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FESTIVAL INSIDER Irish chanteuse Camille O’Sullivan talks G&Ts, Scooby Doo and becoming a chameleon for this year’s Fringe
T he first time I set foot in Edinburgh for the Fringe was 2004. I was supposed to perform at the Wigwam Tent, but at the last moment the venue went bankrupt – I was saved by the lovely Speigeltent who took my show and also put me in the great new show La Clique, which I toured for several years around the globe. I was terrified but it was the best of times, a bit like running away to the circus. I’d heard about Edinburgh and it didn’t disappoint – I can still remember standing, G&T in hand, passing out flyers and putting up posters for my show. I lost a lot of money that year but I had a great time and was delighted to end up in a Stephen Frears film after being spotted in the tent by Ewen Bremner. I can remember thinking, ‘if I can make it here, I can make it anywhere’ because Edinburgh is a world stage, instilling confidence in you as a performer.
So far I’ve been lucky that people seem to enjoy the joyful madness and the dark melancholy of the show – they love a good song and the storytelling aspect. I consider myself an emotional
performer, I don’t write the songs I sing, so the least I can do is go out there and inhabit the songs and put on the best possible performance that I can. I never tire of Edinburgh because it’s somewhere you care about. I really appreciate the people who come and support the show and I’ve had a great opportunity to go and see some of the best shows I’ve ever seen. There’s a lot of nervousness about reviews but the one thing I’ve learnt is that in a funny way you need to lose money to get to the next stage. I go drinking and I have a good time. I remember one year being down at the Assembly bar in a Scooby Doo outfit – that’s what the festival is about, the experiences you have and the experiences you can share.
When I
first
started the show I wasn’t sure if the dark theatrical aspect would appeal – it’s about exploring the dark and the light of yourself. I’m not interested in Camille O’Sullivan as much as I am in inhabiting the songs and their stories. It’s also a great excuse to dress up, entertain and live a fantasy – I’m not very good at reality! The show’s called Chameleon this year, which essentially is what the shows have always been about, revealing all your different aspects and becoming something else. It’s about intimacy; no fourth wall on stage. I’m quite terrified before I go on stage, and that never changes. But once you’re up there you
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forget and feel like a child expressing yourself, as uninhibited as it can be. The audience seem to like the emotive side to the show and want to connect with what’s happening, so hopefully the I give opportunity for a few laughs and some tears (for the right reasons!) while sharing my obsession for this music I love. them
Camille O’Sullivan – Chameleon, Assembly @ George Street, 623 3030, until 30 Aug (not 10, 17, 24), 10.25pm, £18.50 (£16.50).
BRIBE OF THE WEEK Wau Wau Sisters’ Last Supper
We received this bribe bounty at the very last minute, so unfortunately didn’t have time to track down a spokesperson from the show, but we think the bribe speaks for itself. The Wau Wau Sisters sent us a bundle including: a pair of pants, a thong, a fridge magnet, a tea towel and a hip flask, all bearing the sacrilegious promotional image for their show, The Wau Wau Sisters’ Last Supper. The sisters hail from New York City, and put on a show that aims to ‘straddle the hilarious gap between performance art and burlesque’, according to their website. They’re pretty proficient at it too, having claimed awards and nominations from the Adelaide, Brighton and London Fringes in years past. This has set a high benchmark for anyone else hoping to curry favour with a sly backhander – if you feel you can top their efforts, send your promo goodies straight away to: Big Fat Festival Bribe, c/o Niki Boyle, The List, 14 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1TE. ■ Wau Wau Sisters’ Last Supper, Assembly @ George Street, 623 3030, until 30 Aug (not 16 or 23), 10.40pm, £12.50-£13.50 (£11.50-£12.50). 8 THE LIST 12–19 Aug 2010
OVERHEARD IN EDINBURGH
‘I've cleared up after lots of comedians who have died on stage but never someone who was talking to
the dead.’ Adam Hills witty repose to Joe Power’s appearance at this year’s Assembly gala launch