This week we talk to FELIX Bang in light of their upcoming show at the Brighton Fringe, this Friday the 28th & Monday the 31st.
After an absolute bonkers & bizzare year, Brighton Fringe is back from 28 May – 27 June 2021! Brighton Fringe is, in their own words, the ‘largest open-access arts festival in England’. It’s a staple to the community of Brighton that showcases an enormous range of performers and artists. One group that are performing are ‘The Bobolyne Poets,’ who describe themselves as “a collective of poets, musicians” who “fundraise for refugee related charities”. This collective have performed all over Brighton to roaring success. This week FELIX Bang answers our questions!
Tell us about your group! How did the Bobolyne Poets band together?
Howdy! I suppose we’re a bunch of spoken word performers but we also dabble in music, comedy, occasionally a harp. The group collided together in 2017 as a mish-mash of my mates, a busker and a few blokes I met down the pub. Over the years, it’s become more of a fellowship with seven core members. Back then (and still) I wanted to put on the poetry nights that were full of the poetry that excited me; funny, chaotic, political and energetic. So far, we’ve fit the bill pretty tidy. Our big nights have always raised funds for people suffering in the ongoing Refugee Crisis, another thing important to us Boboheads.
What inspired you to create ‘Sh!t Show’ for the Fringe?
Last year inspired the title and the rest is just us showing off.
What drew you to punk poetry?
Storytelling is one of the world’s oldest traditions. Hairy humans have been gathering round fires telling innuendos to other hairy humans since the dawn of time. There’s something powerful in that. As for the ‘punk’ part, we’re all a wee foul-mouthed and like poking fun at the Tories. I think we may have to use ‘punk’ in its loosest terminology.
We’ve heard the show features Danny Dyer talking about ruffs, is he one of your personal icons?
Absolutely. He’s a don, he’s a diamond geezer and I approve of him calling David Cameron a “f***ing t**t with his trotters up” on live telly.
What do you like the most about performing live?
Trying to rustle out a laugh of out of the most mundane of things. Sometimes you miss by a mile but others you can make people fall apart over the word “Debbie”.
What is the most important aspect of creating a live show?
A heavy dose of last minute panic. A cast that you actually enjoy hanging out with, plus having the guts to tell each other when something doesn’t work.
What have you learnt over the past year that you’re bringing into your new work?
Probably how to write music. Ish. I mainly hum a tune to talented musical mates who figure it out on their instruments in two ticks. At our last show Rome Wasn’t A Quilted Duvet, I debuted my first comedy song Antithesister and for this upcoming show I’ve written a couple more, one of which is dedicated to my boy Danny Dyer.
What are you most excited about for the future?
I’m planning on putting on a show and doing some grassroots work with the community in Folkestone, my old stomping ground where I grew up. I’m hoping to secure some funding to hire a translator and do some poetry workshops with the Refugee community.
Thank you so much FELIX! Tickets HERE for the show this Friday 28th or Monday 31st!
Check out their Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or try and catch them live! We are so excited to have the Fringe back up and running again. Our studios are now OPEN and we are welcoming back Brighton Creatives through our doors. Drop us a message at info@copperdollarstudios.co.uk to come have a tour or if you’d like to hire the space for your project.
One of the reasons our director KT Simpson set up Copperdollar Studios was to support not-for-profit theatre companies. This is why we offer substantial discounts to not-for-profit theatre companies, students and charities. Email us to find out more!
