This summer twelve Bishop’s University Drama students and two faculty members will be travelling close to 4,800 kilometers to one of the biggest celebrations of arts and culture on the planet, but in order to get there they are asking for help. With the aim of raising funds to help cover the costs of a trip to perform in the world-renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the travelling performers will be staging a reading of the play “Feet of the Angels” by Évelyne de la Chenelière, this Friday at the Turner Studio Theatre on campus. “I’ve been to the Edinburgh festival a lot and I’ve always had in the back of my mind this thought that boy it would be great if some of the students could be here,” said Rebecca Harries, the professor coordinating the trip, who referred to the August festival as a fantasy for theatre lovers. “I’ve seen some plays that have completely changed my outlook on art, on life, and instead of talking to the students about all the great things I saw, I thought why not bring them?” Although some fringe festivals select plays based on a lottery system, Harries explained that the Scottish festival allows anyone to take part provided that they can arrange their own venue. The result in 2018 is 3,398 different shows in 300 venues across the city throughout the month of August. It is an opportunity unlike any a Bishop’s University student has had before, and one not to be missed for Rachel McNamara, who shares the lead role in the play to be performed. “Who in their twenties gets to perform internationally?” McNamara said. “I’m just waiting for those grad school applications.” The drama student shared that she feels like de la Chenelière’s script is an honest and emotional work that is offering her difficult but important opportunities to practice her art. Harries explained that the play revolves around the story of a young woman defending her doctoral thesis. See full story in the Wednesday, April 18th edition of The Record.
“Feet of the Angels” taking BU to Edinburgh
By Gordon Lambie
