Bedfest at the Bedlam this week
Edinburgh University Theatre Company festival open to all
Bedlam Theatre photo credit: EUTC
Bedlam, the Edinburgh University Theatre Company-run venue, is hosting a theatre festival all this week, Monday 23 to Saturday 28 January, with performances and workshops every day open to both students and members of the public.
The festival features 17 performances of 11 different productions over the week, including two performances of the long-running Improverts comedy improvisation session, and a dozen different workshops. Which amounts to at least two shows and two workshops every day this week.
Sarah Hilmy, Bedlam’s front-of-house manager, says: “All workshops are free, and all shows are just £2.50 a pop. In addition to all these wondrous goings on, the building will be open from 12pm to 12am from January 23rd – January 28th, serving delicious delights and sizeable pitchers of cocktails in the Cafe. Come along, hang out, chat!”
The festival succeeds in covering practically every aspect of theatre. It opens with a workshop from the Savoy Opera Group, continues with Waterworks, a clown show about a towel, and contains plays as diverse as Sarah Kane’s Phaedra’s Children, Peter Nichols’ A Day in the Death of Joe Egg and Agatha Christie’s Afternoon at the Seaside. There will workshops on writing, tech, directing, improv, costuming, puppet making and stage blood. The final production is a challenge for members of the EUTC to create a production from scratch over a 24 hour period.
Listing
Monday 23 January
Noon: EUSOG Workshop
2pm: Waterworks
A clown show about a towel.
3.30pm: Directing Workshop
4.45pm: Killing Time
“You’re both useless, you can’t do anything to help anyone because you’re too busy talking!” Two young lads talk the last hour of their life away while the universe implodes around them. A tragicomic piece of original writing about futility, friendship and foreskins.
6.45pm: Mossflower
Times are hard in Mossflower Woods. The Greeneyes wildcat family rule with an iron fist and The Resistance is no match for them. The woodlanders’ only hope is Martin the Warrior. Exploring the darker themes within Brian Jacques’ celebrated Redwall series, this interpretation has matured with the original fan base.
9pm: Nox
“Hello? Hello? …hello? What’s going on? I keep hearing things. I think-” There’s an extra chill to the darkness of Bedlam tonight.
Tuesday 24 January
12.15pm: Shakespeare’s Monarchs
A show from the EUSC
1:30pm: Shakespeare Company Workshop
3.30pm: Phaedra’s Love
Sarah Kane’s blackly comic reworking of Seneca’s classical tragedy of monarchy, incest and fatal obsession.
Described by Sarah Kane as “my comedy”, her 1996 adaptation of Seneca’s Phaedra explores the brutal nature of love, social relations, nihilism and belief through an affair between a queen and her stepson. Unlike classical drama, most of the violent action happens on stage rather than off.
6pm: Writing Workshop
8pm: A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
Peter Nichols’ poignant comedy and biting social satire walks a tightrope between humour and heartbreak. A couple are struggling to cope with caring for their disabled child. Brian is a harassed teacher who works at an unruly British comprehensive and is defiantly unsentimental about their situation. Sheila on the other hand is a resilient mother who desperately clings to the hope that one day her daughter will overcome her medical condition.
Wednesday 25 January
1pm: Candlewasters
A showcase of short plays offering new writing from the EUTC’s up and coming writers. With stories of love, loss, friendship and life, the Candlewasters present some of Bedlam’s finest young talent.
This afternoon’s plays are: Suppertime by Robyn Macrory-Beaumont; Cheer up, Frowny Face by Rory Kelly; FOR SALE: BABY SHOES by Victoria Lindström and Transfusion by James Beagon.
4.45pm: Tech Workshop
7pm: Afternoon At the Seaside
Agatha Christie’s one acter from 1963. When a traditional British holiday becomes entangled with a mysterious theft, hilarity and confusion ensue… “Those aren’t my trousers!”
8pm: Improverts Tech Workshop
10.30pm: The Improverts
A show of hilarious improvised comedy games based entirely on audience suggestions. Always different, always funny.
Thursday 26 January
Noon: Adapting for the Stage Workshop
1.45pm: The Rhino At the End of the Waterslide
The four most powerful figures in the world gather to save their planet. This, the first ever Vorticist play, asks what happens when the boldest of people with the greatest of intentions and all the world’s resources come together to save humanity. Will they succeed?
3.30pm: Stage Blood Workshop
6pm: Killing Time
See Monday
8.30pm: Nox
See Monday
Friday 27 January
12.30pm: Afternoon at the Seaside
See Wednesday
2.15pm: Puppet Making Workshop
5pm: Candlewasters
A showcase of short plays offering new writing from the EUTC’s up and coming writers. With stories of love, loss, friendship and life, the Candlewasters present some of Bedlam’s finest young talent.
This afternoon’s shows are: Lords! by Sam Davidson; Staring at Me by Callum O’Dwyer; Tetley by Kay Singh; To the Eyes of Others by Bonnie C. Aspinwall; and Figments by Genna Nethercott.
8pm: Improverts Tech Workshop
9pm: 24 Hour Play Sign Up
A brave group of EUTC members will develop and rehearse a brand new production in just 24 hours before presenting it to an ever anticipating audience.
10.30pm: The Improverts
A show of hilarious improvised comedy games based entirely on audience suggestions. Always different, always funny.
Saturday 28 January
Noon: Improverts Workshop
3pm: Waterworks
See Monday
4pm: Fringe Workshop / Q&A
4.30pm: Costuming Workshop
9pm: 24 Hour Play
The brave group of willing volunteers show off their results.
ENDS
