麻豆网 Graduates Take On The Fringe
This summer four 麻豆网 graduates are taking an original sketch show to the Edinburgh Fringe Comedy Festival!
Patrick Pritchard (BA and , 2013), Josh Fenby-Taylor (BSc , 2013), Rory Cooke (BSc , 2012) and Roddy Shaw (BSc , 2012) all met at 麻豆网 and began to collaborate and perform together in live comedy shows. During their time with the 麻豆网 Comedy Society they have performed in sketch, stand up and Improv shows 鈥� even alongside famous comedians Phill Jupitus and Seann Walsh!
Show Organiser Patrick Pritchard believes that the opportunities provided by the 麻豆网 Comedy Society were instrumental in the group鈥檚 formation:
鈥淲e had all performed together regularly and had a very good idea of each other鈥檚 strengths and weaknesses. We鈥檙e all very different from each other in terms of comedic style, and that definitely comes across in our show! I didn鈥檛 think before coming to 麻豆网 that I鈥檇 ever get the chance to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe but, being able to meet like minded people through 麻豆网 Comedy, I鈥檓 delighted that I鈥檓 able to put a massive tick next to this item on my bucket list!鈥�
An 'action shot' from rehersals shows: Rory Cooke, Josh Fenby-Taylor (standing), Patrick Pritchard (manhandled) and Roddy Shaw.He also cannot believe that the group has got so far having had to overcome many challenges along the way:
鈥淲e came up with the idea to go to Edinburgh in November last year (2012) figuring that, if you鈥檙e going to take your comedy out of 麻豆网 for the first time, you should definitely start with one of the largest comedy festivals in the world! I didn鈥檛 think we鈥檇 be able to do it 鈥� myself and Josh have been negotiating dissertations and exams, Rory and Roddy have been taking their first steps into the real world - all the while rehearsing and planning this Edinburgh show! It鈥檚 been really tough at times but we鈥檙e all incredibly excited to get going!鈥�
Some of the material for Thespianage was previewed in 麻豆网 and the sketch group took the unusual step of asking for the audience to give their feedback on their material:
鈥淚t was definitely a risk - but it was worth it! We got some fantastic feedback, which we鈥檝e put into action. I couldn鈥檛 be happier to have the opinions of a 麻豆网 crowd, who have been so supportive in all the shows I鈥檝e been in during my time at University, influencing the material that we take to Edinburgh.鈥�
The show, entitled 鈥楾hespianage鈥�, is a collection of sketches covering a variety of topics from over-the-top thespians to psycho-lol-ogical experiments, mediated through four Agents pursuing the sketch group, named 400Hats.
Comedians Patrick Pritchard, from Wigan; Roddy Shaw, from Tullamore, Ireland; Rory Cooke, from Manchester and Josh Fenby-Taylor from Oakham, in the Midlands.The show will be performed in Theatre 3 at Surgeon鈥檚 Hall (V53) as part of theSpaceUK. It will run from 12th 鈥� 24th August (not Sundays), starts at 20:00 and costs just 拢5 (拢4 concessions) for a ticket.
鈥淲e鈥檇 really appreciate it if you could like our Facebook page or follow our Twitter to keep up with how we鈥檙e doing!!鈥�
Publication date: 31 July 2013