Caravanserai at 10pm is an interesting time to have a show. If it's an indoors venue, you very likely would not have as many challenges to face as you probably would outside. In Twisted Tales case, they performed outside at the Under The Archway section of Caravanserai almost immediately after a DJ had played a set to some very drunk and disorderly audience members. Despite being told that a show was taking place soon as the set was finished, some particularly loud members of the audience talked through the show, almost spoiling it for others who couldn't hear some of what was going on. Plus loud music coming from other parts of the venue didn't help
A hidden gem of the Fringe
Despite this challenging setup, Twisted Tales handled their setback with such professionalism and skill by bringing four classic fairy tales to life and added a Brothers Grimm flavoured darkness to it, but went further than the original endings did by exploring what would have really happened to Goldilocks had the bears been really hungry, what really happened to the woodsman in Red Riding Hood and did Alice really get out of Wonderland? But the main tale that was featured was a tale from Norse Mythology that isn't shared that much these days. A tale of a fighting Viking Warrior family, who descended from Odin himself. Every story was told not only with well constructed scripts that were simple and precise, but Box House Theatre used a simple set of a huge gym mat made into a huge fairy tale book and the most intricate usage of physical theatre seen so far this fringe. They obviously were aware that being outside in this particular scenario could go against them, so having taken the time and precision to create each set change and character by just using their bodies made it easy to follow and engage with the magic that was evolving.
What would have helped them immensely to make sure their words were heard were mics. With physical theatre, it is not always logically possible to do this in case they interfere with the physical work involved, but if they had been provided with head mics, then the issue with not always being heard would have helped them tremendously.
With their high energy, passion for the work involved, well rounded characters and a well constructed story using the arc of the actors finding the book of the tales portrayed, Box House Theatre are a hidden gem of the Fringe.
