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And we're back! It's July already, which means each Thursday we'll be doing two things for you: guiding you through the cultural week ahead in London, and then getting you ready for the rapidly incoming Edinburgh Festival. So welcome back to our Edinburgh Festival readers! Can you believe it's nearly upon us once again? This is the our 21st year covering the Edinburgh Festival, and we're as excited as ever about the massive programme of comedy, theatre, cabaret, dance, opera, music, musicals, physical theatre, spoken word, art, circus and random entertainment that we'll be checking out come August. If you are performing or producing at the Fringe this year, do make sure you read all the information in the Edinburgh section below - we have updates on what we have planned this year, details of what you need to do to put your show on our radar, and some great advertising offers for you to sell your shows to Edinburgh locals and Festival-goers. Those of you who are festival-goers, we'll start our coverage of this year's festivities next Thursday. And hello to all you Londoners. Yes, your weekly helping of Three To See recommendations is back! We've been digging deeply into all that is on offer in the capital over the next week, and we present our top three tips for each day below. I've also caught up with another four great people who have shows on in London this week - click the links, read up on the conversations, and then maybe check out their shows for yourself. We'll be back in your inbox each Thursday afternoon with the latest Edinburgh updates and our weekly guide to culture in London. Tell your friends they should sign up for the year-round TW Weekly bulletin and Edinburgh-focused TW Daily - which is published during the Festival itself - RIGHT HERE. See you soon! Caro Moses Editor, ThreeWeeks Edinburgh and ThisWeek London |
Just like in our very first year covering the festival - all the way back in 1996 - we will be monitoring every corner of Edinburgh's big summer festival, including the Edinburgh International Festival, the Book Festival, the Art Festival, the Festival Of Politics, the Tattoo and, of course, and especially, the awe inspiring Edinburgh Fringe. Along the way we will recommend, review and report on great comedy, theatre, dance, music, musicals, opera, spoken word, circus shows, exhibitions and literary events.
And once again you'll be able to access all our coverage from multiple sources...
• THE MAGAZINE: There will be our flagship magazine as always, hitting the streets of Edinburgh each Wednesday in August.
• THE WEBSITE: Recently revamped to be super mobile friendly, threeweeksedinburgh.com will be updating daily from late July.
• THE PODCAST: The TW Podcast returns with a series of great Edinburgh Festival themed interviews, including five which we will record live at the Fringe itself.
• THE BULLETINS: And we'll be dropping into your inbox each Thursday with the TW Weekly, and from Friday 29 July every single day with the TW Daily.
GET COVERED!
We are already working our way through all the programmes of the various Edinburgh summer festivals and Fringe venues, not to mention the flood of press releases that have already come in.
However, to ensure you are definitely on our radar for possible features or reviews you need to fill out the Show Logging Form on our website. CLICK HERE to get that filled out.
JOIN THE TEAM
We already have much of our review team for 2016 in place, and they are a great bunch indeed. However, we do still have some spots on the team to fill. If you have experience writing about culture and would like to join our team then send examples of your work to recruitment@unlimitedmedia.co.uk.
These are voluntary roles, though we do offer expenses of £120 per reviewer, and you will be able to schedule the shows you review according to your own timetable, allowing you to fit the work around other jobs at the Festival or in Edinburgh.
GET SIGNED UP
You are obviously already on the TW mailing list - either in London or Edinburgh - though you may have friends or colleagues who are not. To make sure you get all our updates, get signed up to the TW Weekly and TW Daily here.
Simple, by making sure your publicity is right there on the page as people work out what shows they are going to see - in the ThreeWeeks magazine, in the TW Daily email, and as they use the iFringe app that aggregates reviews from ThreeWeeks and numerous other Edinburgh Festival media.
To find out about advertising opportunities with ThreeWeeks CLICK HERE for the full rate card. Though we know everyone is on a tight budget, so every week here in the TW Weekly we'll be presenting a series of very special offers to help you get your show in front of as many potential ticket-buyers as possible at top value rates.
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THIS WEEK'S IN PRINT ADVERTISING DEAL: a display ad in our preview edition, hand-delivered to thousands of Edinburgh homes, for just £250! The ThreeWeeks preview edition is our biggest publication of the year, packed with Three To See show tips and numerous interviews and columns. Available in all the key Festival venues in the first week in August, this edition is also delivered direct to thousands and thousands of homes around central Edinburgh. It's the best way to get your show in front of the all-important local ticket-buyer. And we have a very special deal. You send us the design for your A6 flyer, and we'll re-purpose it for a sixth-of-a-page ad slot in the preview edition for just £250 plus VAT. There are a limited number of slots available at this rate, so book today! It's that simple! And you can pay with a credit card. Email TW.advertising@unlimitedmedia.co.uk to book your slot. |
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THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL ADVERTISING DEAL: get a banner advert in the TW Daily email and the iFringe app for a whole week for just £150! Make sure people are very aware of your show as the festival gets underway with some great digital advertising. And for this package, we have teamed up with our friends at iFringe - the Edinburgh Fringe's leading reviews app - to increase your exposure. Here's the deal. The TW Daily email lands into the inbox of over 10,000 festival-goers every single day of the Festival. Meanwhile, iFringe had in the region of 10,000 users at last year's Festival on iPhones alone. For just £140 plus VAT, you can have a banner in the TW Daily and in rotation on the iFringe app for a whole week. Slots are limited, so get your booking in quick! Email TW.advertising@unlimitedmedia.co.uk to sign up. |
Comedy up and comer Steve Bugeja won oodles of praise for his show 'Day Release' when he performed it at last year's Edinburgh Festival, so it's rather pleasing to hear he's going to treat Londoners to a last couple of performances of it before he heads up to the Fringe again this year with a new set.
He's one of my favourite types of comedian, the kind who tells you a long and a fascinating story, and makes it incredibly funny as well. To find out more about Steve, I made time for a quick chat, ahead of his upcoming Soho Theatre dates. Read the interview here.
Steve Bugeja performs 'Day Release' at Soho Theatre from 8-9 Jul, see the venue website here for more info. Plus, click this link here if you want more info on his Edinburgh Fringe run of 'Unpronounceable'.
LIZA VALLANCE: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE AND STUDIO 3 ARTS
An exciting new adaptation of 'The Merchant Of Venice' is all set to take Barking by storm this month, a promenade performance featuring both professional and community actors, courtesy of socially engaged arts group Studio 3 Arts.
I was fascinated by the sound of this production, as well as the work that Studio 3 Arts does – and has been doing since 1987. To find out more about the show and the company I put some questions to artistic director Liza Vallance. Read the interview here.
Studio 3 Arts' production of 'The Merchant Of Venice' is performed in Barking town centre from 5-10 Jul. See this page here for more info and this page here for tickets.
KATHRYN O'REILLY: SCREWED
It's possible you would recognise Kathryn O'Reilly from one of her many appearances on TV and on stage: she's graced our screens in the likes of 'Call The Midwife' and 'Lewis', and has most recently been treading the boards of the Arts Theatre in 'The View From Islington North'.
However, her debut script, 'Screwed' opens at Theatre503 this week, and that's what I wanted to talk to her about. I put some questions to Kathryn, to find out more about the play, and her journey as a writer. Read the interview here.
'Screwed' is on at Theatre503 from 28 Jun-23 Jul, see the venue website here for all the info and to book.
FFION JONES: UGLY LOVELY
South London based theatre company Velvet Trumpet's latest show 'Ugly Lovely' opens over at the Old Red Lion Theatre imminently, which is exciting: I think we can look forward to something rather special, given the quality of this young company's previous output.
Unlike a lot of their previous productions, however, this one isn't by Thomas Jones and Nikolai Ribnikov; this is the debut play from actress and writer Ffion Jones, who also appears in the piece. I spoke to her, to find out more about the play, her career, and the company. Read the interview here.
'Ugly Lovely' is on at The Old Red Lion Theatre from 28 Jun-16 July. For tickets and more info, see the venue website here.
FRIDAY 8 JULY 2016 >>
Roundhouse Punk Weekender | Roundhouse | 8-10 Jul
This is part of Punk London, a year of events, gigs, films, talks and exhibitions celebrating forty years of punk heritage and influence in London, and features live performances from False Heads, Birdsong, Molasses, The Antiseptics,BullyBones, Mystified, Drones, Thee Jezebels, Screech Bats and Youth Man. There will also be screenings, panel discussions, record and 'zine fairs. Have a look at this page here for more info.
Cargo | Arcola Theatre | 6 Jul-6 Aug
This looks amazing, and very much tackles an issue of the moment – the 'cargo' of the title refers to human beings, and this play is set in the dark atmosphere of a container ship. Tess Berry-Hart's new play, a tense thriller, explores what people are willing to risk to find a better life. See the venue website here for details.
We Are Ian | Pleasance Theatre | 8 July (pictured)
I really, really like the sound of this play, which is on for one night only over at the Pleasance Theatre because it's one of those Edinburgh previews we keep talking about. It's set in Manchester (where I was born) in 1989 and harks back to the rave culture of the time (which I can remember pretty well). The performers are all young, though, so I don't think this is just a show for nostalgiating forty-somethings, and from what I can gather it's a very funny and exuberant piece. Book your tickets here.
SATURDAY 9 JULY 2016 >>
Dalston Music Festival | Gillett Square | 9 Jul
This weekend it's time for the second Dalston Music Festival, which features a fabulous line up of acts for your delectation – the likes of Zombie Zombie, Not Waving, Fumaça Preta, Ruby Rushton, Tom Furse, Orchestra Elastique, Grand Union Orchestra, Laura Groves, Point Carré, DJ Bullion & Charlie Bones and Pollyanna Valentine. Head this way to see the full line up and book tickets.
Balham Comedy Festival | The Bedford | 8-16 Jul
The Balham Comedy festival returns with a line-up typically replete with fairly big name acts, some of whom are presenting finished pieces, others of whom are doing works-in-progress or Edinburgh previews. They'll all be good, though, whatever they are doing. My picks for today are Nick Helm and Milton Jones, but if I were you I'd go and take a look at the list of participants here, because there is loads to choose from over the course of the week. You can book tickets here.
Joyce Moholoagae – South African Jazz Songs | Canada Water Culture Space| 9 Jul (pictured)
World class South African jazz singer Joyce Moholoagae heads Canada Water way for "A personal journey into the music from the heart beat of the townships of South Africa". Expect a mixture of material: some of her own, plus those made famous by fellow South Africans such as Dudu Pukwana, Miriam Makeba, and Abdullah Ibrahim. See this page here for more info.
SUNDAY 10 JULY 2016 >>
Beasts – Mr Edinburgh 2016 | Pleasance Theatre | 10 Jul
One of our favourite sets of Edinburgh regulars, sketch comedy purveyors Beasts, are doing a preview of their 2016 show, and although the title makes it an odd fit for London, I promise you it's absolutely worth seeing because Beasts are always worth seeing, and our besotted review teams would swear to that. For more info, follow this link here.
Mumburger | The Proud Archivist | 9-24 Jul
Tiffany's mum has been hit by a Birdseye truck whilst driving on the M25 – will her dying wish bring her daughter together with her father, or tear them apart? Haggerston local and acclaimed playwright and podcaster Sarah Kosar asks the question of how far we'd go to reconnect with those we love most in this rather interesting sounding peice described as a "visceral new play about family grief and red meat". See the venue website here for more info.
Klanghaus – On Air | Southbank Centre | 7-29 Jul
We loved 'Klanghaus' when it was on at the Edinburgh Festival in 2014 and in fact gave its creators an award for this brilliant genre-bending experience. Part gig, part art installation, it's the work of experimental art-rock outfit The Neutrinos and artist and designer Sal Pittman, and they have recreated the show for this new venue. It's an immersive, engaging live performance that we can't recommend enough. See this page here for details.
MONDAY 11 JULY 2016 >>
Sam Simmons – Not A People Person | Soho Theatre | 11-13 Jul
If you are a serious comedy fan, you will be more than aware of Sam Simmons, because he's a great talent doing great comedy and oh, he also happened to win last year's Fosters Comedy Award at the ye olde edfringe. And last year's Barry Award at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. So yes, why are you even entertaining the idea of not seeing him perform? This is an preview of his 2016 Edinburgh show, get in ahead of the no-doubt multitudinous crowds. Head this way.
I Heart Catherine Pistachio | The Yard Theatre | 11-16 Jul
I will confess that I am often attracted to shows by the quirkiness of their names. This was among their number. I also think it might have appealed on account of the fact that I am very fond of pistachio nuts. But fear ye not, readers, there are plenty of actually good reasons for telling you to see this – it's a really good and odd dark comedy: we saw it at last year's Edinburgh Fringe and absolutely loved it, and our reviewer called it "unforgettable". See the venue website here for more info.
Andy Zaltzman – Satirist For Hire | Soho Theatre | 11 July
Yes, yes, I know I picked two things on at the Soho Theatre today, but they are both really good. And somehow the fact that Mr Zaltzman has been doing a monthly residence there escaped me, and I can't think why I haven't mentioned it before. You know who he is, you've probably seen him live before, I am sure you have listened to him Bugling with John Oliver, so you know that it would be a good idea this Monday evening to head over to see this top political satirist in action. See this page here.
TUESDAY 12 JULY 2016 >>
Laugh Out London Comedy Festival | The Old Queen's Head | 12-18 Jul
you know how we keep recommending Edinburgh previews? Well, those of you who appreciate, nay, enjoy this fact might be pleased to hear that Laugh Out London are set for a whole series – a small festival in itself – of Edinburgh preview shows courtesy of the likes of Tony Law, Richard Gadd, Simon Munnery, Lucy Porter, Sarah Kendall, Nish Kumar and Josie Long. A full list of participants and booking links can be found here.
Shangri-La | Finborough Theatre | 12 Jul-6 Aug
Amy Ng's first full length play is about a young woman living in the Himalayan foothills whose family's livelihood has been destroyed by mass tourism, and dreams of escape. Using her personal experiences, the playwright asks what happens when the only thing you have to sell is your culture, and when the only way to free yourself is to betray your roots. Head this way for more info.
Postcards 2016 | Jackson's Lane | 12-23 Jul (pictured)
Hurrah, another festival, and god knows, we love festivals. This year's Postcards features an "eclectic mix of circus, cabaret and extraordinary performance", from the highly talented likes of George Egg, Sh!t Theatre and Plastic Boom. For details on all the different shows, click on this link right here.
WEDNESDAY 13 JULY 2016 >>
Blue Stockings | Cockpit Theatre | 13-17 Jul (pictured)
Set in Cambridge in 1896, this play explores what women had to go through in the past to graduate from academia, depicting the fight for equality that Girton college mistress Elizabeth Welsh and her students went through, and the historical changes they achieved. Important stuff, this, especially when women – aside from a few notable exceptions – have been so consistently airbrushed out of history and their own achievements. Presented by GSA BA Acting Graduates: Class of 2016, see the venue website here for more info.
Patrias | Sadler's Wells | 12-16 Jul
Oh, just the thought of this makes me feel sort of shivery with excitement, and that's probably because I love flamenco, but even if it doesn't make you go funny, like me, this is definitely worth checking out. Legendary guitarist Paco Peña brings this rather personal new work, an exploration of the physical, cultural and emotional impact of the Spanish Civil War on his home country. It's inspired by the life and output of the utterly brilliant Federico Garcia Lorca, who was of course a casualty of the conflict. Click here for all the details.
Stalking The Bogeyman | Southwark Playhouse | 13 Jul-6 Aug
"Twenty-five years after he was sexually assaulted, award-winning journalist David Holthouse learns his 'bogeyman' has moved to his new neighbourhood. Armed with a pistol and a plan, he plots to enact revenge on the man who stole his childhood." This play won much critical acclaim when it premiered off-Broadway in 2014; now's your chance to see it starring familiar TV faces Gerard McCarthy and Glynis Barber. Head this way for information and to book.
THURSDAY 14 JULY 2016 >>
Doug Segal – I Can Make You Feel Good | Leicester Square Theatre | 14 Jul (pictured)
This is the show that TW favourite Doug Segal is taking up to edfringe this year, so I guess it's a preview, but don't make the mistake of thinking it won't be in good shape. Doug's shows are always in good shape. If you've not seen him before, it's time you did, especially if you're a fan of comedy mind trickery and mind control. Why not take control of your own mind (until he does) and step this way to book your tickets.
The Trial Of Jane Fonda | Park Theatre | 13 Jul-20 Aug
This powerful (and acclaimed) drama from Terry Jastrow imagines what happened during a 1988 encounter in Waterford, Connecticut, between Jane Fonda and a bunch of angry and hostile Vietnam veterans, their wrath fuelled by the actress's activism against the war. This production, which was much praised up at the Edinburgh Festival in 2014, enjoys the glamorous presence of Hollywood type Anne Archer as Fonda. See this page here for all the info.
John Hastings – Integrity | Pleasance Theatre | 14 Jul
The very funny John Hastings hits the Pleasance with his latest show (yes, it's an Edinburgh preview), in which talks about his godmother's murder. Yes, yes, you read that right. It's a comedy show about murder. I suppose you could say that's indicative of how good an act Mr Hastings is: charming enough and loveable enough to pull off a story like that and make it hilarious. Oh, and he's Canadian too. What more could you want? See the venue website here for details.
LONDON SHOWS: Send press releases and details of any interview opportunities to the team at TW.london@unlimitedmedia.co.uk.
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