info: www.pleasance.co.uk/event/gullivers-travels/performances
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NEONTOPIA CYF: A GOOD CLEAN HEART
When and Where: Thurs 4 – Sun 28 Aug, 6.40pm, Cowgate.
What: An award-winning, bilingual play by Alun Saunders and directed by Mared Swain which focuses on the story of Hefin and Jay; two brothers raised apart in different languages and families. This is a dynamic and moving production that projects the subject matter of fitting in and belonging incredibly sensitively, completed with animated subtitles to make it accessible for speakers of both Welsh and English. This production promises to uncover the true meaning of hiraeth.
How Much: £7-£12.
Info: www.underbellyedinburgh.co.uk/whats-on/a-good-clean-heart
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BANGOR UNIVERSITY: HOW TO WIN AGAINST HISTORY
When and Where: Wed 3 – Sun 28 Aug, 5.40pm, Assembly George Square Theatre.
What: A fierce, fabulous and frolicsome musical-come-costume drama about Henry Cyril Paget, the 5th Marquis of Anglesey by Seiriol Davies and performed by students at Gwynedd’s Arts Centre, Pontio. Based on Paget’s inability to inherit the Empire but instead becoming a bold and bright transvestite, this hilarious take on a classic historical event proves that it’s perfectly suitable to be too weird for the world to handle!
How Much: £6-£10, with a 2-for-1 deal taking place for tickets purchased for shows on Mon 8 + Tues 9 Aug.
Info: tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/how-to-win-against-history or contact the Box Office on 0131 226 0000.
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GAGGLEBABBLE: WONDERMAN
When and Where: Wed 3 – Sun 28 Aug, 6.05pm, Underbelly.
What: Following their debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2013, theatre company Gagglebabble are back with their unique take on the adult stories written by legendary storyteller Roald Dahl. Prepare to expect the unexpected, with high-minded imaginings and grisly characters being injected with a foreboding, dark humour and accompanied by an exhilarating score to create a celebration for one of Britain’s most favoured writers in his centenary year.
How Much: £6-£11
Info: www.gagglebabble.co.uk
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AUGUST 021 LIMITED: YURI
When and Where: Thurs 4 – Sun 28 Aug, 10.10pm, Underbelly.
What: As if by an act of fate, when Patrick and Adele find out the saddening truth that they cannot have children, Yuri appears and becomes an integral part of their lives. But who is Yuri? Is he dangerous and should they love him? In a funny and intelligent play directed by Mathilde Lopez about infertility, sex, love and nationalism, the question is raised of whether or not bringing a child into this deranged world is absurd, and the hopes and fears of all involved are revealed.
How Much: £6-£11.
Info: www.kickstarter.com/projects/august012/yuri-in-edinburgh
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DIFFICULT STAGE: ALIX IN WUNDERGARTEN
When and Where: Wed 3 – Mon 29 August, 7.10pm, Underbelly Med Quad.
What: Fresh from Cardiff’s The Other Room, self-proclaimed unique and disconcerting Alix in Wundergarten takes to the stage in Scotland. The story follows a group of actors who get trapped together in a radio studio while trying to do a play, and the reality strikes that everyone in the room is vying and competing for the same status. An interesting and disturbingly bonkers take on the pressures of being a performer, brought to life by a twist of dark comedy and trepidation.
How Much: £6-£11.
Info: www.angharadlee.com/alix-in-edinburgh
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CWMNI’R FRÂN WEN: FOLLOW ME
When and Where: Mon 15 – Mon 29 August, 12.45pm, Pleasance Courtyard.
What: This is a charming, innocent and heart-warming performance for young children aged one to seven which follows the worries, trials and tribulations Nansi has when she becomes a big sister for the first time. To escape from all her questions, she steps into an imaginary world and makes the decision to become an elephant like her favourite cuddly toy Cai. Is her best friend able to help Nansi understand the reality of the situation?
How Much: £6.50.
Info: www.franwen.com
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ABERYSTWYTH ARTS CENTRE: SATURDAY NIGHT FOREVER
When and Where: Thurs 4 – Mon 29 August, 7.10pm, Underbelly Med Quad.
What: After gay man Lee’s love life falls apart on a night out in Cardiff, he vows never to fall in love again. However, it only takes some liquid confidence and seven hours at a friend’s housewarming party for Lee to breathe the air of change. Follow Lee on a voyage through the wreckage of past sweethearts and the early stages of promising new love affairs, but remember, of course, that nothing lasts forever.
How Much: £6-£11.
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Info: www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk