The anticipatory delirium of preparing for Fringe
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the best month of my life
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I love the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I went for the first time in 2023, with no idea what I was doing. I had a show at 1:00 PM with a bunch of jokes mashed in between my aria package (5 arias you take to an opera audition) to create an hour-long show in a venue that was too far away from anywhere to flyer audience members. I discovered that the city has FIVE FESTIVALS going on at the same time, is a UNESCO City of Literature, has a dozen independent bookstores, and an ocean. I met V.E. Schwab at the Book Festival, saw Stravinsky’s ballet The Rite of Spring at the International Festival, and attended a screening of You’re Fat Friend about Aubrey Gordon followed by a Q&A with the director at the Film Festival. It was the best month of my life.
Last year I worked a full time job, 7:45 AM-4:00 PM (no lunch), then did a 4:45 PM show every day. I met Caroline O’Donoghue, Samantha Shannon, and R.F. Kuang at the Book Fest. I spent a weekend in the Highlands at the end of the month. It was the best month of my life.
This year, I have no job to distract me, and I’m taking two shows: my solo show and a children’s show, the latter of which will run for the first ten days, until the Scottish school year starts. I’m also taking part in a community-building crowdwork show with two dear friends, in which I’ll have a standing set every night.
I am bursting with excitement, and my boyfriend was very patient this Sunday when I reminded him how much fun it is and how excited I am for it… every twenty minutes. This is the first year that I both KNOW what I am doing and have the TIME to do all the things!
This is also the year when I finally get to share Fringe with many people I love who live across the ocean. My friend Hannah from high school and her husband and dear friend Chris are coming with their five-year-old for a week. Then my Aunt Hilary and her husband Bruce are coming. My college friend Britt and her husband will make their annual trek up from London; they always come with the best show schedule plan-of-action. The month will round out with a visit from my father, the legend, The Gerg, Navy pilot, Costco member, with over fifty five-star reviews. After the festival, we’re going to visit three lighthouses around Scotland.
So, I’m pretty stoked.
On Saturday, I did a Work In Progress version for a small crowd at a whiskey bar and it went better than I expected. Still much work to be done. But I’m pleased.
There are so many things I'm wrestling with right now, from existential dread about my homeland to daily frustrations dealing with German bureaucracy. It feels like every day brings a new, ridiculous battle, whether it’s a form to fill out or a bill to pay or a PDF to reformat or an S-bahn replacement service. But this life that I lead, in which I go to the biggest performing arts festival in the world to spend four weeks singing and making people laugh, is so remarkable. I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world right now, preparing to do this.
In other news, the latest single from the metal band I’m in, Avistortion, dropped this week. Give “Land of All Hearts” a listen here. It’s upbeat, but don’t be fooled — I’m proud of the lyrics, which, unfortunately, become more relevant by the day.
This week… The English Standup Oslo Summer Takeover!!!
Thursday, July 17th, Friday, July 18th, Saturday, July 19th | SALT (Norway)
Was this forwarded from a friend? Thanks for reading! About Me: I’m Steph DePrez an award-winning singer, writer, and performer. You can read my full bio at www.stephaniedeprez.com and also follow me on Instagram and YouTube.
I'd love to hear more about the story of how Avistortion came about, some time if you're ever grasping for newsletter ideas :)
Have a good Fringe!