EDINBURGH 2016: BWW Q&A - HESS

We speak to director Kim Kinnie about 2016 Edinburgh Fringe show HESS.

Tell us a bit about Hess

Hess is a one-man play written by Michael Burrell, starring Derek Crawford Munn and directed by Kim Kinnie. First produced in London in 1978, it went on to win an Obie award in New York City and has since been produced all over the world. On the 75th anniversary of Hess's flight to Britain and the 70th anniversary of the Nuremberg trials, it is being produced at the Gilded Balloon for the Edinburgh Fringe.

The play imagines what Hitler's deputy would say to an audience after years of imprisonment in Spandau Prison. He tells us why he made his flight to Britain to try to make peace and his feelings about his trial and sentence of life imprisonment by the Allies.

It is a play about the nature of punishment and redemption (or lack of it). With the worldwide rise of nationalist policies and parties, Hess retains an eerie relevance in 2016, as much as it did at the end of World War Two.

Is it difficult to condense the story into an hour-long play?

It was difficult to tell the detailed story of events of that momentous time in history, but by focussing on the essence of Rudolf Hess the man....his beliefs, his delusions and even his sharp insights into the post-war world, Michael Burrell paints a fascinating portrait of one of the last relics of the Third Reich and the times he lived in.

Who would you recommend Hess to?

Audiences of all ages who are interested in the history of one of the most brutal regimes in history, and the nature of justice and punishment of war crimes ...its relevance to the outcry over George Bush, Tony Blair and the Iraq War and also to the rise of nationalism and the current attitude to immigration.

Are there any other shows you are looking forward to seeing at the festival?

I like the sound of Meet Fred at Summerhall. It is a snapshot into the life of a foul-mouthed puppet with a feisty personality who fights prejudice. He just wants to be a regular guy, part of the real world. However life has many dependency issues when everything you do relies on three puppeteers with you at all times. It has been produced in association with the multi-award-winning puppet innovators, Blind Summit.

I also want to check out a 21st-century musical adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth, set in the in the cutthroat world of the British music business. A modern tale of lust for power, betrayal and murder with a mix of energy, passion, attitude; street dance and musical styles - R&B, grime, hip hop, afro beat, spoken word and jazz. It is Hackney Empire and TWIST Theatre Company's production at C Venues.

How would you describe Hess in five words?

Fascinating controversial look at evil.

Timings and ticket information for HESS is available on the edfringe website.

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