And off we go...

So, the time has come to head up to Edinburgh and hope that none of use has forgotten anything vital (costumes, props, lines, etc.).

We'll try and keep you updated on how the week is going and look forward to seeing you at one (or more!) of the shows. In the meantime, here's a last view of the cast before lift-off.

Destination... Edinburgh!

Behind The Scenes Rehearsal Shots

 "Destination, Earth!"

 "Yikes! Toby the Gorilla has escaped from Fun City Zoo."

 "You may be small but you're still sort of important..."

 "There are aliens with strange eyes."

 "We must bring them back so that Sulphuro will be saved!"

 "We won't meet any boys."

 "I now declare Presley Beach...OPEN!"

We've Seen The Bloomin' Blog And Are Very, Very Excited - Now, Where Can We See The Show?!

There are two theatres in the Paradise In The Vault building. We are in the 40-seat Annexe, which is conveniently situated close to Grassmarket and The Royal Mile. Details of facilities, tickets and directions to get there can be found on the Fringe website (www.edfringe.com) or via this venue link:

                http://www.paradise-green.co.uk/2012-programme/whats-on/brochure/details/872/

SEE YOU THERE!

Today's Featured Artist

Keith Baty (Writer/Producer/Director): Keith has written over 20 musicals for schools and youth theatres, including 2010 Fringe sellout show, The Invective Dan Kamikaze. Currently a lecturer in English, Education and Music, he is also co-author of Elvis-The Novel (1997). His latest book, available on Amazon Kindle, is Martin Crabapple Is Missing, a tale of scientists and inventions aimed at eight-12 year olds. A former professional guitarist, his main musical passion is for early 60s guitar music and he would like to form a classic instrumentals touring band. Keith is now available to write  bespoke songs or musicals for you! Contact him at keithbaty@gmail.com.

The Daily Question Bit

The last Daily Question was from Sanjay, formerly of Penrith but now living in Kendal (check out his great teashop, 'Sanjay's Delectable Sandwiches') and it was:

'How many GOOD Elvis films are there?'

Responses have flooded in, and here's a sample:

'Two. GI Blues and Blue Hawaii are the only ones worth a look.' (Neil Down, Sedbergh)

'All the 50s ones where he's young and mean, especially Loving You because that's in colour.' (Nana Papendreou, Athens, Greece)

'The ones where he's driving sportscars and diving off cliffs. Best is Fun In Acapulco.' (Biff Carter, NY City)

The great news for anyone who does like Elvis movies is that 'Terror On Presley Beach' features an unreleased number from his unfinished 1964 picture, Driving A Sportscar Down To A Beach In Hawaii (check it out, Biff!). The song's called, 'Why Rock (When You Can Make Bad Movies?)' and is a solid humdinger!!

Moving away from the Elvis theme, today's Daily Question is to do with the name of the dying planet in 'Terror...' and comes from Chantelle Szerlowski in Accrington. It is:

"If you discovered a new planet, what would you call it?"

Today's Featured Artists

Jed Buttress (Brad Orbison/Alien Voice/'Sulphuro'):

"For the past five years I've taken part in several plays and productions, in school and nationally, including ‘Drastic Happenings’, which I wrote and performed when I was 12. I studied Drama at GCSE and my most memorable performance to date was in ‘The Child of Snow’, a one-man play about a young boy living in Lapland who enjoys messing around with computers and playing with his reindeer. My main personal interests are reading, writing and drawing anything and everything that isn’t a curtain."

Jonathan Ross (Frank Donohoe/Elvis Presley):

“For seven years I've been studying musical theatre with Tynedale Academy of Performing Arts and have taken lead roles in many of their productions, most recently: Galileo in We Will Rock You; Reverend Shaw Moore in Footloose; and, earlier this year, the role of Fagin in Oliver. Also this year, I've undertaken the part of Schlomo in a production of Fame at the Sunderland Empire Theatre and I am making my Edinburgh Fringe debut in Terror on Presley Beach.  In the future I hope to work as an actor and director in theatre and film.”  

Claire Savage (Cissie Capstick): 

Claire trained at the University of Huddersfield where she received specialist training from vocalist Chris Coe and acting master classes from Sir Patrick Stewart.  Her training led to the completion of her upper second class BA (Hons) Drama in 2011. Roles while training include: Wendla in Spring Awakening; Playing Card in Alice and Mother in The Great Bear.Other theatre includes: 3’s Company (The Dancehouse, Manchester); Parade (Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays); Showcase (Her Majesty’s Theatre, London); Les Miserables (Grand Theatre, Lancaster); and North and South (Grand Theatre, Lancaster). 

 Today's Featured Artists

Michael Boaden (Chief Alien/Toby the Gorilla): Michael is making his acting debut in his fiftieth year although he has plenty of previous experience, having been a Local Councillor in Carlisle for thirteen years and Parliamentary Candidate three times. The height of his ambition used to be a wish to be Prime Minister but now it has become carrying a surf board and ‘friend' across a stage without tripping over!

Brynie Boyle (Alma Harris): ”Hi, my name is Brynie Boyle and I'm just about to go into Year 11 in September where I'm doing Drama at GCSE. My passion is acting and performing and I'm really excited to be in the Edinburgh Fringe. Some productions that I have been in include The Annie Tour 2010 when I played Duffy, and Juliet when my school took part in the Shakespeare Schools Festival performing Romeo and Juliet. I feel that this is a big opportunity and I cannot wait to perform in The Fringe.”

There was a big response to the recent DAILY QUESTION, "Where Is Presley Beach?" posed by Eileen of Barrow. Suggested answers include:

'Morecambe, because there used to be a fairground there called Fun City.' (Ted Pendleton, Morecambe)

'In the writer's head.' (Patty O'Dawes, Limerick)

'I don't care, man, but it might have been here.' (Fred The Hippy, Weston Super Mare)

Today's DAILY QUESTION, from Sanjay in Kendal, is "How many GOOD Elvis films are there?"

STOP PRESS: BBC Radio Cumbria's Gordon Swindlehurst will be featuring songs from the show in his lunchtime show this week, 6th-10th August. Also, see Gordon's Facebook page for a picture of Alien Head being interviewed on the show last week along with writer, Keith Baty.

Over the next few days, you'll be able to get to know a little bit more about the people behind the show. They are...

Michael Boaden (Surfing Alien/Toby The Gorilla); Seb Coombe (Johnny Machismo/The Mayor/Alien Voice); Brynie Boyle (Alma Harris/Spaceship Pilot); Keith Baty (Writer & Director); Jed Buttress (Brad Orbison/Alien Voice/Planet Holder); Jonathan Ross (Frank Donohoe/Elvis Presley).

First out of the hat as Today's Featured Artist is Seb Coombe:

Seb Coombe (Johnny Machismo/Mayor/Alien Voice): Seb Coombe threw himself into the local theatre scene when he moved to Cumbria, firstly doing some Shakespeare comedies, and then alternating them with some Tom Stoppard and Robert Bolt.  He has also made a fool of himself in panto a few times, with unpredictably hilarious results. Friends describe him as a man of many qualities; mostly bad ones. (The qualities that is, not the friends.) One day he would like to combine his love of acting and kayaking into a new entertainment genre - kayacting. Failing that, he just wants you and him to be happier.

                                   Today's Daily Question (from Eileen in Barrow) is : 

                               'Where Is Presley Beach?' 

                                                            Post your answer now!