Presenter: Torrey Shine
It’s always great to discover something in Edinburgh that’s a little hidden away, especially if it has the potential to develop into something rather special. So it is with this free daily digest of solo shows from the Fringe, curated and hosted by the writer and performer Torrey Shine.
As she explains, the concept is simple: to do for the solo show what has long been done for comedy. Offer a selection of extracts from various shows, thereby providing performers with an additional promotional outlet, giving audiences a ‘try before you buy’ opportunity and, of course, creating an extra little show in its own right.
The venue is the DogHouse Hotel, which is just off the Royal Mile and therefore conveniently central. The time, 11.05am, is perfect for squeezing an extra event in between an early show and lunch. It’s a nice point in the day to relax and give a little more attention to some solo artists than merely accepting a flyer from them.
The atmosphere is extremely informal and congenial. It’s almost like having a backstage pass, though the performers soon snap into show mode once they’ve been introduced. The line-up changes daily and, Shine is keen to point out, it doesn’t exclude comedy. Far from it. Rather, it gives a platform to a wider range of solo shows than what was already out there – so it could include storytelling, theatre, clowning, cabaret or spoken word.
On the roster when I dropped in was Kimberley Prentice, whose show, Unseen, is at Zoo Playground until August 25. Through the character of Pam, a star dresser working backstage on Broadway, she explores the highs and lows of life in the shadows, slipping into some thirty other characters along the way. The five other shows looked interesting too, and Shine gave an incidental plug to her own Free Fringe offering, Don’t Stop Believing, a theatrical remix of 1980s songs. This runs at Slow Progress Records & Coffee, also just off the Mile, until 25 August.
All in all, Solo Shows proved to be a very pleasant diversion from the events and exhibitions I’d planned to see. Do check it out.
Runs until 25 August 2024 | Image: Contributed
The Reviews Hub Score
Relaxed and enjoyable
