Ewan Spence

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Sarah Kendall (Get Up, Stand Up, 2012)

September 22, 2022

Season 18

Episode 4

00:12:58

This week we’re back to 2012 once more, as former Perrier nominee Sarah Kendall returned to the Fringe after a five year absence.

“Get Up, Stand Up” (or is it “Get Up, Stand-Up”, how delightfully interpretive) takes on a more storytelling approach than a bang-bang-jokes routine, and Kendall’s acting chops wer brought to the fore in an hour of pitch perfect raccentouring, reflecting on motherhood, the world that her daughter was growing up in, all wrapped up by the tale of the Ugly Duckling.

Her recent work includes the TV show Frayed, which has just finished its second season, and an appearance on the UK version of Taskmaster – so as you’d expect there’s countless clips of her discovering a bag of salt.

As for 2012, we’re off to The Pleasance and the ridiculously early time of 8.30pm, to talk to Sarah Kendall.

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My Cat’s Tale – Dougie Three Legs

September 21, 2022

Season 1

Episode 16

00:26:15

A wild little feral, Dougie lost his front leg in an accident when he was ten months old. With medical help, he recovered, but was in the rescue shelter for seven months… until Crystal came along to adopt this loving little cat… who purred all the way home

Crystal and Ewan talk about Dougie’s amazing life. The bunny hops that become zoomies, the careful selection of a harness so he can go outside, and the special snuggles you get from a three-legged cat.

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The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Tiff Stevenson (Uncomfortably Numb, 2012)

September 15, 2022

Season 18

Episode 3

00:10:52

Tiff Stevenson has been a Fringe fixture since 2006, debuting as a solo act in 2009. Stevenson was already established on the circuit in 2012 when, following her appearance in ITV’s ‘Show Me The Funny’, she brought ‘Uncomfortably Numb’ to Edinburgh,

She continues to bring new material to the Fringe, with this year’s ‘Sexy Brain’ picking up five star reviews; And year round she runs and MCs the monthly new material night ‘Old Rope’ each month at London’s Comedy Store.

So let’s go back in time, back to The Underbelly, and back to Tiff Stevenson’s ‘Uncomfortably Numb’

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My Cat’s Tale – Teddy, Sushi, and the Cat Sitter

September 14, 2022

Season 1

Episode 15

00:36:15

Teddy and Sushi live with Genevieve, who made sure that she and her husband spent the first two weeks with them at home (and introducing me to the term of pet-ertnity leave). The two cats decided themselves which cat would pair up with which human, but Teddy and Sushi are not the only cats in Genevieve’s life. When Genevieve steps out of the front door, she becomes… the cat sitter.

Genevieve talks to Ewan about Teddy and Sushi, and also her life as a cat sitter, how to befriend a new cat, and the magical toy that every cat falls in love with.

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The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Arthur Smith (…Sings Leonard Cohen, volume 2, 2013)

September 8, 2022

Season 18

Episode 2

00:15:28

Into the archives once more with another Fringe legend. Over the years, Arthur Smith has performed countless stand-up sets at the Fringe, been arrested for some outdoor shows, wrote his own review and snuck it into The Scotsman, kidnapped a puppet, and many more adventures lost to time.

In 2013 he performed the second of three shows around his love of Leonard Cohen and how his music is wrapped around Arthur’s life. We invited him into our podcast studio to tell us more about “Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen, volume 2”, his memories of the Fringe, and which of the then up-and-coming comics he was watching out for.

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My Cat’s Tale – Copurrnicus and Grabbity

September 7, 2022

Season 1

Episode 14

00:43:02

Copernicus was likely not just a stray but a feral kitten when Suw and Kevin adopted him. That caused conflict between himself and Suw’s two older cats, the late Mewton, and Grabbity. The slow introductions, sharing scents and playing with them together that many recommend did not work; and the delicate peace never lasted long.

Suw and Kevin persevered, and now Copernicus and Grabbity are best of friends. Suw talks to Ewan about adopting Copernicus, dealing with his challenging behaviour over many years, and how he found peace within the house and with Grabbity.

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The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, 2013)

September 1, 2022

Season 18

Episode 1

00:11:59

In our first trip into the archive, we start with Fleabag. Directed by Vicky Wood, written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, this small show from 2013 took place in the depths of the Underbelly. It remains the gold standard of Fringe legends… from a theatrical dare, to a short stand-up like ten minutes, to a ‘that’s so Fringe’ run in Edinburgh, and then onwards into the zeitgeist Phoebe and Vicky joined Ewan Spence in the podcast studio to talk about the origins of Fleabag, highlight the importance of the subject matter, and try to remember how much of the script was cut before it reached the stage.

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My Cat’s Tale – Malcolm The Cat

August 31, 2022

Season 1

Episode 13

00:33:29

Malcolm is on the mend after a recent accident that saw him needing an operation, but this proud cat has so many people supporting him. From Eric, the sidekick better known as Baby Dog, with Caroline and the rest of his family at home, all his neighbours, and countless others contributing to his care online.

For once, Malcolm is getting back the love, care, and devotion he has shown to everyone around him. Ewan talks with Caroline as she thanks the community for their support, remembers when Malcolm first met Baby Dog, and why he has such an ‘old man’s’ name.

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Introducing The Edinburgh Fringe Archives

August 29, 2022

Season 18

00:02:20

As we prepare to explore nearly twenty years of Fringe coverage, Ewan Spence offers a quick audio glance into the archives to give you a taste of what’s to come with some Fringe moments from Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Arthur Smith, and Tiff Stevenson.

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The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Looking Back Over This Year’s Fringe

August 28, 2022

Season 17

Episode 28

00:29:10

As the sun sets on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for 2022, Fin Ross and Ewan look back on this year’s Fringe. How has it felt welcoming the Festival back to the city. Can we offer four more recommended shows for the last night or two in August? And what dangers lie ahead for the Fringe in 2023? All that, and a sneak peek to some Fringe podcasts coming up in September.

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