AT the heart of the Fringe is the idea that anyone with a show and a venue in Edinburgh willing to host it, can take part. But what are some of the practicalities of getting there, and don’t you need lots of money? Viscera Theatre’s Alys Metcalf and Roxy Dunn took their first show, In Tents And Purposes to the Fringe in 2016, where it gained five-star reviews and sold out.
Returning this month with second show You Only Live Forever, they tell The National some of their Fringe success secrets.
How did you meet and start performing at the Fringe?
Alys Metcalf: We walked together to drama school for three years. We formed our company, Viscera Theatre, in 2012. Even though we were cast in straight roles in drama school, we have fallen into comedy.
Roxy Dunn: We were always cast in very very serious roles, and we found ourselves getting cast a lot as the romantic lead.
AM: Roxy did. I was cast over and over again as “the old woman”.
Can you tell us about your shows?
AM: In Tents And Purposes was about two friends who went to a fortune teller and got two very different fortunes. It was about the idea that life is less about what you are given, and it’s more what you do with it.
RD: There was a part where me and Alys let the audience see the process behind the play. We do something similar with You Only Live Forever. We have a lot of fun making fun of ourselves in this play within a play.
The costs of producing a show is said to be upwards of £6000. Does that make the Fringe inaccessible?
AM: I don’t think it is inaccessible. It is very expensive, and you do need quite a bit of money to make it happen. But there are ways of doing it if you don’t have that money yourself. We certainly don’t.
From our success in 2016, we did a tour and put the money into returning to Fringe. We self-funded. What’s far more usual is people crowdfund through different websites, or they do fundraising events, cake sales, quizzes, that sort of thing. Some people have links with investors but that’s really not the norm.
What is best – going with a paid venue, or going it alone?
AM: If you’re wanting high production values, a venue who can provide that kind of tech, equipment and expertise. But if you don’t need all that, there’s no reason at all why you shouldn’t do the Free Fringe. That might just mean that you need to do more marketing and promotion yourself, so there are pros and cons to each.
In 2016 you did your debut show with Assembly. How should people go about pitching to venues?
AM: By starting to contact the venues you want to work with, and inviting them to see some of your work, be that the show you want to take there, ideally, or some other evidence of the work, like scripts or videos.
Prove that you can deliver a degree of quality, and that you’re kind of together as a company, too. Once you do that, hopefully they will make a decision on whether your work is right for their venue or not.
Isn’t it very expensive to live in Edinburgh during the Fringe?
RD: The average room is around £1000 for the month, but we’ve never had to pay that, thankfully. Every year we’ve found a friend, or a friend of a friend, and stayed with them for minimal rent. It’s saved us a lot of money.
How do you get people to come to your show?
RD: The flyering teams are brilliant and work very hard, but there is nothing like going out yourself and doing it. The return rate is much higher. You know about your show, and how to sell it to people. So we always get out there ourselves.
AM: If you’ve already had people review your show, it’s really good to have those reviews to give to people. That definitely helps in terms of getting people to see your show.
You have one day off during your 25-date run this month. How you get through it?
AM: I’m a little upright in the first couple of weeks and don’t drink at all. I save the cutting loose for later. Some people walk up Arthur’s Seat every other day and say that really helps. I’ve started meditating this year with an app, which is great if you have any performance anxiety.
RD: It’s also about reminding yourself that this is something you’ve worked incredibly hard for, and rehearsed for. At the end of the day, you have to go up there and perform it, for one hour. It’s what it’s all been about, and it all goes quite quickly. So really try to enjoy it.
Official information on putting on a show at the Fringe can be found at: www.edfringe.com/take-part/putting-on-a-show
You Only Live Forever: Until August 27 (not 14), Assembly George Square Studios, Edinburgh, 1.35pm £9 and £11, £8 and £10 concs. Tel: 0131 623 3030. Tickets from: bit.ly/ForeverAssemblyassemblyfestival.com @VisceraTheatreC www.visceratheatre.com
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