ED FRINGE 2023 INTERVIEW | Hannah-Cait Harrison and David McCulloch Ay Up, Hitler!
In preparation for the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Emmie chats with producer Hannah-Cait Harrison and producer, ‘Ay Up, Hitler!’ playwright David McCulloch to chat more about this exciting new work.
1. Let's begin by pitching your show at the Ed Fringe, tell us about it?
DAVID: Witness the untold “true” story of what really happened at the end of WWII where, after losing to the Allied Forces, Hitler and his Cronies actually manage to escape Germany and go into hiding in the last place anyone would think to look… YORKSHIRE!
Swapping the Hugo Boss for Flat Caps & Wellies, and adopting strong Northern Accents, Adolf and the Lads meet down the pub to plan their “epic” comeback!
Madcap, anarchic, and utterly hilarious, ‘Ay Up, Hitler!’ is unlike anything you will see at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.
2. Where did you draw your influences from for this piece?
DAVID: I think anyone who sees the show would be able to identify, in both the writing and directing, that we drew influences from classic British comedies such as Blackadder and Allo Allo, as well as absurdist satirical works such as Monty Python and Beyond the Fringe, but I would say some of my biggest influences and inspirations have been our incredible cast of actors and our director Chris Hawley.
As individual members of what has now become our official cast began joining us, it became naturally easier to write characters and scenes that played to their strengths.
Our lead actor has a history in panto? Say goodbye to that fourth wall.
We have an actor who can do a killer Boris Johnson impression? Well look who's been added to the character list?
Our director fancies himself a self-appointed choreographer? Suddenly dance numbers have found their way into the script!
We’ve just had an actor drop out, due to getting a film? Enter Hannah-Cait as a last-minute cast member, resulting in a hasty re-write that results in a script that’s now 10x funnier.
Although it’s my name on the script, this is very much a collaborative effort and there is no way this show would have done as well as it has, nor would it have even made it to the Fringe were it not for the incredible cast & crew that have been assembled for this show. I honestly feel I have won the lottery with the talent we have both on and off stage.
3. What are the challenges of bringing a piece to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
HANNAH-CAIT: Time, money and money!
It’s a real Labour of love this, and I think my major piece of advice would be to assemble a really strong team. I could never do this alone, without David to lean on, and work problems through with. I swear we’d probably have run a mile by now if we didn’t have one another talking us down from jumping in the canal near our house!
It’s all about perseverance, resilience and keeping that passion. From car troubles, laptop malfunctions, missing costumes, damaged set and any other number of mishaps, we’ve had to remain passionate and confident in the show. It hasn’t been easy!
4. What can audiences expect from your show?
HANNAH-CAIT: Belly laughs, shocks galore, pantomime antics, a strong message and a poignant warning or two. It’s a mile a minute, totally insane, but also really powerful in places. It’s gonna surprise you, no matter what it is you’re expecting.
5. What are you most looking forward to during your time in Edinburgh for the festival?
HANNAH-CAIT: Checking out the other shows that we’ve been in contact with on Twitter actually. We’ve already managed to forge some friendships with total strangers, just on the backs of interactions we’ve had on our socials.
I also can’t wait for opening night, and finally being back on stage with some of my closest friends. I always say that this show is 65 minutes of larking about with my mates. It never feels like work, it’s so much fun to spend the time with them. Our audiences also never laugh or react the same each night, which we all adore. It means we never know how each show is going to go, because their reactions can change ours. It’s brilliant.
6. What are the main themes within your piece?
DAVID: Underneath this absurd farcical surface, ‘Ay Up’ Hitler!’ is an exploration of our current socio-political climate, highlighting the dangers and rise of modern day fascism, exploring whether a man like Hitler could actually survive, and even thrive in today’s world.
7. Where can people come and see 'Ay Up, Hitler!'?
Ay Up, Hitler! makes its Edinburgh Fringe debut in the Fleming Theatre at The Space at Surgeons Hall, from 4-12 & 14-26 Augst at 22:15
