Watching Glory Die: Road to Edinburgh

Welcome to Episode 27 – Behind the Microphone This is it. My last episode of Watching Glory Die: Road to Edinburgh. Hardly seems possible that it’s the last one – seems like just yesterday it was April and I was figuring out how one produces a podcast. Since then I’ve met and interviewed so many amazing people – and learned a new skill along the way. For this last episode the microphone is turned the other way however! One of the interns – Sammy Cranston – asked if she could interview me – so I came out from behind my interviewer guise and chatted about podcasting, my experience at the fringe and will I ever podcast again! Thanks for sticking with me and for the last time….Have a listen.

Welcome to Episode 26 – The Producers   Today marks our second last episode – which is hard to believe! I sat down with Associate Producer Haley St Vincent and Producer Kelly Daniels in their flat and had a retrospective chat with them about their experience at the Fringe after two weeks just before I left on my adventures. They had some really great advice for producers considering doing the fringe, the friends they’ve made and what’s next for the show!

Welcome to Episode 24 - Intern Parting Thoughts (or Ladies do Burp - it'll make sense if you listen to the episode ;) ) Today's episode features three of our interns, on their last night in Edinburgh, looking back over the shows they've seen, what theatre means to them and their experience at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I was out in the Highlands of Scotland, and I gave them the microphone to record a solo episode.... unsupervised! So have a listen to the musings and tips and tricks of Sammy Cranston, Caitlyn Jaz and Alison Adams!

Welcome to Episode 23 – CanadaHub at Ed Fringe I’m back! After jetting around Ireland and Germany for a week, I’m back in the saddle for the home stretch of the Fringe! Today’s episode is my chat with Michael Rubenfeld – the initiator and Executive Artistic Producer behind CanadaHub at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Michael Rubenfeld is a performance maker, cultural producer, playwright and actor originally from Winnipeg and now residing in Toronto and Poland. He is a Dora Award-nominated performer and playwright and has worked on stages across the country and in parts of the United States and Europe.  In 2017, in partnership with the Canada Council for the Arts, Michael initiated a new venue called CanadaHub, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, bringing 6 projects from across Canada and presenting there for the month of August. The work won numerous awards and is presented in association with Summerhall, CanadaHub is produced by Selfconscious Productions in partnership with the Canada Council for the Arts and in association with the High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom and the Government of Canada. We had a sit down in his office and had a wide ranging chat about theatre, CanadaHub and the differences between Canadian Theatre and European theatre! Have a listen!

The Fringe Circuit is one where you see familiar faces all the time – and in this case I was happy to meet up with Steven Finley, who I met while doing a show at the Toronto Fringe! He is stage managing a one man show here at Ed Fringe – McNaughton by Steven Gooch. Starring Jason Harvey and Directed by Christine Kimberley it tells the story of: “Daniel M'Naghten was a Scottish woodturner who assassinated English civil servant Edward Drummond while suffering from paranoid delusions. Through his trial and its aftermath, he has given his name to the legal test of criminal insanity in England and other common law jurisdictions known as the M'Naghten rules.” This show has such great thematic ties to Watching Glory Die – so it was great to talk to some artists from the UK and hear about their journey through Ed Fringe! 

Welcome to Episode 20 - The Royal Mile Today’s episode we are bringing you to the Royal Mile – which is one of the main thorough fares here at the Ed Fringe. You can see numerous busking acts and get flyered a million times in one second - it really is the heartbeat of the entire festival. You really have to strategies to get your show seen – we’ve done a few performances of the song Glory at the Lower Stage here, and it’s where our interns have gone to pump up the show. I thought it would be interesting to bring the Royal Mile to your ears while I chat with our guest today – intern Avery MacDonald about how she is tackling fliering at the Edinburgh Fringe! One of the shows that you’ll hear us get Flyerd for is Conversations with Myself – so shout out to them!   This is also the beginning of a mini break of the podcast while I jet off to Ireland and Germany! We’ll be back on August 21st!

Welcome to Episode 19 – The Circus is in Town   Today’s episode I got to sit down with Fringe circus performers Adam Storm from Australia and Antoine Morin from France, who are in the Quebecois show La Galerie, playing at the Assembly Rooms. I was really interested to chat with some other artists at the Festival, and see how they were handling this massive adventure we all seem to be on. We had a fun chat in a coffee shop about how being an international artist changes your perspective, how they are surviving the festival and behind the scenes of a circus show! "One white room. Four white walls. Eight fiery circus performers. Machine de Cirque's UK debut is a gallery like no other – step in and experience incredible skill and artistry – leaving the space only once completely transformed. After the international success of its namesake show, Quebec's world-class performers will immerse you in a fleeting canvas, acrobatic feats and live music – a huge spectacle of drama, acrobatics and paint from a first-class circus ensemble." Machine de Cirque was founded in 2013 under the initiative of Vincent Dubé – a circus performer for over 20 years and holder of a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. He is the Company's artistic director and CEO. Circus artists Raphaël Dubé, Yohann Trépanier, Ugo Dario and Maxim Laurin, as well as multi-instrumentalist Frédéric Lebrasseur, are its cofounders. They joined forces with Vincent in 2015 to create their namesake show titled “Machine de Cirque.” Machine de Cirque is an organization whose mission is to bring together various actors from the arts and technology world around circus show production projects.

Welcome to Episode 18 – Welcome Address We’ve come to the end of the first full week here at Fringe – and it’s been a wild ride full of missing props and costumes, opening afternoons, singing in the streets – and seeing shows! It’s hard to believe it’s been only been a week! I was scrolling through my audio, and I came across the welcome speech at Fringe Central Welcome Address by Sheila Atim, (soon to be gracing our screens in the GOT Prequel!)  which I was fortunate enough to attend last Friday. I remember being inspired by her generous and encouraging words about the Edinburgh Fringe, and a week later I understand them more fully. Have a listen!

Welcome to Episode 17 – Rebecca Perry Today’s episode has a special guest – actor, singer, writer and producer Rebecca Perry of "Confessions of a Red Headed Coffee Shop Girl" fame and this year’s hit "From Judy to Bette: Stars of Old Hollywood." Her new show From Judy to Bette: Stars of Old Hollywood is playing at the Gilded Balloon – and Rebecca was kind enough to offer myself and the Watching Glory Die team tickets. After attending the show, myself and Nathanya Barnett (Glory herself) went to a, you guessed it, coffee shop and picked her brain about how one sells oneself at the Edinburgh Fringe, being a Canadian artist here in Scotland and what it means to be a feminist show!

Welcome to Episode 16 – Moments of the Fringe   The Fringe can be an overwhelming event – with so much energy and hustle built into each day, it can feel jam packed. We’ve been here for 10 days now, and I’ve had some really great conversations with so many amazing people. For today’s episode though, I thought I would put together some moments I just let the microphone pick whatever was happening around me - whether we were waiting for our set to be delivered from Manchester by a man named Andy, having an insightful conversation in the theatre, being tutored by Derrick Chua or getting exciting news – these are some of my Moments of Fringe.   This podcast is licensed under an Attribution – NonCommercial – NoDerivatives 4.0 International Creative Commons License. Royalty Free Music from Bensound

 Welcome to Episode 15 – Wrap your lugs (ears) round this podcast Yesterday I met up with one half of the review podcasting team Wayne Miller from Wrap Your Lugs Round This Podcast at the Assembly Rooms beer tent to chat about behind the scenes of podcasting at the fringe, do’s and don’t’s and what reviews via podcasting has to offer the festival – have a listen! This podcast is licensed under an Attribution – NonCommercial – NoDerivatives 4.0 International Creative Commons License. Royalty Free Music from Bensound

Welcome to Episode 14 – Interns Today’s episode features my chat with – you guessed it – MORE Interns! Specifically, Samantha Cranston, Cailtin Jaz, Kaitlyn Doyle and Alison Adams. We had a great conversation about what they’ve learned, how they think flyering is going to be and what it’s like to be a young Canadian abroad!     This podcast is licensed under an Attribution – NonCommercial – NoDerivatives 4.0 International Creative Commons License. Royalty Free Music from Bensound

Welcome to Episode 13 – The Music Today’s episode features time travel and interviews conducted in two countries. Back in mid July I began an interview with Aaron Hrastovec just ahead of the Windsor opening night – we didn’t get to finish it, so we picked up where we left off this week in Edinburgh! We also added in Kianna Porter – together these two interns composed, arranged, wrote and performed the theme song for the show! The song will also be performed, with the rest of us interns, on August 4th at 12:20 and 6th of August at 4:20 as part of the Virgin Money Fringe Street Events, at the Lower Stage on High Street! Have a listen to our chat about the inspiration behind the music! This podcast is licensed under an Attribution – NonCommercial – NoDerivatives 4.0 International Creative Commons License. Royalty Free Music from Bensound

Welcome to Episode 12 – It’s Opening Afternoon! This afternoon at 1:50 at the Assembly Rooms in the Ballroom is our official opening of Watching Glory Die – and we’re so proud to share this story with audiences here at the Edinburgh Fringe. I was able to sit down with the cast – Kelli Fox, Kathryn Haggis, Nathanya Barnett – our director and playwright Judith Thompson and assistant director Meghan de Chastelain, Stage Manager Meaghan Carpentier and producing intern Audrey Taylor who has been our associate lighting designer, just after first preview to talk about their road to today, working with a team of women and the game plan for the rest of Fringe. This podcast is licensed under an Attribution – NonCommercial – NoDerivatives 4.0 International Creative Commons License. Royalty Free Music from Bensound

Welcome to Episode 11 - The Hiccup   Yesterday was our first preview - however most of the drama happened off stage...It was a cross city scavenger hunt!   Featuring the voices of Nathanya Barnett, Audrey Taylor and Meahgan Carpentier   This podcast is licensed under an Attribution – NonCommercial – NoDerivatives 4.0 International Creative Commons License. Royalty Free Music from Bensound      

Welcome to Episode 10 – The Assistant   Today we have an interview with Assistant Director Meghan de Chastelain! She has been Judith’s right hand woman through this process, and it was great to have the opportunity to have a chat! Our conversation was a fabulous exploration of the job of the assistant director, transferring a show to Edinbrugh and what draws her towards directing – have a listen. This podcast is licensed under an Attribution – NonCommercial – NoDerivatives 4.0 International Creative Commons License. Royalty Free Music from Bensound

Welcome to Episode 9 - "The Journey"   So we’ve entered the epic stretch of the podcast. From here on out there will be one episode a day coming at you from Edinburgh. I now have a microphone on me at all times, and am capturing a large cross section of interviews, local colour, and interviews. This episode features our journey to Scotland – how do you move a company of 11 interns, 3 actors, a Stage Manager, Director, Assistant Director, three producers and props and costumes? Both easily and with complications….have a listen!   This podcast is licensed under an Attribution – NonCommercial – NoDerivatives 4.0 International Creative Commons License. Royalty Free Music from Bensound

Welcome to episode 8 – “The Playwright” It’s not every day that you get to interview a Canadian Theatre Icon – but I had the opportunity to sit down with Judith Thompson and pick her brain. With the play opening tonight in Windsor at the Hatch Studio, I thought it was a good time to air this special episode! Artistic Director of RARE Theatre Company, Judith is a playwright, director, actor and professor of theatre at the University of Guelph. She is the author of 15 published plays, many of which are performed all over the world. Judith and I chatted about her process writing Watching Glory Die, her excitement of rewriting the piece to be for three actors and her hopes for Canadian indie theatre – have a listen! This podcast is licensed under an Attribution – NonCommercial – NoDerivatives 4.0 International Creative Commons License.   Royalty Free Music from Bensound

This Tuesday July 23rd my conversation with Playwright and Director of Watching Glory Die Judith Thompson drops - here's a sneak peek!

Welcome to Episode 7 – “The Edinburgh Expert” This week I sit down with one of the busiest men in Toronto – Derrick Chua! During one of the hottest weeks this summer, we chilled on a patio and I picked his brain about producing a show at the biggest Fringe Festival in the world. Derrick Chua is an entertainment lawyer, award-winning theatre producer and a co-founder of Studio 180 in Toronto. He is also the past-President of the Toronto Fringe Festival, and sits on the boards of The AFC, Theatre Museum Canada, fu-Gen Asian Canadian Theatre Company and Groundling Theatre. He is the recipient of a Dora Award, a Harold Award, a NOW Magazine Award as Toronto’s Best Indie Producer, and a Canadian Actors’ Equity Association Honorary Membership for Outstanding Contribution to the Performing Arts. We had a very enlightening conversation about what to expect at the festival, how to market your show and what to pack for Edinburgh! Have a listen! This podcast is licensed under an Attribution – NonCommercial – NoDerivatives 4.0 International Creative Commons License. Royalty Free Music from Bensound

Welcome to Episode 6 – “Gail” We are two weeks out from our Windsor opening on Pelee Island – and rehearsals are starting back up this week. So  I thought we would check back in with one of our actors to see what they are making of the Watching Glory Die process. I sat down for a chat with actor Kathryn Haggis! Kathryn Haggis is a Canadian actor and writer, living in Toronto ON. After graduating at The Neighbourhood Playhouse Theatre School in New York City, she returned to Toronto and joined The Second City auxiliary touring Company. While at SC in Toronto, Kathryn spent years teaching improv to children, youth and young adults of all abilities. She also enjoyed years of playing Francis, in Sonny Mills; live, episodic, Dyke City, for Buddies In Bad Times Theatre and she treasures being directed by Judith Thompson in Lois Fine’s, Freda and Gem's Best of the Week. Kathryn’s favourite film and TV credits include playing cousin Marianthi in My Big Fat Greek Wedding (1 and 2), and most recently: Imposters, on Netflix. Kathryn is currently collaborating on a short film, called Dead On.  We had a great discussion about her work with youth and what that brings to her role as a correctional officer, what she’s excited for in Edinburgh and what it’s like working with Judith Thompson – have a listen! This podcast is licensed under an Attribution – NonCommercial – NoDerivatives 4.0 International Creative Commons License. Royalty Free Music from Bensound

Welcome to Episode 5 "The Senator" This week’s episode is one that has a SERIOUS cool factor – I was able to grab about 25 minutes of Senator Kim Pate’s time via Skype - so another new skill added to the bank! Her connection to our show is pretty big – in 2007 she was the Executive Director of the Canadian Elizabeth Fry Society - which is an association of self-governing, community-based Elizabeth Fry Societies that work with and for women and girls in the justice system, particularly those who are, or may be, criminalized. In that capacity she acted as Ashley Smith's advocate when she was in the Grand Valley Correctional facility. We had a really interesting chat about the play vs the real case, Bill C-83 and how Ashley Smith's legacy continues on today. Have a listen and don't forget to hit subscribe for more!   This podcast is licensed under an Attribution – NonCommercial – NoDerivatives 4.0 International Creative Commons License. Royalty Free Music from Bensound

It’s Episode Four – “Rosellen” This is the second of four interviews I was able to conduct during rehearsals – and I was really lucky to be able to chat with Kelli Fox! Kelli is an actor/director with more than 30 years experience on stages across Canada, and in the U.S., including 13 seasons with the Shaw Festival, and 3 seasons with the Stratford Festival. From fall of 2017 to the spring of 2018 she served as Artistic Associate at Globe Theatre in Regina. Kelli has been recognized with a Jessie award (Keely & Du, Arts Club/Canstage), a Dora nomination (Top Girls, Soulpepper), a Capitol Critics Circle award (A Room of One's Own, Shaw tour), a Toronto Critic's Circle award (Penelopiad, Nightwood Theatre), as well as sharing a Dora with the Penelopiad ensemble. Kelli is currently directing Cakewalk at the Blyth Festival Theatre – which opens this Thursday, June 26th! So Happy Opening Week! Our chat was a really cool exploration of what it’s like to work with Judith Thompson, her career as a director and her first fringe show in Vancouver – there may be some singing involved…. It was also her birthday! Have a listen!   What I learned about Producing this week: There's a really cool website called Generator - "Generator is a mentoring, teaching, and innovation incubator that expands the skills, tools, and competencies of independent artists, producers and leaders. From intensive programs to workshops, Generator is transforming the role of the artist producer one artist at a time. Also by Generator: ArtistProducerResource.com" From checklists to grants, this is a great first stop on a producing journey! 

Welcome to Episode 3 – “You Shouldn’t Be Ashamed To Ask For Support” That is actually a direct quote from today’s guest – our producer Kelly Daniels! Kelly is currently working hard in Windsor, so I learned a new technique from Phil Rickaby over at Stageworthy Podcast – remote interviewing with Zencastr! I’m still figuring it out – so apologies for the audio bumps! I also had a cold at the time – so also apologies for the froggy voice… I sat down with her to chat about how you start producing a show and an exciting new funding initiative called “Send A Friend” – and actually did a walk through of how you write that letter asking for a donation -check it out! What I learned about Producing this week: Don't complicate your job - it's always simpler then you think it is. Be proud of the work you are doing and others will be too.

Welcome to Episode 2 – “Glory” I was able to sneak into rehearsals – which was amazing. Throughout the next few weeks we’ll be dropping the interviews that I did with the cast and director – and today we’re starting with our Glory – emerging artist, poet, playwright, and now performer, Nathanya Barnett! We had a great conversation that spans her transition from working behind the scenes to acting, the correctional system and adorable same-sex penguins with a baby! What I learned about producing this week: A producer needs to know their show inside and out in order to sell it to other people - be passionate about the work you are involved in!

Meet the Interns! We are a small but might army of producing interns on this project, and this episode introduces you to some of the voices you'll be hearing in the next 13 weeks.  At the end of every episode I'll be revealing what I learned about producing this week - so be sure to listen to the end ;) Shout out to Tee Morris (who's Twitter handle is actually @TeeMonster - sorry Tee!) for giving me some pointers, and writing the book Podcasting for Dummies!   Royalty Free Music from Bensound