Fringe favourites 21Common return for a dance spectacular, mashing karaoke carnage and feats of physical endurance with chucking-out time at the Grand Ole Oprey. Using tropes of Western movies, it explores how poverty and violence shape a man. This is a deep and dirty dive into a family circle that more often resembles a ring of fire. Part saloon (there’s crooner country classics), speakeasy (brush/scuffing danceathons) and bare-knuckle boxing ring (it’s going to kick off`), join us in our Wild West sitting room with the ones who spit.
Would you mind giving us a brief insight into what your show is?
Common Is As Common Does: A Memoir is a one-hour dance spectacular which mashes feats of physical endurance with the end of the night at the Grand Ole Oprey. Using tropes of a Western movie, it explores how the experience of poverty and violence can shape a man. It also features 12 dancers, karaoke carnage, Patsy Cline and uncontrollable raving.
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
21Common are an arts collective who blend iconoclastic references, pop culture and preoccupation with risk and danger to create spectacular dance experiences. We are artists Lucy Gaizely and Gary Gardiner, Scotland’s leading learning-disabled dance artist Ian Johnston and Executive Producer Louise Irwin. As artists, we are passionate about social practice. Our previous work has consistently challenged the notion of who can be an artist and has placed those who are underrepresented in that role.
How does it feel coming to the Fringe?
It’s how we get our work seen! This is the fourth show 21Common has presented in the Made in Scotland Showcase at the Edinburgh Fringe. In 2022 we brought In The Interests of Health and Safety Can Patrons Please Supervise Their Children At All Times; in 2018 we had The Ballad of the Apathetic Son and His Narcissistic Mother and in 2016 we presented Dancer.
There are over 3,000 shows at the Fringe. So, what sets your show apart?
This show has got blood, sweat, gravy and tears set against a pitch-perfect, toe-tapping soundtrack of loneliness. Come on down if you have a secret hankering for Billy Ray Cyrus.
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
We want the audience to be immersed in an explosion of theatre that sees a quiet Friday night in combust with a Wild West Shoot Out.
Your ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t there…
Our audiences are exhilarated, appalled, motivated, and disturbed; it’s all good. Our job is to hold their attention for 60 minutes.
It’s an intense month, so where you’re able, how do you plan to relax, and are there any other shows you intend to see or want to recommend?
We are looking forward to seeing The Show for Young Men by GuestHouse Projects at Dance Base and Charlene Boyd’s June Carter Cash: The Woman, Her Music and Me at Summerhall.
In your ideal world, how can we improve the Fringe, of performance, and the industry?
Don’t buy The Sun.
Interested in being featured on our Have a Gander page? With many previews and Q&As lined up, we’re always happy to chat about including your show in future articles. Please do get in touch through the contact page to feature in an upcoming ‘Have A Gander’