I am so excited to be taking my debut play, In the Land of Eagles, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year. The show will run at the Pleasance Courtyard, 30th July-25th August. Raising funds for a show is always an uphill battle, and sadly there are only so many funds/loans you can apply for when it comes to the Fringe. With very generous support from donors and family we are getting closer but still have a way to go. With the festival only one month away, I am turning to friends who might be able to help us get there. For anyone interested, please read on for some information on our show!

Thank you, Alex x

On the Play:

My grandfather told me once, that he never felt at home in England. As a teenager, I never took a moment to consider what he meant by that. He was a quiet, somewhat stubborn man. He was also Albanian and a survivor of one of the most oppressive communist regimes in history. After the regime claimed the lives of his uncle and father, along with many of his peers, he escaped Albania on foot. Years later he made it to New York City, a refugee. He spoke no English and had only twenty dollars to his name. I saw my grandfather weekly growing up. My greatest regret is that I discovered all of this, after his death.

In the Land of Eagles is a solo-show written during my travels through my grandfather's homeland. I didn’t want to write a play about him, but rather about us. The play follows a journey made by eighteen year old Her and seventy eight year old Grandpa. An epic story, filled with humour and poetry (and lots of adventure!) I wrote this play not just for him, but for anyone who has ever lost someone too soon.

Our award winning/nominated team (apart from me!):

Producer - Natalie Allison's work has been featured at the Barbican, The Royal Opera House, V&A, Arts Theatre West End, Hackney Empire. She is a Stage One award recipient.

Director - Martha Geelan's recent credits include The Shark is Broken (UK Tour Director), Babies (What’s on Stage nomination for Best New Musical), Jane at The Other Palace. She was Associate to Sir Trevor Nunn on the Olivier Award winning revival of Fiddler on the Roof.

Sound Design - Nicola T Chang's works include the three Olivier-nominated plays: For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy, The Swell and A Playlist for the Revolution. She was a co-winner of the Evening Standard Future Theatre Fund and is a What'sOnStage nominee.

Lighting Design - Rachel Sampley's work includes Barriers at The National Theatre, Perfect Show for Rachel at the Barbican, Opal Fruits at the Bristol Old Vic. She is Off-West End nominated.

Writer/Performer - Alex Reynolds has performed in productions at The Almeida, Theatre503, Southwark Playhouse, Pleasance London and rehearsed readings at National Theatre Studio and Royal Court. This is her debut play.

The show listing - https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/land-eagles

Thank you so much for reading.