We chat to Ed Gamester about all things Edinburgh Fringe as he prepares to perform in Mythos: Ragnarok, a show he also co-wrote.
Hey Ed – here’s your chance to give an elevator pitch, can you give us a brief synopsis?
Mythos: Ragnarok is the battle of the Gods, live. It takes you from the dawn of creation to the ultimate destruction of the world by weaving Nordic storytelling together with some of the most epic and thrilling fight scenes ever seen in theatre.
What inspired the show?
Aside from a lifelong love of the Nordic myths, my primary inspiration for the show was to show the world what professional wrestlers do, as performance artists. As a wrestler myself, I’ve always wished people could get past the bravado, bizarre characters and silly storylines and appreciate what we actually do in a different context. Thus, I created a different context.
How important is the Fringe for new work? And how does it feel to be at the Fringe this year?
The Fringe provides a massive platform to get new work seen, reviewed and picked up by more people than would otherwise see it in year. It’s also a chance to develop your work on a daily basis. The opportunity to run your show dozens of times to different audiences within a matter of weeks is, in my opinion, one of the most valuable things for developing anything new and interesting. Of course, whether or not the Fringe is sustainable as a platform for new and emerging artists will depend on whether the costs keep rising: our show sold out last year, for example, and still didn’t come close to breaking even.
What are the main themes within the production, and what can audiences expect?
If you’re interested in mythology, stage combat, pro wrestling, martial arts, new approaches to theatre – or if just enjoy seeing funny, joyful shows made by people who absolutely love what they do, then I expect you’ll love Mythos. Even if you don’t, you’ll have seen something utterly unique.
Finally, with so many shows at the Edinburgh Fringe why should people book a ticket to this show?
Quite simply, there is no other show like this in the world. Neither wrestling nor theatre have ever been done like this before: this is the only place you can see it happen. Aside from that, it’s really good! We’ve had everyone through the door from diehard wrestling fans and scholars of Norse literature, to people who have never heard of either – and they’ve all come away happy! If you’re not sure it’s for you, just read the 110 public reviews we got at Fringe last year – they might convince you otherwise!
ABOUT THE SHOW
Mythos: Ragnarok is on at Assembly Roxy from the 2nd – 27th August. Tickets and info here.
Find all our Ed Fringe 2023 content here!
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