“A rich and beautiful story from Shetland comes to Edinburgh Fringe, performed by comedian and storyteller Marjolein Robertson.
The story of the Hillsook Weddeen (Hillswick Wedding) is one of Shetland’s best folktales.
It takes the listener back to life in Shetland in the late 1800s, exploring the crofting, fishing and other traditions, yet there is more to this story than meets the eye as through it we meet the trows, a creature of Shetland folklore and with them we go into their world.”
Where: Shedinburgh
When: 4 Aug
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/marjolein-robertson-the-hillswick-wedding
Without saying too much, what can audiences expect from your show?
A magical mix of folklore entwined with tragedy from my own life and plaited together with jokes.
This year aims to elevate, bring joy to the audience and, through a certain exercise near the end, leave them feeling moved. Basically I really want to make them leave happy.
Be a nice end to this trilogy. Seeing as the first installment in 2023, they left in tears, and then last year a lot of people left unconscious (because the show kept making them faint).
Where did you get the idea to create this show and bring it to Edinburgh?
A lot of that answer is in the show itself. The show being an examination on the journey of life, and
how I have gotten to this point in time.
On a stage at the Fringe, most likely, severely dehydrated. But I’ll give you some clues: 1) nuns 2) trying to be celibate but in absolute no relation to the nuns thing.
How did you get your start in comedy? Do you find Fringe festivals inspiring?
Oh man, this questions relates so much to the last one. Nuns again. But also, the Fringe is one of the very reasons I got into comedy.
My Dad was big time into going to the Fringe when he was a student in the 50s and 60s. Yes my Dad is 782. He’s seen creatures that no longer exist. And early exciting Fringe performances he can still recount in great detail. They sounded wild, fun, anarchic.
The kind of comedy I love. No fear of experimentation. And that’s a bit of what I’m hoping to bring this year. I used to be worried that I wasn’t enough of a joke, joke, joke comedian.
Now I’m not going to care anymore and lean into what I want to do: MIMING THINGS.
What are you looking forward to the most at Edinburgh?
Seeing my friends. Both onstage and off. It can be a lonely life, gigging, yes you get to gig with friends and
colleagues almost every night, but then you can be not he opposite ends of the circuit to someone you hold dear, and not see them from August to August.
Also, I love the Fringe for the very reason it exists. To perform my show everday. There is nothing like it. Audiences choose you, so you can do and say what you want.
I can be the weird comedian I sometimes shy away from at weekend gigs when the impetus is to make that crowd laugh.
At the Fringe you can just do the weird thing, every single day, and fine tune it. I live for the Fringe.
Where can we see your work after Fringe?
If you go to the Shetland Marts you’ll be able to see my lambs on sale baby. Buy some fine Shetland mutton.
I also have a Radio 4 show being released in the Autumn, written with Gareth Waugh. Human Watch.
It’s a Spring Watchesque show but we’re watching the world’s most curious, dangerous and inexplicable creature: you.