EDINBURGH 2022: Arty's Ani-Magination Q&A

BWW chats to the creators of Arty's Ani-Magination to chat about bringing the show to the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Tell us about a bit about Arty's Ani-magination

Arty's Ani-Magination is a funny, heartfelt family musical. It tells the story of Arty a ten-year-old girl who on the evening of the big school project presentation wishes she was an Animal (because that would make life so much easier) and wakes to find herself turned into a Rat. But the magic is contagious, soon Dad is a dog, her sister is a cat, her best friend is a rather cheeky monkey and the scary head teacher is now a snake! It's going to be the craziest day at school ever. We've got an incredible cast of experienced professional actors that are going to make it a fast paced thrilling sixty minutes.

What was the inspiration for writing it?

We've been touring an acting workshop for several years to schools and drama groups around the UK, we had a section in it where we showed how you could take inspiration for your characters from animals, we would be rolling around the floor being cats, gorillas, chickens, and no matter where we went the children would adore it and I wanted to put it into a show. At the same time my niece and nephew, who have a bit of an age difference between them, have reached that funny stage where one is still a child and one feels very grown up and it's a story that says, "hey don't forget your sibling is going to be one of the best friends you will ever have, don't leave them behind".

Who would you like to come and see the show?

It sounds generalised but everyone! I love those pixar movies that look like they are aimed at children but there is so much beauty, comedy and nostalgia in them that grown ups love them too and that's our aim. The songs are really funny the show is very fast paced and hopefully it's got a lot of heart. Who wouldn't want to see that?

What message do you hope audiences take away from it?

Well firstly I hope they leave having had a great start to their day at the fringe, with the younger members of the family excited about seeing more theatre in the future but also that at the end of the day you can always rely on family - that the bond family members have will always be there, no matter what.

Having taken a show to the festival previously do you think you know what to expect from the Fringe?

We know it can be a rollercoaster, one day feeling like you've cracked it, the next day worrying if you will have an audience but having not been able to do it for a couple of years this time feels really special, and we are going to squeeze every drop of enjoyment out of it we can.

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