Danielle Corr – Creative Consultant, Northampton and London Editor

Danielle hails from the Kingdom of Fife, North East Scotland. She has worked in professional theatre for over twenty years, beginning her acting career on Scottish stages aged fifteen before relocating to London where she attended drama school and didn’t find fame or fortune. What she did gain, however, was an intimate insight into the behind-the-scenes of the West End’s largest producers and theatre companies’ inner workings from her place as box-office manager – an invaluable tool in understanding the grit behind the glamour.

Danielle works at the Royal & Derngate in Northampton as the Schools and Groups coordinator and has made it her mission to make theatre accessible and appealing to everyone. She is also a trainee baby massage & yoga instructor and infant mental health practitioner and works with local businesses and charities to promote child development through performance.

With a C.V that includes the West End, UK and regional tours, repertory and Fringe shows, Danielle brings extensive knowledge and insight to CorrBlimey, a lucky addition to the team and a fountain of knowledge to steer the site in new creative directions while striving and improving our EDI.

Hayley Matear (and Rolo) – Design Consultant and Photographer

Our creative consultant and photographer comes from Edinburgh, Scotland. Following a varied career, Hayley’s travels to America and personality brought her back to Scotland, where she began her talents with design, editing and animation.

Hayley has a degree in Digital Media with a Masters in Creative Advertising which makes her a perfect candidate to look after our images, graphics and layout. Hayley spends her day working as a Marketing Manager but still manages to find time to attend various press nights, previews and events.

Hayley has been a guest of Corr Blimey for nearly a decade now, joining us for large-scale events and amateur productions, and we’re thrilled she finally has the time to join the team as our lead creative consultant. With big plans to re-vitalise the website and expand the gallery and original photos for the company, Hayley has quickly become a valuable member.

In Hayley’s spare time, she enjoys hanging out with our mascot Rolo and bugs Dominic into taking her along to all the latest shows that the company covers.

Marina Funcasta – London Writer

Marina is halfway through an English literature degree at Edinburgh University, wherein she has been (considerably) involved in the drama scene: enjoying performing with their Shakespeare Company shows, but also modern takes on Arthur Miller. At this year’s Fringe, Marina is the assistant director for The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter:

‘(I) find Pinter’s comedy very funny – dry humour is something which we would love to cover more of. Despite being quite difficult to master – when it is done well, it is very effective. Having just watched the Accidental Death of an Anarchist in London, and found its satirical, almost farce-like humour. The political edge, moreover, was something which also resonated with my experience directing Pinter – and this is something prevalent in a lot of 20th-century theatre.’

However, Marina’s interests are wide-ranging under the theatre genre – enjoying abstract, more contemporary takes on shows (with a keen interest in Summerhall). Also, a fan of musicals, having performed in a few while growing up; Marina would be very intrigued to watch an improv musical, having heard from many last Fringe that they were highly amusing.’

Libbi Hutton – Glasgow Writer

Libbi is an aspiring journalist and creative based in Glasgow. A graduate of Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh, she is particularly interested in politically engaged and experimental arts. Outside of reviewing for Corr Blimey, Libbi spends her free time making music, both in bands and on her own, which has recently developed into a passion for writing an original musical. A lover of all-things-performance, Libbi welcomes the opportunity to indulge in the world of theatre.

Eloise Robertson – Edinburgh Writer

Eloise is studying her fourth year of a Philosophy degree at University of Edinburgh, but she spends far too much time costuming student shows and writing opinion pieces for The Student. Since returning from her year abroad in Australia, she’s worked Bedlam Fringe and thrown herself back into Footlights and EUSOG by costuming both their main term shows. At the same time, she’s increasingly found her true passion in writing, and will begin her Master’s in International/Human Rights Journalism next September.

Eloise is a lover of all things camp and comedic, so she’s super excited to review stand-up, clowning, drag, musical theatre, and much more! At the same time, she’s a literature nerd who loves to see a reimagining of a traditional, emotive piece; whether it’s a one man Vanya or unicycling Bottom. 

Hunter King – Edinburgh Writer

Hunter is a 2024 Master’s graduate of the University of Edinburgh and a current doctoral candidate with a thesis focused on experimental theatre in Edinburgh. He has been a theatre practitioner for over a decade, having worked in many capacities, including as a director, actor, stage manager, front of house manager, and technician, as well as others. Prior to moving to Edinburgh, Hunter was a high school English teacher in the United States. His passion for the written word as well as his passion for live performance, are what motivated him to become a writer for this publication. 

Orly Benn – Edinburgh Writer

Orly is entering into her final year as an English Literature student at the University of Edinburgh, a degree filled more with her involvement in student theatre than her commitment to academia. Orly involvement in theatre ranges from Shakespeare to musical theatre, with a particular interest in modern drama and new writing, which are the leading inspirations for (hopefully) a future career in the theatre. Orly believes Fringe is an extremely exciting and affirming environment for these passions, and can’t wait to see the promising work coming up this year. 

Katherine McIntyre – Food, Drink, and Events Correspondent

Get ready to find out the best spots for all of your pre- and post-show delights…

Anna Burnside – Writer

Anna Burnside is a journalist and commentator based in Glasgow. She has a career that spans the Gorgie Dalry Gazette and the Sunday Times, taking in everything in between.

At the start of 2024 she left the Daily Record after nine years of tabloid life .

Anna has reviewed theatre, opera and dance for the Daily Record, the Times and the Independent among others. She has talked culture on Radio Scotland’s Afternoon Show and Front Row as well as chairing panels and taking part in live discussions and debates. She has been a CATS judge for 15 years.

Josie Rose – London Writer

Josie is a graduate of History and Politics student at the University of Edinburgh with a passion for all things theatre and creative arts. Interested in everything from new, innovative writing, poetry and spoken word, solo plays and devised theatre, to Shakespeare, 20th-century classics, and improv, Josie especially has a love for music.

A member of the Improverts, Josie is a performer at heart but has also written poetry and enjoyed directing several plays at University from playwrights Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, William Shakespeare and Henrik Ibsen.

Her love for theatre began at a young age performing at the Watermill Theatre through their youth companies and later joined the National Youth Theatre, recently performing in their West End monologue showcase. Memories made from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and with University Theatre Societies continue to strengthen their love for the stage as she looks forward to supporting artists and watching new work!

Greta Abbey – London Writer

Greta recently graduated with a degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Edinburgh, where she spent a large majority of her time doing all things theatre, including acting, choreographing, and writing, as well as less artistic tasks such as delegating and bossing people around as the President of Shakespeare Society. Greta is deeply passionate about the performing arts, having trained as a professional ballet dancer with the Joffrey Ballet and studied acting and improv at Second City Chicago prior to attending university. She will continue her studies at LAMDA, where she is pursuing an MFA in professional acting. 

Greta is looking forward to her second Fringe, not only as an actor and writer but now also as a reviewer. She is thrilled by the sheer quantity and quality of shows she will get to take in as part of the Corr Blimey team. Both her artistic background and theatrical interests are broad, and she is as excited by new writing and straight plays as she is by physical theatre, improv, and some of the more absurdist content Fringe has to offer. 

Aislinn McSharry – Gander

Aislinn McSharry has just completed her second year studying German and English Literature at The University of Edinburgh. Whilst she has loved participating in Theatre at the University, her most recent role has been as Theatre Editor for The Student Newspaper. Her theatrical taste spans from old-school gritty musicals (Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof) to exciting dramas (anything Oscar Wilde, but specifically Lady Windermere’s Fan), and she can’t wait to see what this year’s Fringe has in store! 

Previous performance credits include EUSOGs ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, EUTC’s ‘Candlewasters’ (2023-2025), and, her personal favourite, Ganymede Theatre Company’s ‘Eleanor’ at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2024. 

Before this, she performed as Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music at Secondary School (relevance here is limited, she just quite likes to bring it up). 

For this year’s Fringe, Aislinn will also appear on The University of Edinburgh’s Radio Station ‘Freshair’, and she very much looks forward to being a part of the Corr Blimey team! 

Instagram: @aismcsharry

LinkedIn: Aislinn McSharry

Annie Aslett -Gander

Annie is a not-so-recent graduate of the University of Edinburgh with a degree in French and Spanish, along with a Masters in Translation from the University of Glasgow. A Spanish teacher for three years, she decided to leave the classroom behind to pursue personal goals and has since been regularly reviewing for Corr Blimey’s Glaswegian wing. 

Annie is a life-long lover of musical theatre, whose childhood performances included a rousing production of Snow White in The Hall and a heartfelt rendition of Go, Go, Go Joseph in The Living Room.

She graduated to perform in various choirs throughout her life and is passionate about the shared experience of making music with like-minded folk. While confined to the audiences these days, she regularly catches the latest shows in London’s West End and is excited to be back at the Fringe this year to see every musical she can get her hands on. 

Eve Nugent – Gander

An undergraduate French student at the University of Edinburgh, Eve has a diverse interest in theatre and performance. Her primary devotion is acting, predominantly at Bedlam Theatre with her fellow students, but also with French group ‘Les Escogriffes’ who perform annually at the French Institute of Scotland.

Her creative attention stretches also to classical music, as she enjoys playing the flute, piano and guitar. She thus looks forward to watching whatever the Fringe has to offer, irrespective of genre!

Florence Carr-Jones – Gander

Florence recently graduated with a degree in History from the University of Edinburgh, where her passion for theatre often took precedence over her academic studies. During her time at university, she was actively involved in many theatre societies, but her deep passion was with Theatre Paradok, the experimental theatre society, where she served as president this past year. She is the director and writer of her own company, Fools and Thieves, and will begin a Master’s in Drama Directing at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School this September.

Florence is particularly fascinated by interdisciplinary approaches to theatre and how the medium can evolve in the contemporary world. With broad interests, she is especially excited about comedy dramas, cabaret, and clowning at this year’s Fringe. This will mark her sixth attendance at the Edinburgh Fringe and her fourth as a participant. Florence is really excited about the festival this year. 

Gabriel Rogers – Gander

Gabriel is an English Literature student at the University of Edinburgh heading into his final year of studies, where he has been involved in multiple dramatic productions. Whilst he has loved working on plays by Ibsen and Shakespeare, his favourite has been performing in Harold Pinter’s The Dumb Waiter at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe.  

Gabriel is looking forward to his second year at the Fringe, not least as a performer but also as a member of the Corr Blimey reviewing team. Gabriel’s dramatic interests are broad and he hopes that his own theatrical experiences will aid him as a reviewer. He is extremely excited to see all that the festival has to offer be that new writing, improv or whatever absurd performances he can find