Aim

Shadow Road Productions is going to the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time in 2023 and we would hugely appreciate any help you can give us!

Shadow Road Productions is going to Edinburgh! After many years as enthusiastic audience members, we will at last be taking our own shows up North in August. And yes, you read that right, we said 'SHOWS', as in more than one! 

Never ones to do things by halves, we have - thanks to the super helpful theSpaceUK venues - managed to book in two productions: our tried and tested Macbeth: Sleep No More, with a few tweaks to tighten it up even further and bring the running time down to 80 minutes, and a brand new show, Secret Storytellers. You can see both shows on the main Edfringe website HERE, or keep reading to find out more...

More about the two shows: 

MACBETH: SLEEP NO MORE - Edinburgh Tickets Available HERE

This condensed version of the widely-studied Shakespeare classic retells the old story of the 11th Century Scottish King, Macbeth, and examines the physical and psychological damage done by political ambition - both to those who seek power for its own sake, and to those who get in their way… 

Originally created during the first lockdown in 2020, with rehearsals beginning on Zoom, this electrifying adaptation of the Bard’s infamous tragedy is performed by a cast of four female actors, and features a certain amount of original material. It remains true to its source, however, both in tone and content, and has been a hit with audiences at many different venues, including the Turbine Theatre and Southside House. All sound effects and music are performed live by the cast.

What have our audiences said about this show?

“Absolutely amazing! Would highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of Shakespeare. Very intimate and well thought out production. In what used to be a male dominated area, these four women played the roles amazingly and with so much talent." Courtney Larkin

“What a terrific show! I am still replaying in my mind the subtle shifts that all the characters passed through as undreamt of possibilities turned into dreadful realities. The ghost at the feast scene was hugely powerful as Macbeth finally unravelled. An excellent script by Emma King-Farlow and superb performances!"  Jane C.B.

"So clever to adapt the script for just four [actors] taking all the parts. It stripped the play back to its core which made the account of ambition and the cycle of violence even more powerful."  James Hutchings

                                                                       *****

SECRET STORYTELLERS - Edinburgh Tickets Available HERE

In a not-too-distant future, society has collapsed and the Ravens rule. No more books, songs, or stories. No more dreams or imagination. No passing on of any information that has not been officially Sanctioned by the High Council first. Yet, although storytelling is now strictly prohibited, the rebellious Magpies still dare to tell the Old World's tales of hope to anyone who will listen. Today, they share another forbidden story - the tale of Persephone, the pomegranate seeds, and the promised return of spring after a long, cold winter. A story of hope and change, which the Ravens would kill to keep you from hearing...

Secret Storytellers is a new cross-platform project which is only just getting started. Today, audiences are invited to share a secret story – soon, they will be able to immerse themselves in the world and to fight for the future they believe in… 

This show has not yet been performed in public, but here's an idea of what audiences have said about our other work:

~ 'Remarkable! I always thought of this myth as rather sad, so to experience this beautifully performed, positive version is so enjoyable.' Ewa, Southside House – Persephone & the Pomegranate Seeds

~ 'Wonderful performance, a good balance with humour. Really enjoyable fights, especially considering the space.' Nicky P, Barnes Children's Literature Festival – A Tale of Robin Hood: The Rescue

~ 'Really talented bunch, a really impressive interpretation & dramatisation - so creative with the props and the overall format. Brilliant & congratulations!' Anonymous, Southside House – A Christmas Carol

What do we need the money for?

Taking a show to Edinburgh is an incredibly expensive and risky undertaking - though also a hugely exciting one!  Any money raised via this crowdfunding campaign will go towards our production expenses, which include but are not limited to the following:

• Show Registration
• Venue Hire
• Insurance
• Donations of free tickets for every performance to the Community ticketing scheme, which allows local people in financial difficulty who might not otherwise be able to do so, to come and see our shows.
• Travel (Both to get up to Scotland and to travel in to and out of Edinburgh each day, as we have found slightly cheaper accommodation outside of the city.)
• Advertising & Marketing Costs (This includes the printing of flyers and posters, etc.)
• Accommodation
• Technical support (We are not taking a technician with us, so will have to hire one up there!)
• Costumes & Props (Happily, we already have most of what we need for Macbeth, having performed it so many times before. With Secret Storytellers, however, we are starting from scratch!)
  
  

How can you help us?

We would be eternally grateful for any financial support you feel able to offer us, but there is more than one way in which you can help us achieve our goals! These include:

- Making a donation via this page.

- Signing up as a Patron on our Patreon page - donations start from £2 per month.

- Buying tickets for either of our Edinburgh shows via the EdFringe website - either Macbeth, or Secret Storytellers, or both!

- Attending our fundraising coffee morning at St Mary's Barnes, SW13 9HL, on Saturday 3rd June from 10am-12.30pm, where you can enjoy some delicious tea, coffee and homemade cake, all in a very good cause!

- Sharing this campaign on social media, via email, or on your own websites - every bit of buzz will help us! You can find us on Instagram (@shadowroad_ and @secretstorytellers), on Twitter (@shadowroad and @secretstories4u) and on Facebook (facebook.com/ShadowRoadProductions)

- Talking about us and these shows to anyone who will listen, both online and off - good word of mouth can work wonders! :-)

                                                                         ******

Thank you so much for your interest in Shadow Road and our productions. We will keep you updated on our progress via this page, on our social media and - for those who choose that particular reward - via postcards from Bonnie Scotland! 

We really hope to see some of you in one or more of our audiences, and we wish you a lovely summer in the meantime!

With all best wishes and many thanks,

Emma King-Farlow & Amy Floyd 

This project successfully funded on 17th July 2023