Edinburgh Fringe Chats (#166): Scott Coltman, DIVAS: (Big Band Does Productions)
As anticipation builds for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, we’re catching up with a range of exciting creatives preparing to bring their work to the world’s largest arts festival this August. In this series, we delve into the stories behind the shows, the inspiration driving the artists, and what audiences can expect. Today, we’re joined by Scott Coltman to find out more about DIVAS: (Big Band Does Productions).
Can you begin by telling us about your show and what inspired it?
Divas: From Stage to Screen is a 60 minute cabaret that takes you on a whirlwind adventure through some iconic diva anthems from music, movies and musical theatre. We started to develop the show in 2022. We wanted to champion Scottish talent and celebrate our fantastic female performers within the industry while celebrating some of the greatest divas of all time. We cover a whole host of genres and decades to show the versatility of our performers and cover a wide range of artists. The show has grown so much in the past few years and we are continually expanding on our productions and brand by now also doing DIVAS performances throughout the year, raising money for charities in Edinburgh and performing at corporate events.
What made you want to bring this work to the Fringe this year?
We have gathered a lovely little following of people who enjoy our show and year after year that attention grows. We wanted to continue to promote Scottish talent and have become a little family unit that reunite over the festival. We love welcoming new faces into our pool of performers and this year are showcasing two graduates from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Italia Conti as-well as talent fresh from the west end cast of Mean Girls. We want to provide a high energy, entertaining night of fantastic vocals performed by some of the UK’s best female and non-binary talent.
How would you describe your show in three words?
Energetic, Entertaining & Camp
What do you hope audiences take away from watching your performance?
We want the audience to leave wanting to sing and dance in the streets after being thoroughly entertained for 60 minutes with back to back tunes by stunning vocalists.
What’s your top tip for surviving the Fringe?
Sleep, Water & Jakeman’s (sponsor us)! But also, see other shows, meet other performers & meet pals to have a wee bevvy into the early hours. Take time to decompress from the fringe madness!
Where and when can people see your show?
DIVAS is performing nightly from the 2nd - 24th (NOT 10/13/14/17) at 9pm (60mins) in The Studio at Paradise Green.
