Respondent or information from other source: Cindy Oswin
Aims, policies, purpose/impetus for project:
A. On the Fringe is a personal history, by senior theatre practitioner Cindy Oswin of British Experimental Theatre from the sixties to the eighties. The project records the work and the testimonials of artists (many of whom she has worked with) in video interviews to be housed permanently in the British Library. CO also gives a lecture performance using extracts from the material with an exhibition of artefacts curated by Neil Hornick.
B. On the Edinburgh Fringe - a series of video interviews by Cindy Oswin - in collaboration with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe - with artists, producers and audience members who have been attending the Fringe Festival for many years. A lecture performance is planned for the future.
Dates:
On the Fringe began in May 2004 and is a continuing project.
On the Edinburgh Fringe began in August 2008 and is also a continuing project.
Key individuals and roles involved:
Cindy Oswin co-ordinator and interviewer, lecturer/performer
Neil Hornick - curator of the exhibition and performer in the lecture/performance
Occasional intern assistance for research and camera.
Paid or voluntary, training in oral history:
CO and NH are paid for performances.
The occasional intern is voluntary and paid expenses
Project funded by:
In the first two years the project was funded by Artsadmin and ACE.
The only monies the project now receives is some payment from the British Library for each completed interview.
Management of project: Project co-ordinated by Cindy Oswin
Format of interviews: Mini DVs
How interviewees are selected and located:
Most of the On the Fringe interviewees are known to Cindy Oswin as former colleagues.
On the Edinburgh Fringe Interviewees are located through research with assistance from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Interview running time:
Each interview is 40 mins to 2 hours long
Copyright in interviews. Assignment rights?: Yes
Location of interview copies. Accessibility to public/format:
The British Library Sound Archive. Will be accessible to the public at a future date.
Collection contact details/website:
Interview transcripts/lists of topics or other content indexes:
Not at the moment - will be in the future
Cataloguing:
Not at the moment - will be in the future
Future plans for project/interviews?:
The interviews will continue for both projects but further funding is needed:
Materials used for publications, exhibitions, conferences, radio/TV programmes or performances etc or future plans for this?:
On the Fringe lecture performance (illustrated with extracts from the interviews) has been given at The British Library, Roehampton University, Toynbee Studios, Central St Martins and Brighton University and will continue to be performed in the future.
A video of the lecture/performance at the British Library is available.
Project website: Website is being designed
List on a joint (possibly STR) website:
Join listserv/emailing list/forum: Yes
Further information:
List of interviewees provided: Yes
| Date | Name | Place | Length | Description |
| June 4 2008 | Mitch Mitchelson | Toynbee Studios | 40 mins | Theatre performer and director |
| April 11 2008 | Alfie Pritchard | Toynbee Studios | 40 mins | Former director Oval House Theatre |
| September 9 2008 | Anna Birch | Toynbee Studios | 80 mins | Theatre Director |
| September 26 2008 | George Khan and Chahine Yavroyan | Toynbee studios | 40 mins | Performers and Members of the People Show |
| March 30 2008 | Phantom Captain re-union party | Jude Allen's house in London | 80 mins | Among those present - Neil Hornick, Jude Allen, Ian Johnson, Jenny Topper, Chahine Yavroyan |
Cindy Oswin - On the Edinburgh Fringe 2008
| Date | Name | Place | Length | Description |
| August 9 2008 | Pip Utton | Baby Belly, Cowgate, Edinburgh | 40mins | Solo theatre performer and writer |
| August 13 2008 | William Burdett Coutts | Assembly Rooms Edinburgh | 25mins | Director Assembly Rooms |
| August 18 2008 | Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden | Attic Bar at the Guilded Balloon | 40 mins | Comedians |
| August 10 2008 | Mark Haggard | 23 Grove St, Edinburgh (my flat) | 40 mins | Edinburgh Resident and Fringe audience member |
| August 14 2008 | Ian Ritchie | 23 Grove St, Edinburgh | 40 mins | Edinburgh resident and Fringe audience member |
| August 8 2008 | Jeremy James Taylor | Brookes bar at Pleasance Dome Edinburgh | 40mins | Director National Youth Music Theatre |
| August 7 2008 | Robert Pickles | 23 Grove St | 40 mins | Former Student performer now Edinburgh resident |
| August 11 2008 | Peter Jones and the Rennaissance Band | 23 Queen's Crescent Edinburgh | 40 mins | Early music band playing in the festival since the seventies |
| August 14 2008 | Lyn Ruth Miller | Argyll Bar, Argyll St, Edinburgh | 40 mins | Solo performer aged 78 and former audience member |
| August 18 2008 | Simon Fanshawe | Hotel Lounge | 40 mins | Festival Fringe Board member and broadcaster. |
Oral History Survey Pages Main Page Introductory Report Index of Projects Appendices |
13th May 2009 |