Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?
A pleasure to meet you!
I am Tim Anfilogoff, one of the writers of BED (the musical) which is showing throughout August at the Gilded Balloon (Teviot - Sportsmans).
In addition to writing plays and musicals, I work full time for the NHS. I co-wrote BED with composer Alan Whittaker and this is our 2nd musical at Ed Fringe and 5th show written together.
How would you describe your show?
BED starts where most romcoms end, with the beginning of a marriage. Couple-next-door newly-weds, Ben and Alice, are making their brand-new luxury bed which they’ve invested in instead of a honeymoon (something Alice may slightly resent) and looking forward to years of married bliss (Ben perhaps a little more than Alice).
A sung-through musical, this is an unromantic story about love. Most of the action takes place around the bed itself: twenty years of marriage, told through a series of musical tableaux, selectively depicting the highs and lows, the follies and the foibles, the passion and claustrophobia, the laughter and the dirty linen.
What is your favourite part of your show?
There are many lovely moments and just the whole experience of having a great team take your writing from page to stage is a real pleasure.
I suppose if I were to pick one scene, it is the transition from a song called ‘Home Birth’, which is a quite chaotic almost farcical scene with the build-up to the birth, then it runs into the gentle, peaceful moment of another song ‘Watching Jacob sleep’ where we have the absolute joy of a couple with their new born baby.
The mood change of this scene is lovely and really resonated with the audience at the Brighton previews – really quite moving.
If your show had a theme song, what would it be and why?
Being a musical, oddly enough, we have a theme song – almost like we planned it! Seriously though, we do have a recurring theme ‘Watching Alice Sleep’, which is reprised at different points in the show/relationship, and each time we hear it, the song has a different meaning for our characters Ben & Alice.
What is one thing you hope audiences will take away from your show?
The mixture of humour and pathos produced a very positive reaction from our recent Brighton previews. Many members of the audience we spoke to afterwards commented on how the story feels like honest account of what relationships are really like, and they could really relate to the ups and downs throughout the show.
I hope we get a similar reaction in Edinburgh, and people feel entertained but also emotionally connect with the characters and the story and that it resonates on some level perhaps with their personal relationship experiences.
If you could add a surprise celebrity cameo to your show, who would it be and why?
That’s a tough one as it’s a two-hander musical… how about Matt Lucas popping out as the baby (joking!).
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
It’s a great festival and we have done a show here before which was a great experience. The main goal is to reach a wider audience and potentially connect with other industry professionals who can help us take the show further.
What differentiates it from other festivals?
The sheer scale of Ed Fringe sets it apart from other festivals. The diversity of shows, international participation and the appetite of audiences for new work is something which I feel is unique to Ed Fringe. Also, just the sheer number of shows is incredible. It gives the festival a real creative energy I haven’t experienced anywhere else.
Good times and great vibes too – where else can you get a battered Mars bar at 2am?
What is one thing you would change about the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
It is increasingly expensive to bring a show to Ed Fringe. I’m not sure how this can be tackled, but it can present a bit of a barrier.
How has your background, upbringing and education had an impact on your artistic career?
That’s a broad ranging question... I studied at Oxford and always had a keen interest in poetry, writing and music. As I mentioned earlier, I work in the NHS and I find writing is a real release from the day to day work pressures.
I met my co-writer (and friend) Alan (Whittaker - composer) when we played in a band together a few years ago….he had heard one of my plays on the radio and was egging me
on to write a musical together. (Al can be quite persuasive after a glass of wine.) I’m glad he did though…that was around 10 years ago and we have formed a lasting friendship and managed to write 5 musicals together including our latest….”BED”
What is your favourite thing about performing for a live audience?
As a writer, having a new show performed in front of a live audience is a real privilege. It’s the first time you get a genuine and immediate audience reaction which can be both daunting and exhilarating. For example, do the jokes land? Is there an emotional connection with the characters? How are people responding to the more poignant elements of the show?
Once it’s out there, there’s nowhere to hide. We are lucky enough to work with a very talented cast and creative team and they are the people who really bring the show to life with their energy, enthusiasm and commitment.
What is the strangest thing that has ever happened to you while performing?
That’s a tricky one. Possibly at our first Ed Fringe show 10 years ago when the entire cast from another show joined in and sang (rather brilliantly) several of the songs from our show to our cast… while on stage.
What's the most challenging or unconventional venue you've ever performed in, and how did it impact the overall experience?
I’ll have to go for the most recent venue where we previewed ‘BED’. This was at the Rotunda Bubble which is a pop-up venue just off Brighton sea front. It is a fabulous dome shaped venue made from fabric stretched over a steel frame with a canvas cover.
The overall experience was great, but when the wind picked up during a particularly moving scene the flapping noises of the canvas cover were a bit of a distraction for the cast and audience along with the occasional police siren whizzing along Brighton seafront.
To be fair though the venue worked well for our previews and the cast and audience were wonderful.
Is there a piece of feedback you've received from an audience member or critic after a performance that’s stuck with you?
Our last production was a show called SAN DOMINO; a musical based on the true story of an Italian Island prison entirely for gay men at the start of World War II. One particular comment sticks in the mind – it came from a French Blogger (Beatrice) who had come over for the show. She gave a 5-star review and the quote was:
“One of the best moments of my theatrical life” http://beatricecolbrant.blogspot.com/2018/06/san-domino-very-special-play-about.html
Secondly, Tommaso Giartosio came over from Italy for the show and loved it. Tomasso is co-author (Gianfranco Goretti) of La Citta e l’isola* – the history of Italian fascists’ imprisonment of homosexuals…. (It’s a book I had used extensively as research for the show.)
Tommaso signed a copy of his book for me with the inscription ‘Thank you for finding so much in this book and for bringing out so much of it!’ which means a lot to me.
What is your favourite thing to do in Edinburgh when you're not performing? How do you relax and look after your mental health?
It’s always great to go and see other shows (there is so much to see) and meet people. Funnily enough, last time we were here we spent quite a bit of time writing SAN DOMINO, and it was great fun to work in such a creative and inspiring environment.
Edinburgh is also just a lovely city to walk around with some beautiful country walks nearby – great if you need to relax or clear your head.
Is there a show you’re excited to see when you’re up there?
There are a number of shows I am excited about seeing including:
- Christine Bovill in Piaf to Pop (our MD James works with her on tour)
- Posey Mehta: Mitzi Fitz’s Glitzy Bits (Posey is a student of a dear friend of mine)
- Soos Kempner Y2K WOMAN (Al loves her Nadine Doris parody and recommended it)
What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone thinking about taking a show up to Edinburgh? If you’ve never been before, what would you say has been (potentially) the most useful?
Bring your best work... and immerse yourself into the creative energy of the fringe. (Oh... and book your accommodation early!)
When and where can people see your show?
BED: THE MUSICAL
EDINBURGH FRINGE WORLD PREMIERE
GILDED BALLOON - TEVIOT - SPORTSMANS 02-28 AUG - 14:20 (60 minutes) - Ages 14+
And where can people find you online?
Twitter: @BEDmusical
Facebook: BEDmusical
Tickets : https://tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk/event/14:4568/
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