The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2013 is up and running, here’s the first of a number of updates about musicals and cabarets being staged at the international event.
The Road to Qatar!
1–26 August (not 13), C Too – Main House (Venue 4).
Josh Rochford and James Robert-Moore lead a young cast in the European premiere of Stephen Cole and David Krane’s bio-comic musical The Road to Qatar! which tells the true tale of how the Emir of Qatar commissioned the writers to pen him an arena style musical production.
Two gay New York Jewish writers Michael (James Robert-Moore) and Jeffrey (Josh Rochford) are commissioned to do the impossible: write a gargantuan Broadway musical for the Emir of Qatar. Surprises abound as they travel from NYC to Dubai, London, Bratislava and, finally, to Qatar in their own private Bob Hope and Bing Crosby wide-screen adventure with a modern off-the-wall twist.
Sami Lamine (Farid), Richard Morse (Mansour) and Natasha Karp (Nazirah) complete the cast.
The Road to Qatar! is directed by Kate Golledge who was resident director on Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s recent revival of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium as well as Sweet Charity at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Chris Huntley is musical director, with Matthew Cole taking on the role of choreographer. The production is produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment.
www.edfringe.com/whats-on/musicals-and-operas/road-to-qatar
Between Empires
12–24 August, theSpace @ Symposium Hall (Venue 43).
Between Empires is set in late 18th century India when the East India Company was growing in influence. The musical opens in Bengal at a time when a few thousand British traders controlled the fate of millions, when local rulers were undermined and replaced, and when corruption spread to the very top. Amidst political upheaval and the clashes of culture, a young British officer, George, falls in love with Anala, an Indian princess, who is about to marry the man chosen for her by her uncle, the Nawab. Between Empires, a new British musical with book and lyrics by Morgan Mackintosh and Orlando Simon and music by Michail Palaiologou, receives its world premiere at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The cast is led by Claire-Marie Hall as Anala and Josh Little as George, with Daryl Armstrong, Minal Patel, Alex Falkowski, Wayne Perrey, Sarah Rajeswaran, Rasheeda Ali, Keith Higham and Matthew Ronchetti. Between Empires is directed by Will Wrightson, choreographed by Emily Piercy and designed by takis. The musical is produced by Morgan Mackintosh and Orlando Simon.
Julie Madly Deeply
31 July–26 August (not 7 and 14), Gilded Balloon Teviot (Venue 14).
Following four award-wining years on the Fringe with Cabaret Whore, Sarah-Louise Young and Michael Roulston return with Julie Madly Deeply, a new show based on the lfe and work of Julie Andrews and the star’s relationship with her fans.
Written and performed by singer, West End actress and Fascinating Aida performer Sarah-Louise Young, the show intertwines Andrews’ songs from musicals (including Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady) with stories and anecdotes, from her beginnings as a child star to the challenges of losing her singing voice.
Young and musical director Michael Roulston’s first show Cabaret Whore won Time Out Critics’ Choice in 2009 and went on to win acclaim beyond the Fringe from London and Brighton, via Paris to Australia. Their second show, Cabaret Whore Encore! won the Spirit of the Fringe Award.
Young and Roulston will be performing at the Free Festival with their other new show Songs for Cynics at The Counting House. Roulston will also be appearing in Psycho with Dusty Limits and Christine Bovill’s Piaf, and Young with The Showstoppers on selected dates only. Seabright Productions produces Julie Madly Deeply which is directed by Russell Lucas.
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