Harriet Madeley brings her first solo show Outpatient to the Edinburgh Fringe next month.
“DEATH. It’s coming for us all, so why don’t we talk about it? Well, OIive is bloody well going to.
Via an earth-shattering piece of serious journalism that’ll be her ticket off the entertainment desk and into a Pulitzer Prize.
But when Olive starts recruiting dying people to interview for her hot take on mortality… the last thing she expects is to become one of them.”
Where: Summerhall
When: 1-11, 13-18, 20-26 Aug
Ticket link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/outpatient
Harriet tells us more about the show.
What are you looking forward to the most at Edinburgh Fringe?
The sheer variety of stories being told and the energy of the place. I’ve recently had a baby, so I’ve been spending a lot of lovely but quiet time at home.
I think being at the Fringe will feel like bursting back into the world.
Outpatient veers into some dark areas for its story. How did the play come about and how did you develop it?
I started writing it years ago after I was diagnosed with a mysterious life-threatening illness whilst working on a play about death.
The entire situation felt very dark and very ludicrous all at once, which is a pretty fair description of the play’s tone.
I was nervous to show people the script because it’s so personal, but as soon as I started edging it out into the world I was overwhelmed by people’s responses.
Maddy Moore (the director) and I have been developing it together over the past year, and I’m so excited to finally get it in front of an audience.
This has been your first solo show. Do you find it easier to perform without the safety net of other people around you on stage?
I wouldn’t say it’s easier but in some respects it’s simpler and I do really enjoy it.
There are a number of recorded characters in the show, voiced by brilliant actors, so I don’t feel totally alone – but there’s the challenge of having to imagine someone that you can’t see on stage with you.
I think solo shows give you a special opportunity to build a relationship with the audience, so I’m very much looking forward to that.
Are there any shows you are eager to catch in Edinburgh? What kind of theatre do you watch?
I’m eager for anything that feels new and I’ll be making it my mission to watch a range of stuff – cabaret, performance art and comedy as well as theatre.
I fully intend to wring out my Summerhall pass – there’s so much on that sounds exciting – I always wanted to catch Every Brilliant Thing so I’m delighted that’s back.
Lynn Faces, Son Of A Bitch, How I Learned To Swim and Juniper and Jules are also very much on my list.
What’s next after this show?
I’ll be hibernating in Wales with my family for September, and then Outpatient is going on tour!
Then there are quite a few projects on the horizon, but I’m trying not to think too far ahead.
There’s nothing like a near death experience combined with having a baby to make you focus on living in the present.