(3 / 5)

How does one express themselves without being able to speak fluidly?

The Words Are There tells the story about Mick and Trish, their meeting, relationship, the most important moment of their lives, but with the underlying issue of domestic abuse. Mick himself suffers from a stutter and so we see the impact this relationship has on bringing him out as a person and then shutting him back down.

This piece is fascinating. Using only sound cues and music, The Words Are There is a fully physical theatre production with only props to help us along the way. It is fast paced, intricate and full of energy, even at times of stillness. At times this is a little hard to keep up with and also a mystery to how Ronan Dempsey manages to keep going in this one man production.

While there in minimal narrative, with our reliance on the sound cues and the physicality, we are able to imagine our own scenes for Mick and Trish – triggers for the good and triggers for the bad are all available that we cannot help but get swept into the drama.

It seems comical when Dempsey makes Trish out of household items – but how he interacts with her and makes her move, we soon forget she is just an object and really believe in her and her personality.

The production is slow starting but somehow this works into bringing us to curve balls and climaxes. It feels like a build-up and we enjoy the ride; getting to know these two characters and developing love/hate feelings towards them.

The Words Are There is an energetic and emotional piece. Slow to start, we do engage intimately in these two characters and our feelings immediately change with the theatricality of the narrative.

(3 / 5)

No matter what age, we all grew up with lashings of ginger
beer, while slapping our raised knee. Not one person does not know about Enid
Blyton and her wonderful tales.

But what happens when you take the Blyton theme and
improvise?
A whole lot of fun.

Bumper Blyton, an improv group, interact with us and let us
take control. We give our suggestions and they help to influence how the team
bring the story to us. Each time is different, each joke is different and so
each show is unique.

Playfully labelled as ‘Enid Blyton for Grown Ups’ – it sure
is! There are jokes that are only for the adults, and at times even flummox the
performers themselves; this is not a bad thing. One thing I think is brilliant
is when performers in these types of performances quite obviously enjoy what
they do and find it as funny and exciting as the audience. And it is clear they
do. This makes us laugh even more and feel included and part of the group.

Improv is a clever performance technique and so to come up
with an interesting and mysterious story on the spot, keeping to character is impressive.

Bumper Blyton is lashing of fun, a slap on the knee of enjoyment and a show we all feel included in. If you want a break from the festival to sit back, laugh and enjoy something new each time, ensure you check them out.

(5 / 5)

Whether this is a Ed Fringe common occurrence, my naive first
time attendee is unsure, but this year there is a ‘Death Season’. Many
productions have taken this theme and created theatre in response to the
stimulus. And also for some great causes.

Glass Half Full Theatre’s How To Save A Life is no
different. It sees the story of  Melissa –
a young 20’s female, seemingly with her life all ready and raring to go, suddenly
finding out she has cancer. What follows is her journey, and those of her
boyfriend and best friend in wake of the news.

Melissa is such a loveable character. I kind of what to be
her. She loves glitter. She’s confident, fun, with amazing hair and a lovely
personality. It is no wonder she catches the eye of a handsome man who wants to
be with her forever and becomes best friends with a girl who is wild but
equally as loveable.

We get to know Melissa; we laugh and joke with her. We
associate ourselves with her, with her ideals and her life, and if we do not
have this already, we want it. We want to funny, beautiful personality of
Melissa, a caring and adorning partner, a best friend who is mad but would do
anything for you. So when we reach crisis point and the C word is issued, we
feel even more for Melissa; we feel her pain, her disbelief and her struggle.

Melissa was our constant character, and rightly so – this was
her story. And when we soon became her friends, privileged to live her life
with her, she makes you begin to think about your own life, your own loved ones
and your health and how important all of these are. Who would have thought such
a beautiful soul would lead such a tragic life!?

How To Save A Life is hilarious, but heart wrenching. Not many a production would reduce me to tears but as the lights come up, I find myself in a snotty, painful and wet mess, wishing this had not happened to Melissa. This is one of the best productions at this year’s Fringe – A Must See!