Students head to the fringe

Tuesday 9 August 2005

Students from the University of St Andrews will perform the World Premiere of their own show ‘Alternate Endings’ at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The group, called ‘Naked on Stage’, features students from the highly-competitive St Andrews postgraduate programme in Creative Writing. The show will be different each night, including a one-act play with three alternate endings and original stories and sketches written by the performers. Twenty percent of the money raised from sales will go to the National Literacy Trust.

“To the disappointment of some and the relief of others, nobody actually takes their clothes off during the performance”, explained Rachel Marsh, one of the show’s authors and actors, “but hearts, minds, and souls will really be bared – and that’s the real challenge. Writers are never so exposed as when they’re performing their own work; that’s why we’re ‘Naked on Stage’.

“The show won’t ever be the same twice and that’s a huge excitement for us, and I hope also for our audiences. When the curtain goes up, nobody can predict precisely what will be uncovered. I’m nervous, but I also can’t wait to find out what response our work will receive.”

Among the rich weave of subjects addressed by ‘Alternate Endings’ are deceptive dressmaking, dragons, comedic funerals, and under-age flying. A Family Show on 17th August is devoted entirely to stories for children aged from 9- 15.

Writers and actors for ‘Naked on Stage’ are of many different ages and backgrounds and hail from a range of places including Louisiana, Northern Ireland, Iceland and Fife. Several already have some work (stories, films, children’s books) in the public domain, but hope that ‘Alternate Endings’ will help to showcase their abilities, and may even be spotted by literary agents and theatrical impresarios. All agree that regardless of the outcome, writing and producing the show has been a good collaborative experience, from which they have learned a great deal.

Dr Sara Lodge, lecturer in the School of English, said: “We have been extremely impressed by the creativity and the initiative of students in writing ‘Alternate Endings’ and putting together the team and the resources to take it to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. I think there’s a lot of talent on view.

“St Andrews businesses and the University itself have been generous in giving the students sponsorship. I hope that many St Andreans will be able to nip across to Edinburgh for the afternoon and see the show they’ve helped to put on the boards. Twenty percent of the proceeds from the show are going to the National Literacy Trust: so the students are also using their love of literature to help others gain from reading and writing, which is very satisfying. We wish them every success.”

‘Naked on Stage’ will be performing at the Café Royal Fringe Theatre, 17 West Register Street, Edinburgh from the 15th to the 28th of August, from 4-5pm. Tickets cost £5 (£4 concessions) and a 10% discount is available for groups of 10 or more.

For further information ring 0131 556 2549 or contact Rachel Marsh on [email protected]

ENDS


Category Student experience

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