Would you mind giving us an insight into what your show/event/performance is?
Are you even at the fringe if you can nail down the specific genre of the show you are watching? NO!
This is part gameshow, part interactive fever dream, part what if Jim Henson made a jukebox musical, but a whole lotta Sir Elton Scone. Expect songs, jokes, games, and the best suit ever made out of a pair of £6 velvet curtains found in a West Walian charity shop.
Hopefully you’ll come and see my show, and you’ll like it and it’ll make you feel all giddy and gooey inside, but you just might not be able to find the words to describe it afterwards. Some will definitely say “is it even a genre?”, some might say “it’s like being on a beautiful acid trip…without the comedown afterwards”, some might even sing “Don’t go baking my tart” at you as they skip themselves past!
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
Katie Pritchard – Writer / creator / performer
5 feet tall, loves to sing and prance, plays 12 instruments, has always been a fan of Elton John.
Adam Larter – Director extraordinaire
A master of oddball comedy, an amazing performer and creative always coming up with incredible shows and fascinating concepts that I can watch again and again and again! Founder of Weirdos Comedy, and absolute cardboard maverick!
GO AND SEE ADAM’S SHOW – “Who Remembers The 90’s?”
Michael Twaits & The Art of Drag course at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern
Special shout out to Michael Twaits and The Art of Drag course for making such a fun and safe space for me to create this character and to try it out for the first time! Everyone should do the course if you fancy some jollity & creativity, also, everyone should go visit the lovely RVT! I am hugely thankful to this course for starting me on the journey to unleash this very silly show!
The Creative Process
This show, so far, has been created in pure joy!
The formula is:
1. I think of a silly idea that gives me the giggles
2. I tell my director Adam about it and if he has a glint in his eye when I tell him, I give it a go in my next WIP show
3. I have loads of fun trying it out and me and Adam try to make the bit slicker so we can fit even more nonsense in the show
4. I have a massive smile on my face whenever I think of the show
5. Repeat, for all of August.
…And you just wait til you see all these nonsense props and costumes that I’ve made for the show! I don’t think you’re ready for these jellies!!
How does it feel coming to (back to) the Fringe?
I was actually gonna sit this year out of the festival, but as soon as I did my first WIP of this show at Leicester Comedy Festival, I knew I wanted to bring it up this year. I am very excited not only to be coming back to the fringe, but to also be joining the HOOTS line-up because there are so so many fantastic shows on at their venues this year! I’m really thankful to everyone who has helped me to bring this show up to the fringe this year – it really means a lot to have pals cheering me on and to have had all the opportunities this show has brought with it so far – it’s all very exciting!
I am also in Adele Cliff’s Topical Early Late Show With Adele Cliff, along with Will Davies, where I will be featuring as the house band! Come along and see just how many instruments I can play at once. Adele is so fantastic, and this show is the perfect show for her to show off her amazing jokes & writing skills. This show will be written fresh each day as it’s a topical show, so come along to all shows to experience the news in a far more digestible way than just by watching the actual news. It’s my first topical show, and I can’t wait!
With shows from all over the world at the Fringe, what sets yours apart?
I dare you to find another show about Sir Elton Scone.
I dare you to find another show where the performer has made all of their own props and costumes with such prowess and finesse.
I dare you to compete in another baking gameshow that uses absolutely no ovens.
I dare you to find a show that features a more realistic looking jelly that isn’t made of actual jelly than I’ve made for this show!
I dare you to find an Elton John show that even comes close to this level of nonsense.
All of this while performing arguably far too many incredible dance routines!
On that, is there anything in the production or production team’s backgrounds which influences the way the show is performed or told?
Of course – it features music, it features costumes, it features props, it has no conventional rules! Why? Because I HATE RULES!! And also, I am gluten free.
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
I just really hope they leave feeling lighter and brighter – this is my hope after all of my shows I’ve ever made! I want them to forget their worries for a bit, to just cut loose and have a nice time, and leave trying to work out how on earth they can explain what just happened. And hopefully the nonsensical nature of the show can bring them some extra joy after the show when they undoubtedly reminisce about it! …and it’s also an allegory. But I’ll leave you to figure out what it’s an allegory of.
Your Ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t…?
We’re talking the ideal audience being fans of fun, gameshow fans, musical comedy fans, fans of big hands, Elton fans, dancers who want to be intimidated by my dancing skills (there will be no intimidation), anyone who fancies a bit of malarkey for an hour, fans of very realistic wigs, chefs wanting to learn new skills, fans of balls – there’s something for everyone with any special interest!
And also Elton John is there, sitting in the back corner humming along!
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?
R.E.L.A.X?!?!? My plan is to watch as many other Elton John themed shows as possible this fringe to go and cheer on all the different ways people are celebrating this incredible man! And then I will also be trying to do a Guiness World Record Attempt for hottest act at the fringe. I think with a costume made out of velvet curtains it should put me in pretty good stead? Although last year Guinness didn’t accept my application for “most body rolls performed by a human person ever during their Edinburgh Fringe run”, so I guess we’ll just have to see if they let me do this one?
Katie Pritchard is Sir Elton Scone runs at Venue 63, Nic 5 (Nicolson Square Venues Courtyard) at Hoots @ Nicolson Square
Runs: August 7th – August 30th at 15:40pm
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’