Festival Previews Video Blog

Tina is hot and Ida is cool! There are no other words to describe the two women in the talented Mr Green’s life. Tina C. is on for three nights; 15th to 17th May and Ida Barr is on from the 17th-18th May and the 24th-25th May. Before we tick Tina C.’s box (no hanging chads here) and play bingo with Ida, lets chat with Christopher Green for our series of 10 Questions…

1. What inspired you to become a writer and performer?

That joyful moment of realisation that you could just make stuff up and other people like it. Sounds simple but it’s life changing.

2. What is your show about and what should the public expect from your show?

I’m making a new Tina C. show about why a certain multi-award winning country artist should be voted President of the US in Nov 08. And pension rapper Ida Barr brings her bingo experience to Brighton again.

3. What is your favourite Festival or Fringe and why?

I love the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and always have a soft spot for Brighton.

4. What’s your best advice for aspiring performers, artists, writers and musicians on the Festival/Fringe circuit?

Apparently the Queen Mother used to say “Never overlook an opportunity to use a lavatory”. I’d say that applies here.

5. What is your funniest experience and also your worst experience performing or attending a Fringe/Festival?

My favourite experience was leading 1500 people in the Hokey Cokey outside the National Theatre as Ida Barr last summer as part of Watch This Space Festival.

The worst experience has to be penniless and venue-less in Edinburgh with my first show – long time ago now.

6. As you travel performing to different festivals/fringes, where is your favourite place to vacation/chill out and why?

I love going abroad but you can’t beat Cornwall or Derbyshire.

7. Who is the person you most admire and why?

I always thought Marlene Dietrich was an inspiration.

8. What is the best tip you have ever been given?

Aspire to inspire before you expire!

9. What is the best book(s) you have read and why do you like it/them?

The Towers of Trebizond by Rose Macauley. It makes me laugh and cry every time I read it – which is at least once a year.

10. If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?

The world is going to have to try and manage without me making decisions for it.

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The Rainbow Chorus will also star alongside country pop icon Tina C. in the ‘Udderbelly Venue’ during the Brighton Fringe Festival 2008 on 15, 16 & 17 May.

Our spotlight today falls on James Weisz. James is performing in not one, but THREE shows at the Brighton Festival Fringe: Clamp’d, on the 3rd May, The End of the World Show! on the 14th May and The Four D’Oeuvres on the 20th and 22nd May. Being part of the Residential Alien Productions company James is clearly a versatile performer so let’s learn more about James and his shows…

1. What inspired you to become a performer?

I appeared as Tiny Tim in a Christmas Show in Brighton when I was 4; that was it.

2. What is your show about and what should the public expect from your show?

We are producing three original pieces, of which I appear in all of them. They are great fun, and very funny. We like to perform shows people will leave smiling and laughing too.

3. What is your favourite Festival/Fringe and why?

It has to be Brighton. I was born here and remember my folks taking me to see the streets of Brighton, being in the parade when I was in school and my education in Theatre has been in the festival.

4. What’s your best advice for aspiring theatre performers on the Festival/Fringe circuit?

You can never promote your show enough.

5. What is your funniest experience and also your worst experience performing or attending a Fringe/Festival?

I performed to one person in Edinburgh 2006 that was bit low; though he did give each of us a fiver for the effort.

The producer/lead actor ran away in 2004, he was playing Queen Mary. I got a call from him as he was driving down the motorway. This meant the cast and myself could enjoy Edinburgh expenses paid for two weeks! That was pretty darn funny.

6. As you travel performing to different festivals/fringes, where is your favourite place to vacation and chill out and why?

Watching a play, a movie, - comedy is great to relax too. Watching someone else work is very satisfying and comforting.

7. Who is the person you most admire and why?

Mike Carter, a theatre producer/writer in Brighton – he is a no nonsense, nice guy that gets things done. He was my first professional director.

8. What is the best tip you have ever been given?

Heath Ledger wrote me “James, Dance as if no-ones watching” – That’s a pretty good tip. Also “Ignore the f***ers!” Is also very valuable.

9. What is the best book you have read and why do you like it?

Whats My Motivation? – I can relate to it~Best biography of an actor I have read.

10. If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?

I am a strong believer in Rights and Injustice, so it would be for everyone to have a say and a voice.

Today I have great pleasure in interviewing Ian Harris, Musical Director, Conductor and soloist of the Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra. They are performing for one night only on Tuesday 13th at St. George’s Church at 8.00 pm. This is a wonderfully lyrical instrument and watching the Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra perform tells you that this is a not to be missed concert. It has that wow factor! I just had to interview Ian Harris to learn more about him and the Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra….

1. What are the milestones in your life’s journey (both personal and professional) that have led you to be Conductor of the Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra?

Receiving a box of mandolin orchestra music, from the conductor of ‘The Fingers and Frets’ Mandolin Orchestra, in Bristol, after having busked, unsuccessfully, in the town centre there.

The creation of the orchestra didn’t so much have milestones, but was a long uphill struggle, with several years of very small turn out of musicians (some rehearsals would just be me and another person!), and a gradual increase in membership of the FF.

One milestone was when, for the sake of an arts council grant, I gave the orchestra to the orchestra members; ie, when it stopped being a privately run organisation, by me, and I encouraged them to form their own committee to run the organisation, with a chair, treasurer etc… Then my role changed from ‘Dictator’ to ‘Musical Director/ conductor/soloist’.

2. What are your musical influences?

For Mandolin orchestra music we started with the 1930’s repertoire, but I soon got tired of that, so we started seeking out more modern composers. Now we get sent great music from composers all around the globe, thanks to the internet; I particularly like the Japanese composers. I like modern music that has surprises, but is not progressive for progressive sake; ‘Tunes with a difference’. I also enjoy music from all eras, classical, baroque, heavy metal…

3. What is your show, “The Magic of the Mandolin” about and what should the Brighton public expect from your show at the Brighton Fringe?

This show is about the performance of some of the finest orchestral mandolin music, played by an award winning orchestra. We’ve got diversity, in that we have classical and baroque music, as well as world premiere’s of some challenging, but tuneful pieces by the best composers currently writing for this genre. It’s also about entertainment; and we have a few surprises in store there…

4. What is your favourite Festival orFringe and why do you like them?

No favourites, just anywhere with a good crowd.

5. What is your best advice for aspiring mandolin musicians?

Get a good teacher, study hard, and preferably go to a London University. There’s a good mandolin course at Trinity College. Also get involved in a wide range of music making (classical, pop, rock, singing…), and also try some other instruments.

6. What has been your funniest experience conducting the Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra?

This may not be funny, but while we were playing at the Friends Centre, in Brighton, and particularly we were playing a tune called ‘Blaze Away’, someone set fire to the men’s loos, and the room suddenly filled with smoke.

7. As you travel worldwide conducting, where is your favourite place to vacation and why do you like it there?

The Far East because I like somewhere that is a change from the everyday life; also, it’s very cheap…

8. Who is the person you most admire and why?

My first mandolin teacher, Tommy Jackson, because he was a great eccentric. He played an electric mandolin that looked like a Rickenbacker, toured with the travelling circus, and also had an act that involved him playing the mandolin naked, and at the age of about 70!

9. What is the best tip you have ever been given?

None, anyone got any suggestions now?

10. If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?

I like it as it is.

Fabulous mix of Flamenco dance and song from Flamenco con Fusion. They’re on at the Udder Place on the 11th of May.

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Here’s Want Rufus performing in New Street last week at Fringe City. Check out his Virtual Flyer for more information about his show.

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