World-renowned soprano, Carly Paoli, is coming to Edinburgh Fringe, not in concert, but in a play! However, opera fans will not be disappointed, because she gets to sing too. The immensely talented Paoli will be playing the hugely demanding lead role of Sugar in the new play Primal Scream by Robin Hawdon.
“A young, feisty, rebellious girl from a difficult background is released from prison into the hands of a psychologist after attempting to kill her abusive stepfather. She proves to be a serious challenge for the shrink – highly intelligent, challenging, sexually provocative and funny. She has vibrant views on life, politics, sex and much else. She also reveals, after much verbal confrontation, that her secret ambition is to train as an opera singer. The shrink, who plays the piano, persuades her to sing an aria for him, and indeed proves that she has a great voice. An electric confrontation which is unpredictable, tempestuous, and at times hilarious.”
Where: Drawing Room at Assembly Rooms
When: 6-30 Aug
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/primal-scream
What can you tell us about your show? What is it about and where did the idea come from?
I have many plays, mostly comedies, playing around the world, and I wanted to write something different – a really intimate piece exploring a dramatic relationship between two diverse characters. Once I had the idea of a tormented but brilliant girl confronted by a psychologist, then the characters simply wrote themselves.
How would you sell it to audiences in one paragraph?
World-renowned soprano, Carly Paoli, comes to Edinburgh in a dramatic new play by well-known playwright, Robin Hawdon, in a unique drama combining intriguing encounter, psychological conflict, and operatic magic.
Do you enjoy participating in the Fringe? And do you have any moments you particularly remember?
It is many years since I had a play on in Edinburgh, so I am thrilled to be part of this world-famous event again, especially with a headlining show.
What are you looking forward to the most in Edinburgh?
Seeing the reaction of the Fringe audiences to such an unconventional play.
What’s next for the show?
Definitely an ongoing future in London and elsewhere. We are only showing the first act of a two-act play at Edinburgh (which stands on its own anyway), so we will be mounting the full two acts elsewhere.