Myrtle Throgmorton,
Ancient Heckler

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2015

Game old trout and enthusiast for all things Scottish, Myrtle offered a lifetime of observations on many splendid things: love, comedy, the demise of the gusset, Rabbie Burns, decrepitude and pimping your Zimmer to list but a few. It was more sit-down than stand-up, made possible by the excellent pop-up seat on Myrtle’s shopper, such a boon when overwhelmed by the choice in the yoghurt aisle. Myrtle’s not inconsiderable years were balanced, or perhaps emphasised, by the youthful athleticism of contemporary dancer, Gordon Raeburn, who did extraordinary things with her Zimmer, and young pianist, Sam Williams, who premiered his own beautiful composition, Work in Progress.  At the end of each one of the 21 performances,  Myrtle was joined by a surprise guest for afternoon tea  – every one a delight.
 
And everybody had a hoot!

The shows were sold out almost every day, Greenside @ Infirmary St was a gem – if a tad on the hot side, but who doesn’t like a free sauna?  The guests were all fascinating and truly a surprise;

Captain Nick Bates
Rhys Bevan
Arthur Bostrom
Rory Bremner
Colin Brockie
Arnold Brown
Alex Cooper
Alan Cumming
Richard Edwards
Marilyn Imrie
Ian Macpherson
James Macpherson
Kjartan Poskitt
James Runcie
Lieven Schiere
David Stenhouse
Mervyn Stutter
Alan Taylor
Queenie Tea
Richard Neville Towle

- former captain of both the QE2 and QM2
- actor, the Archers [Toby Fairbrother]
- actor, 'Allo 'Allo [Crabtree]
- satirist and impressionist
- opera singer
- comedian
- comedian Midbrow
- actor [The Good Wife, Cabaret and much more]
- auctioneer and antiques expert
- director
- comedian
- actor [Taggart, Rebus]
- author [Murderous Maths, Henry the Tudor Dude, Borgon the Axe Boy etc.]
- author [Grantchester]
- Belgian comedian and physicist
- journalist and broadcaster
- comedian and broadcaster
- author and journalist
- living art work
- conductor [Really Terrible Orchestra]

All the critics stayed away {perhaps they couldn’t get a seat?}, apart from STV who described the show as “very, very funny” and the audience came in droves.  Myrtle popped in for a wee tootle with the Really Terrible Orchestra, they all shared a dressing room with Frankenstein’s monster {though for him it was an undressing room} and all in all, Myrtle and the team had a fantastic fringe.
 
We are so grateful for the amazing audiences, their support and invaluable word-of-mouth advertising.  And also, huge thanks to the wonderful daily guests, each a fabulous surprise for everyone.
 
Miss Throgmorton appeared by arrangement with Jennie Chalmers and was directed by David Jackson Young.