Amelia’s Magazine | Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2011 – Blood and Roses Review

Blood and Roses by Caroline Coates
Illustration by Caroline Coates.

It’s hard to know how to talk about Blood and Roses. Before witnessing it, I had been referring to it as an ‘audio play’ but I now realise what an understatement that was, as what I witnessed last Saturday afternoon was genre-defying, much more than what the former description suggests. Yes, there is an audio component, consisting of dialogue and a soundtrack by composer and director Alex Attwood. It manifests itself through the MP3 player and headphones given to each audience member.

Blood and Roses, Photo by Caitlin Sinclair
All photography by Caitlin Sinclair.

There are also visual elements, as while listening, the audience strolls through Edinburgh’s streets and takes in architecture, shop fronts, street art, pubs, gardens and a host of unique sites designed by visual artist Jen Robson. Then, a tangible quality becomes noticeable—we are offered the opportunity to wander through rooms, consult maps and diagrams, and to take in the dreamy atmosphere. It’s surprising, exhilarating, and not like any theatre I’ve seen, heard or felt before.

Blood and Roses by Carne Griffiths
Illustration by Carne Griffiths.

The play originated as a wedding gift, written by Poorboy’s Artistic Director Sandy Thomson for one of the company’s Artistic Associates, Brian Ferguson. Marriage is at the story’s heart, and in real life the last of the performances coincidentally takes place on Ferguson’s wedding day.

Blood and Roses, Photo by Caitlin Sinclair

In the present day, 22-year-old Scotswoman Alexandra has announced her engagement to Anatoly, a Russian man she recently met while studying in Moscow. Interwoven with her emotionally charged story are her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother’s narratives, ranging as far back as 1662. We also hear from the women in Anatoly’s family, struggling to survive around the time of the Siege of Leningrad. A final thread is the haunting Baba Yaga fairytale, relating to Alexandra’s Slavic folktale studies.

Blood and Roses, Photo by Caitlin Sinclair

The audio alone makes for compelling storytelling, touching on women’s experiences, marriage and the sacrifices made for family. Dialogue is interspersed with urban sounds, singing, a heartbeat, and a recurring Celtic fiddle tune. Towards the play’s end, we learn about how difficult Alexandra’s birth was for her mother, and I see audience members’ eyes well up. There’s no denying the lump in our throats.

Blood and Roses by Claire Kearns
Illustration by Claire Kearns.

Adding to the complexity of this audio experience is the fact that all the while, we are soaking up the atmosphere of a sunny weekend afternoon. It’s interesting to observe the public’s reaction to our headphoned group’s presence. Despite it being Festival-time, heads still swivel. At one stage we are seated in a pub when our table is approached by a gentleman who mouths, ‘what are you doing?!’ We shrug and smile, but we aren’t about to spoil the secret.

Blood and Roses, Photo by Caitlin Sinclair

Each site we stop at has a special significance to the story, most incredible for me is a back garden decorated with hanging family photos, antique bedroom furniture and Baba Yaga dolls created from the unlikely sources. It’s a delight to wander through, peeking past branches and leaves to glimpse at all manner of crafted treasures.

Blood and Roses by Gareth A Hopkins
Blood and Roses by Gareth A Hopkins.

The variedness of the play is appealing, however at times it is also overwhelming. On a couple of occasions I missed the guide’s motioned signals to move on because I was busy examining the artwork, and the displays at some sites were so detailed that I couldn’t concentrate on what I was hearing. Despite these problems with pace and concentration, this is largely a clever and engrossing production, worth watching, listening and talking about.

Blood and Roses opens today as part of the Edinburgh Fringe, full details in our listing.

Categories ,Alex Attwood, ,Baba Yaga, ,Blood and Roses, ,Brian Ferguson, ,Carne Griffiths, ,Caroline Coates, ,Claire Kearns, ,Edinburgh Festival, ,edinburgh fringe festival, ,Gareth A Hopkins, ,Jennifer Robson, ,Poorboy, ,Sandy Thomson, ,Siege of Leningrad, ,St George’s West

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Amelia’s Magazine | Larmer Tree Festival 2011 Review, Thursday: Peacocks, Music, Comedy and more!

Larmer Tree Peacock by Rebecca Emery
Larmer Tree Peacock by Rebecca Emery.

The weather was beautiful as we rocked up to Larmer Tree Festival on Thursday evening – low sunshine spread out across our clover strewn camping field, recipe tents neatly laid out in impromptu rows hinting at the nice middle class nature of this festival, cost held at the lovely Larmer Tree Gardens estate, sickness where the resident peacocks reign supreme.

Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review Peacocks photo Amelia GregoryLarmer Tree Festival 2011 review Peacocks photo Amelia GregoryLarmer Tree Festival 2011 review Peacocks photo Amelia GregoryLarmer Tree Festival 2011 review Peacocks photo Amelia GregoryLarmer Tree Festival 2011 review Tom Leadbetter, photo Amelia Gregory
I hadn’t even made my way through the main entrance when I bumped into a sunny Tom Leadbetter, illustrator and graphic designer. Gone are the days when I can go anywhere and not know someone, or indeed quite a lot of people. There were many more friendly faces to greet behind the gates.

Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review  photo Amelia GregoryLarmer Tree Festival 2011 review  photo Amelia GregoryLarmer Tree Festival 2011 review Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain photo amelia gregory
At the main stage the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain were holding court in front of a carpet of laid back festival going families perched on tartan picnic blankets. Their amusing patter was a sign that they’ve been gigging for many a year, and they put on a great show, covering rock and disco classics such as Freak Out with great panache.

Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review  photo Amelia Gregory peacockLarmer Tree Festival 2011 review  photo Amelia Gregory peacockLarmer Tree Festival 2011 review  photo Amelia Gregory peacock
At Larmer Tree you are never very far from a peacock, whose feisty, amusing behaviour had me entranced. When they were not caterwauling at each other from the rooftops a particular favourite was to dive bomb festival goers as they ate their food.

Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review  photo Amelia Gregory peacock
Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review  photo Amelia Gregory peacock
Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review bookcrossing  photo Amelia Gregory peacock
Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review lost woodland photo amelia gregoryLarmer Tree Festival 2011 review  photo Amelia Gregory peacock
A wander around the Larmer Tree Gardens revealed a host of beautifully laid out nooks and crannies… I picked up a Bookcrossing second hand book swinging from the lampshade bedecked tree in the Lost Woodland area – chosen for it’s great cover design. There was even a special selection laid out for the kids.

Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review woodwork area  photo Amelia Gregory peacock
Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review woodland craft area  photo Amelia Gregory peacock
Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review woodland craft area  photo Amelia Gregory peacock
In the Woodland Crafts area here was green woodworking from the Bodgers Barn, charcoal making demonstrations and artwork made from the ensuing willow charcoal.

Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review woodland craft area  photo Amelia Gregory peacock
Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review lost woodland photo amelia gregory
Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review lost woodland photo amelia gregory
Not to mention beautiful floral creations in the trees and origami swans floating in the follies.

Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review -imelda may
Imelda May by Sophia O'Connor
Imelda May by Sophia O’Connor.

The headliner on the main stage was Irish rockabilly throwback Imelda May, who certainly looked the part, dressed in her trademark quiff, striped sailor top and pencil skirt. She’s got a great voice but she’s not really doing anything new – I’d love to see her add a more contemporary spin to her set.

Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review Fergus Craig photo amelia gregory
In the late evening the ARC tent was given over to comedy, undoubtedly one of my Larmer Tree Festival highlights. On Thursday Fergus Craig compered the show, and he was the first but by no means the last comedian to comment on the extreme middle class nature of the Larmer Tree experience. He wrote on Twitter At the Larmer Tree Festival. Very middle class. Makes latitude look like Benidorm. I think he could be right – since Latitude (read my review of the Latitude comedy area last year here) has grown astronomically in size Larmer Tree Festival has become the far more family friendly option. His feelings were amply demonstrated when he picked on Tom’s dad, who was wearing a top hat and took it admirably well.

Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review -sara pascoe
Sara-Pascoe-by-Jessica-Knight
Sara Pascoe by Jessica Knight.

Next up was Sara Pascoe, dressed in a strange get up of beige cagoul and woolly beanie with blonde curls framing her face. Her style was goofily random and dry, concentrating on visceral anecdotes about her love life.

Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review -Late Night Gimp Fight photo amelia gregory
Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review -Late Night Gimp Fight photo amelia gregory
Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review -Late Night Gimp Fight photo amelia gregory
Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review -Late Night Gimp Fight photo amelia gregory
My boyfriend was especially excited about watching Late Night Gimp Fight, who have received numerous plaudits sitting setting the Edinburgh Festival on fire. They are a skit troupe who excel at creating surreal scenes with impish undertones: the prince realises that Sleeping Beauty will stay asleep, no matter what he does, one member de-robes entirely to reveal his penis whilst the others hide theirs with elephant trunks.

Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review -Late Night Gimp Fight photo amelia gregory
Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review -Late Night Gimp Fight photo amelia gregory
 Late Night Gimp Fight by finn_obrien
Late Night Gimp Fight by Finn O’Brien

They sing (beautifully, as it happens) dance (Beyonce’s iconic Single Lady has never looked so amusing) and were wholeheartedly entertaining.

Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review -phil nichol photo amelia gregory
Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review -phil nichol photo amelia gregory
Phil Nichol by Michelle Price
Phil Nichol by Michelle Price.

Last up was the amazing Phil Nichol, who took to the stage like he had a rocket up his arse. Dashing frantically from side to side he was soon heaving his too tight t-shirt over his head and forcing a teenage boy to lick his sweaty belly ‘I had a wank earlier and came all over myself, hur hur‘. A Canadian relocated in the UK, he was a totally overwhelming presence mere metres from my nose, and I say that in a good way as he had me in stitches for his entire headline set.

Larmer Tree Festival 2011 review -phil nichol photo amelia gregory
Which culminated in the same teenage boy that he had earlier picked on dueting with him on the The Only Gay Eskimo in My Tribe, which he did with confident aplomb. I’d certainly go see Phil Nichol again.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday reviews of Larmer Tree Festival still to come!

Categories ,ARC, ,Bodgers Barn, ,Bookcrossing, ,comedy, ,Edinburgh Festival, ,Finn O’Brien, ,Imelda May, ,Jessica Knight, ,Larmer Tree Festival, ,Larmer Tree Gardens, ,Late Night Gimp Fight, ,Latitude Festival, ,Michelle Price, ,Peacocks, ,Phil Nichol, ,Rebecca Emery, ,Sara Pascoe, ,Sophia O’Connor, ,The Only Gay Eskimo in My Tribe, ,Woodland Crafts

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