Brighton Fringe is already getting off to a bang and the line-up this year is second to none! We are proud to be media suporter with Brighton Fringe Festival 2011 and aim to being you some of the biggest and best shows from the 400+ on offer.
We have been really lucky to be able to bring all our readers some of the best interviews and previews for the 2011 Brighton Fringe Festival than we could ever have dreamed of. In the process we have met Germans, Americans, Brits, Australians, you name it, but none compare to Abi Roberts! A former Brighton girl, consumate performer and some one who has even worked with the Divine Miss M herself.
Abi Roberts Takes You up The Isle will be at Upstairs at the Three and Ten, Brighton – 17, 18, 19th May and is a show that CANNOT be missed. For more information you can go to Abi’s website HERE.
How have things been going, you all done and dusted for the start of the UK Fringe run or are there still some creases to iron out?
It’s been brilliant! The buzz around it is amazing and from all over the world. I clearly have a lot more worldwide fans than I thought I had! The show is pretty much there, with one or two additions to make …one or two songs we’re currently working on. But it’s pretty much done. It’s a mixture of classic songs as well as my own songs from my previous two albums, Beached and Taste the Rain. We’re adding show dates all the time and already I’m in discussions to take it on a UK wider tour in 2012.
What’s it like bringing a show to the Fringe and being part of Brighton’s line up, you excited about heading back to B-town? How much work goes on behind the scenes?
I’m a Brighton Fringe virgin! But I love Brighton and can’t wait to get on that beach to recreate my first marriage. I used to live in Brighton so it’s going to be a blast coming back – hopefully in a blaze of glory. Plus I have many friends in Brighton who are poised to come dressed for a wedding. Quite a lot of work goes into the show but the best work comes from testing it in front of a live crowd.
You have had a pretty wild and full life so far, what’s been the most unexpected thing you’ve done?
One of the best was singing in Russian, in Moscow at a Moscow cultural event – nowhere near anything I’ve ever done on the UK Circuit. The most unexpected thing was working with Jonathan Harvey – the guy is a comedy genius. He’d seen me singing one of my own songs on TV and he decided to write a show especially for me “Taking Charlie” which we took to Edinburgh and it played to sell out audiences. But by far the most amazing thing was meeting Bette Midler at a little party on her Vegas press night. We chatted and had pics taken and she suggested I come back one day and open a show for her! Watch this space…
Have there been any obstacles in producing this show? Have there been some stories/songs you’ve wanted to include but have had to be cut?
Reproducing my first wedding onstage has been the biggest obstacle! It’s surprisingly tricky to get everything to be like it was ..but with songs. This has been far and away the easiest show to work on so far because the idea came to me last September and the crew of people I’m working with are just so good.
The music is often the hardest part to get right and more often than not, I have had to edit out songs I’d like to do because of time constraints. I decided to keep a few of my own songs in there too, including my latest song, Turn the Lights Back On and a couple of comedy ones for variety!
Tell us a little bit about your show what can we expect?
It’s a show all about my wedding(s), finding love in unexpected places and dating dolphins. It’s a show that laughs, sings and dances its way through the emotional roller-coaster of tying the knot and I’m sharing a selection of hilarious memories from three trips up and down the aisle.
I invite my lovely congregation to join me on an unforgettable romp up the aisle with personal stories, classic hits, guest characters and an unmissable grand finale, accompanied throughout by my long-suffering pianist, Chris Nolan on his enormous organ. OOOH MATRON!
5 words that best describe your show?
Side-splitting, Camp, Soulful, Unique, Award-winning!
What was the best feedback you got from your audience or the press?
It’s been amazing so far – one lady said it was the best show she had seen in years and it reminded her of her own wedding. One guy travelled all the way from Madrid to see the show at the Hen and Chickens! I’m now listed alongside Hilary Clinton (WTF??!!) on a Japanese site dedicated to “The worlds most beautiful women entertainers”.
What was the Best and Worst shows you’ve played?
The worst was a small gig I did in South London. Imagine, me singing my own song “Every Girl Should Have a Gay Best Friend”… to an audience of male Millwall fans, after they had just been beaten 3-0 at home…. ‘twas not a pretty sight. The best gig I ever did was probably in Las Vegas – there is nothing like US audiences to really make an entertainer feel appreciated..
What do you think the audience takes from your show?
That true love is possible. Not only that it’s possible, but that it happens every day and that every girl can find her dream man. I also want the audience to laugh one minute and enjoy a great song the next. I’m single-handedly bringing ‘variety’ back to the masses. I’m serious, this is the time to do it. We need some sugar in our coffee baby!
Who has inspired you?
Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Bette Midler and Bruce Forsyth. He is the greatest all-round entertainer we have today. I am now learning how to tap- dance.
We hear you have a new album out this year, can you tell us a little but about that?
Yes, it’s my new album, working title, “Abi’s Road” – it’s all new material and songs I’ve written over the last two years – during which I’ve moved house, got married and went in a new musical direction. The new album is a little bit more folksy and some of the songs have been described as C&W. I spent some time in Nashville a while back and was getting a great deal of interest from the C&W industry out there so perhaps that’s influenced me a little bit.
What advice have you been given, and what advice would you give other performers who might be bringing a show to the Fringe?
Do it for the love ‘cos you definitely wont be doing to for the money! I’ve been very lucky – my last two major shows have made a small profit and I’ve managed through good word of mouth to fill out my shows most nights. I have one thing I always repeat to myself in the mirror before I go on ‘I’m doing the show for Auntie Gladys in the front row who may only get out once in a while’. NEVER do a show for the critics.
You may garner ‘praise’ and be ‘the next big thing’ but it will not be lasting. Also publicity, publicity, publicity!! Get those bums on seats.
