Edinburgh Fringe is known for its mix of performances from music and comedy, to dance and magic, and it'll be the first time that the local theatre company, Less Is More Productions, heads up there with their brand new piece, Stella. The group will only be there until the 16th, but that means you still have enough time to get a hold of some tickets!
We were lucky enough to grab tickets for the preview at the newly refurbished Middlesbrough Town, so if you're heading up to Edinburgh in the next couple of days and are still looking for top shows to see, you may want to check out our review below.
Don't be fooled by the minimalistic set and small, all-female cast of three. This piece is guaranteed to take you on a 45-minute long rollercoaster of emotions and leave you with a sense of girl power.
"Greetings from The Giant's Causeway, Spring 1967... it's the annual social club trip for a group of knicker factory workers from industrial Middlesbrough, busy enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of Northern Ireland.
This trip is different though, it's more of a journey... Surrounded by the sounds of the sea and the spray, stories and secrets are stumbled upon. This is a reconnecting, to the earth and each other – perhaps Stella, Jean and Doreen have much more in common than just knicker elastic?"
We're set up to believe that this escape from the social trip to The Giant's Causeway is a pleasant one - just a group of women chatting about life and sipping Bovril as they look out across the sea - but what unfold is something much deeper.
From the costumes to the topics of conversation, there was no denying that this piece was set in the 60s. The little nods to the North East, like Redcar and Cargo Fleet Lane, also provided a brilliant insight into how life was in Middlesbrough, especially for women, but despite this, it was clear that this was a show designed to appeal to everyone.
There were historical elements to bring a sense of nostalgia to more mature audience members, comedic lines for the younger people, and certain pieces of dialogue that would make any woman think "that's exactly how I talk with my friends!"
We're presented with complex characters that are each battling their own demons, much like in real life, and it's hard not to fall in love with each of them. Each of them have outstanding pieces of dialogue that are delivered with such conviction that you can't help but be fully empathetic about what these characters are facing.
It truly is a remarkable piece of work and something that we hope to see plenty of rave reviews about! Prepare to feel moved and grounded, all within the space of less than an hour.
Like with every good piece of entertainment, there is an equally great writer and director behind it. We caught up with David Tuffnell, the brains behind Stella and the co-founder of Less Is More Productions to find out more about his work and how he feels about Edinburgh Fringe.
Stella is being performed from August 3rd - 16th at Riddles Court, Edinburgh Fringe at 4pm. Tickets are £12 each. See here for more information.
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