Edinburgh Fringe Chats (#143): Richard Higgins and Matt Kelly, THE LISTIES: MAKE SOME NOISE

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 Richard Higgins and Matt Kelly to find out more about their show, The Listies: Make Some Noise!

1. Can you begin by telling us about your show and what inspired it?

The Listies: Make Some Noise is a musical-ish comedy extravaganza for kids and their families. It’s loud, it’s ridiculous, and it involves fart jokes but also PowerPoint so it’s actually high brow, Also, inflatable arm-wavy guys, and a lot of audience participation. We wrote it together (we always do), and it’s produced by our company, The Listies. After Fringe, we’re touring it across Australia, everywhere from city arts centres to towns with more sheep than people. It’s also supported by the fab folks at House of Oz!

2. What made you want to bring this work to the Fringe this year?

We love the Fringe it’s our 12th time! This year, we’re back with Make Some Noise because it’s loud, it’s funny, and it’s the perfect show for families looking to laugh together. Plus Matt left his pet rock Pooglet in the meadows in the mid 2010s and we still have to find it.

3. How would you describe your show in three words?

Loud. Loopy. Legendary.

4. What do you hope audiences take away from watching your performance? 

We hope they take away sore cheeks from laughing, not from sitting too long. We want kids (and their grown-ups) to feel seen, heard, and celebrated. And if they also walk away humming a song about wacky arm waving inflatable tube guy our job will be done.

5. What’s your top tip for surviving the Fringe?

VEGETABLES!

6. Where and when can people see your show?

We’re at Assembly George Square Gardens, performing at the family-friendly time of 11:40 AM daily (except Tuesdays). Come for the jokes, stay for the world’s ugliest baby.

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