In amongst all our Camden Fringe activity, it’s easy to forget there’s another little festival happening up in Edinburgh during August. And whilst our main focus is Camden (mainly because we can’t afford to spend much time in Edinburgh in August, have you seen the cost of a room?!) it doesn’t mean we are totally ignoring the Scottish festival totally.
One show heading that way is Ready Steady Crooks! which will also be doing a couple of preview shows at The Hen and Chickens (17 and 18 July, tickets here). This comedy caper follows the hijinks of top-class cooks turned notorious crooks – well, you have to pay for Edinburgh rent somehow don’t you!
But before they make their way to Edinburgh, we nabbed some time with the team of Head Chef, Sous Chef and Pot Wash to discover the secrets of a good heist.
What can audiences expect from the show?
You can expect a 5-star OffFest nominated comedy caper! Follow the hijinks of top-class cooks turned notorious crooks! A deliciously absurdist slapstick romp with a drizzle of dark humour. The show features cooky (see what we did there!?) characters, songs, dance, and of course a jar of semen. There will be crime, wine, robbery and… gobbery?
What was your inspiration behind the show?
SC: The show is a theatrical adaptation of our lives in the criminal and culinary underworlds.
HC: Much like Mamma Mia was inspired by ABBA’s crimes.
Is this version how you originally envisioned it or has it changed drastically since you first put pen to paper?
PW: If you look at our old poster from our previous run of the show you will see that an Orangutan features very prominently. The Orangutan, who shall remain nameless, was cut from the production.
SC: He received a better offer and is now touring with Life of Pi
What brought you all together?
HC: I was dishonourably discharged from the daytime TV cooking program Ready Steady Cook after a botched burglary with fellow celebrity chef Gino D’acampo. His career bounced back but I started working at a local Nando’s where I met Sous Chef and we started Ready Steady Crooks!
SC: I trained to be an actor but have been on a hiatus for the last 20 years. I decided to do some character research at said poultry restaurant. It was there Chef offered me something more than a life of being a cook… a life of being a Crook!
PW: I was adopted by Sous and Chef after my mother, Bendy Wendy (the world’s greatest contortionist who ever lived) was murdered in cold blood.
HC: Don’t kill the vibe Pot Wash.
Being a fringe show, we all know sets have to be bare minimum, how have you got around this with your set and props?
SC: We’ve rebelled against the status quo and decided to use an outrageous, and frankly unfeasible, amount of probs.
Are there any plans for what comes next after the show has finished its run – for you or the show?
PW: We shall be making our way to the, financially crippling, Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 18 to 23 August at Greenside Riddles Court 7:35pm. We plan to live under North Bridge and eat out of bins to save a bit of money. Fingers crossed the weather is good! If you’re in Edinburgh, grab your tickets here.
Who would play you in the Hollywood adaptation of your future autobiography?
PW: Timothee Chalamet
SC: As acting is my original passion I would of course play myself but Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson would be my understudy.
HC: Heston Blumenthal.
If you had to describe your show as a meal what would it be?
HC: My pleasure. Imagine a fry up. All the trimmings. Meaty, greasy, it may even cause flatulence or a heart attack but the experience will be joyous and worth any medical emergency.
Thank you….
Ready Steady Crooks! plays at The Hen and Chickens Theatre on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 July (tickets here) before its run at EdFringe Monday 18 to Satrday 23 August (tickets here)
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