In our ongoing Edinburgh Fringe interview series, we are speaking to artists and creatives who are bringing their shows to the Scottish capital this summer.
In this interview, S.E. Grummett and Sam Kruger discusses their show Slugs.
What can you tell me in your words about your show?
Slugs is a queer electro-punk/comedy/puppet duo that have made the perfect show about nothing. A perfect performative cake of nothing. An absolutely nothing of a show for an intense something of an age. Armed with synths, auto-tune, a live feed camera, an army of tiny puppets, and a well-worn gag reflex, we bring you the greatest nothing of your lives. A show for that feeling you get when you're scrolling late and night, wondering about nuclear capabilities, and whether you locked the front door.
Slugs is a queer electro-punk/comedy/puppet duo that have made the perfect show about nothing. A perfect performative cake of nothing. An absolutely nothing of a show for an intense something of an age. Armed with synths, auto-tune, a live feed camera, an army of tiny puppets, and a well-worn gag reflex, we bring you the greatest nothing of your lives. A show for that feeling you get when you're scrolling late and night, wondering about nuclear capabilities, and whether you locked the front door.
Where did the inspiration for this piece come from?
The world, the news, and feeling useless. SLUGS is our attempt to reconcile our fears for the future with our need to dance / laugh / and feel good.
The world, the news, and feeling useless. SLUGS is our attempt to reconcile our fears for the future with our need to dance / laugh / and feel good.
How have you approached developing the show?
It’s been a long road! We have been dreaming of making Slugs nearly since the beginning of our relationship (2019) , and it’s taken all these years to finally build up the skill sets to make it real! Slugs uses live feed video, synthesizers, as well as an avalanche of tiny puppets, all of which needed our technical abilities to catch up.
Unlike the show we brought to Edinburgh last time (Creepy Boys), which we made pretty much on our own (with the exception of some late-night Zoom calls with Butt Kapinski’s Deanna Fleysher); with “Slugs”, we we’re working with a whole team of collaborators and creative experts to help us play in new genres and styles. All in all, “Slugs” is shaping up to be the most technically ambitious thing we’ve ever made.
It’s been a long road! We have been dreaming of making Slugs nearly since the beginning of our relationship (2019) , and it’s taken all these years to finally build up the skill sets to make it real! Slugs uses live feed video, synthesizers, as well as an avalanche of tiny puppets, all of which needed our technical abilities to catch up.
Unlike the show we brought to Edinburgh last time (Creepy Boys), which we made pretty much on our own (with the exception of some late-night Zoom calls with Butt Kapinski’s Deanna Fleysher); with “Slugs”, we we’re working with a whole team of collaborators and creative experts to help us play in new genres and styles. All in all, “Slugs” is shaping up to be the most technically ambitious thing we’ve ever made.
We have been very fortunate to be able to work on this show with a group of truly incredible artists: Governor’s General Award Winner Caleigh Crow and her partner Sacha Crow as our dramaturg/director/outside eyes, our music was co-written with Juno Nominee Shirley Gnome, live animation and puppet wizard Zach Dorn as our puppetry consultant.
How would you describe the style of the show?
It’s clown, it’s a techno concert, it’s a musical comedy, it’s a puppet show, all at the same time. As a duo we are attracted to shows that are just outside of the familiar, which is what we try and make. Slugs is loud, outrageous, nude, gross, but also made with love from two Canadian queers.
It’s clown, it’s a techno concert, it’s a musical comedy, it’s a puppet show, all at the same time. As a duo we are attracted to shows that are just outside of the familiar, which is what we try and make. Slugs is loud, outrageous, nude, gross, but also made with love from two Canadian queers.
Can you describe the show in 3 words?
Outrageous, Gross, Loud
Outrageous, Gross, Loud
How do you mentally and physically prepare for a run like the Fringe?
Building in routines for both the run up and the festival. There is always pressure to overwork, both our bodies and minds. Sticking to schedules and making time to cook for ourselves go a long way to keeping the machine running. Also seeing a therapist!
Building in routines for both the run up and the festival. There is always pressure to overwork, both our bodies and minds. Sticking to schedules and making time to cook for ourselves go a long way to keeping the machine running. Also seeing a therapist!
Away from your show, what are you most looking forward to about being in Edinburgh?
Seeing friends! The more you tour to Fringe and the many Fringes around the world, you end up meeting a wide group of incredible artists, who often you only get to see during Fringe. So coming back is often both a stressful performance showcase event monster, but also a reunion of old friends, colleagues, clown classmates, ex-lovers, etc. All people who you often only see once every few years.
What is one hidden gem in Edinburgh that everyone should visit?
If you’re looking for a wonderful place to grab a pint outside of the wall to wall posters and star reviews, and don’t mind a journey into Leith, The Dreadnaught is our fav brewery we try and visit everytime we come through. The bathrooms are chaotic, the staff is great and they let you bring in your own food. Are there any other shows at the Fringe you’d like to recommend?
Many! Too many. We are excited to see Shunga Alert from Japan, it is an X-rated documentary-comedy about the sexual culture of Japan told through shadow puppets and live feed video. We’ve seen their other work and are big big fans!
Many! Too many. We are excited to see Shunga Alert from Japan, it is an X-rated documentary-comedy about the sexual culture of Japan told through shadow puppets and live feed video. We’ve seen their other work and are big big fans!
ALSO: for the more theatre interested, Anthem for Dissatisfaction and Shame Show from Northern Ireland’s SkelpieLimmer. We love those lil freaks.
What was the first piece of theatre you saw which had a big impact on you?
Grumms: Cats, when I was 10. 1st act GREAT, 2nd act WTF?
Sam: The first professional play I saw was a version of The Great Gadsby when I was 17. Really did a number on me, so much so I nonstop talked about it, in an incredibly pretentious voice, for a solid three months.
What do you hope an audience member takes away from seeing the show?
Joy! Laughter! A reprieve from despair! It has been an increasingly pessimistic few years and finding the energy and drive to keep going is hard. It's brutal. It’s been on our Sluggie minds quite a lot. Plus we hope these songs are stuck in your head and haunt you FOREVER
Joy! Laughter! A reprieve from despair! It has been an increasingly pessimistic few years and finding the energy and drive to keep going is hard. It's brutal. It’s been on our Sluggie minds quite a lot. Plus we hope these songs are stuck in your head and haunt you FOREVER
Where and when can people see your show?
21:15 - Red Lecture Theatre, Summerhall. It’s gonna have everything, plush seating, built in desk shelving at every seat to rest your beer, and a plethora of animal ghosts to follow you home and meet you in your dreams.
21:15 - Red Lecture Theatre, Summerhall. It’s gonna have everything, plush seating, built in desk shelving at every seat to rest your beer, and a plethora of animal ghosts to follow you home and meet you in your dreams.
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