Week two of the renowned Scotsman Fringe First Awards sees CHOO CHOO! (Or… Have You Ever Thought About ****** **** *****? (Cos I Have)) receiving this prestigious award. The Scotsman’s world-famous Fringe First awards have been recognising outstanding new writing premiered at the festival since 1973.
Part of the Pleasance National Partnerships 2023 programme, CHOO CHOO! (Or… Have You Ever Thought About ****** **** *****? (Cos I Have)) is presented by Pleasance Theatre Trust and Sherman Theatre in Cardiff. A new show giving an entertaining exploration of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and award-winning theatre company StammerMouth, CHOO CHOO! takes the audience on a journey into the workings of OCD and a mind that isn’t always very nice to its owner. The production combines the talents of writer Nye Russell Thompson (StammerMouth) and director Nerida Bradley (Revolt. She Said. Revolt again) and incorporates access creatively through BSL and audio description to give a silly and surreal exploration of obsessive compulsive disorder – a misunderstood and misrepresented condition, told by people who know a bit about it. Sally Stott from The Scotsman described the play as an original and audacious exploration of mental health and theatrical form.
The award-winning and internationally renowned Släpstick have been awarded the Best Performance Award by the Global Cultural Exchange Committee and the Seoul Metropolitan Government as part of the Seoul Arts Awards for their unique brand of mischief in Schërzo. With their trademark blurring of physical comedy and musical talent, Släpstick play every imaginable (and un-imaginable) instrument to the highest level as they return to Fringe once again.
Also announced are the longlist of brave and imaginative new plays for the Popcorn Writing Award. Partnering once again with BBC Writersroom, Popcorn offers a prize fund of £6,000. Shows at the Pleasance appearing on this list are Bitter Lemons by Lucy Hayes, Green Fingers by Adam Sowter, Flo Poskitt and Ben Tansey, Public – The Musical by Stroud & Notes, Super by Matthew Radway and The Brief Life & Mysterious Death Of Boris III, King of Bulgaria by Sasha Wilson & Joseph Cullen. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday 24th August.
