It is a beautiful tapestry of wild, weird, and colorful. Artists flock from all over the world to perform their shows, and nothing is too far-fetched. More so, the fringe is known for its ingenuity and creativity. Giant show posters cover every surface as food vendors take to the sidewalks and street performers attract massive crowds. All of a sudden, everything is a theatre classrooms, alleyways, even pubs. As August approaches, the city becomes alive. Edinburgh is known for its world-renowned festivals, and this is no exception. Now let’s talk about what it means to be a standby at the fringe. And if I’m being honest, it’s an honor that the Police Cops team trust me enough to leave both roles in my care. I acknowledge it’s not for everyone, but the stationary-highlighter lover in me thrives on how it works my brain. Realizing you’re confusing your tracks and swapping them around. Even switching between roles night to night is exhilarating trying to remember what side of the stage you need to be on, what costume you have to quick change into. What a thrill to be able to jump in last minute (sometimes mid-show!) and give it your own spin. We want to be on stage!īut in other ways, being an off-stage understudy is incredibly rewarding. Let’s be honest, no one auditions for a show hoping they’ll spend their evening in the wings. What I found most difficult of all was staying in the dressing room most nights as the other actors made their way to the stage. This requires a whole other level of skill and tact. Though I had understudied in the past, I’d never done it from backstage. More so, an off-stage understudy has to be ready to go on stage at a moment’s notice, with minimal rehearsal. They will not be in the promotional videos or the production photos, and often have to fill character choices that were made for another actor. I would argue that any cover track has to do double the work, without the rewards that often come with being a lead. Without these unsung heroes, shows would be getting cancelled left, right and center. Swings, standbys, and understudies are the actor backbones of the industry. And we will be starting up again for another seven weeks on March 1 st 2024. This contract specifically had two parts: a four-week run at the Edinburgh Fringe before transferring to the Southwark Playhouse in London, England for a five-week run. This means, that unless there is illness or vacation, I spend most of my time backstage. Known in North America as a standby, it is my job to learn both female lead parts without having my own track in the show. Let me first explain what an off-stage understudy is, though it really is exactly as it sounds. From day one, I could tell this would be a different experience to what I’d known in the past. Though there have been different play iterations of the show over time, this is a new version new score, new choreography, new cast. And in 2022, they decided to make it a musical. Written by three hilariously talented guys, different versions of Police Cops have been Edinburgh Fringe staples for the last seven years. Let’s backtrack to June of this past year, when I auditioned for a new musical that is now taking London by storm: Police Cops the Musical. Our lovely set by the wonderful Andrew Exeter on closing night.
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