Also we are working together with Hinge Theatre, a lovely group who are learning the ways of the Fringe with us to promote Hill Street as a venue for both professionals and students – with club and film nights planned and the old Hill Street bar up and running it should be a fun filled  and atmospheric August.

Keep an eye out for posts from them here too.

til next time…

Things for the 2012 Festival at Universal Arts are kicking off. I’m back part time and next week we have a new member of the team will be starting in the office. I will introduce her when she arrives. So far I have updated myself with this years deadlines, which are already looking perilously close and getting to grips with all the plans which are currently hatching.

We are back in the New Town Theatre again this year and there are signs of some more exciting things happening, so watch this space.

Thats it for now, just wanted to say a quick hello and I will keep you updated.

til next time..

We had a total of 22 shows from 20 companies this year, including a last minue addition of ‘The Billie Holiday Story’ for four nights in the last week. We had a very large number of customers coming in through our doors, with of course mixed opinions of our programme but overall a very positive one. Some were brought to tears, some couldn’t stop laughing and some were just moved by what they saw. We had 4 and 5 star reviews almost across the board and we are so very proud of our award winners, Turandot and Sailing On.

My staff and the bar staff and the technical staff all did a brilliant job this year, nothing would have happened without them, so a big thank you goes out to them.

The outcome of this year for Universal Arts I think is, three awards, another two nominations, a first aid qualification, some brilliant new friends and I think the list goes on. There will be a lot of travelling the next few months to visit the people we have met in their hometowns and although everyone has dispersed I doubt that no one will see each other. In fact this week alone I have bumped into 3 company members already.

There have been ups and downs, ticket printers refusing to do as they are told, ticket systems crashing, flyers running out, programmes being sold, shows being sold out, our toilets miraculously converted into a theatre space and as before the list just goes on and on. I will miss this year I think and the people I met but hope to see you all again in 2012.

So til 2012…

The Billie Holiday Story

Nothing to sneeze at!
thoroughly delightful, definitely an hour well-spent. By turns funny, poignant and sad, this is a show full of talent and bravado. The writing, singing and accompaniment were all top-notch. Well done, all!

A sweet little show – sentimental jazz standards and a gentle story that your sophisticated granny would enjoy (with a few strong words!). Delivered with style by a diva in the making and her quick-fingered piano man- this is a good way to start a night at the Fringe.

The usual glitches need to be ironed out.

I am now just waiting to get out and go home as its another early start tomorrow.

If today i anything to go by, you should all book your tickets sooner rather than later.

As I come to Edinburgh I hope to try haggis, walking in the heather and flirting with Scottish men. I just hope that my inhaler will see me through the month.