EN: What brings you to House of Oz? You don’t look very Australian. You sound Aussie, though. Which is curious.
SKYWALKER: I flew in from Melbourne. With my creator, the Australian artist Lisa Roet. And I’m not a monkey, I’m an ape. Like you!
EN: Sorry. You’re 20 metres wide; did you have to buy an extra seat on the plane?
SKYWALKER: Er no, I’m inflatable. I pack down into a bag.
EN: That’s pretty sustainable, given your scale. Is that your “climate change art” angle? Everybody’s got one this year.
SKYWALKER: I’m the real deal, mate. My Skywalker gibbon sub-species was only discovered in 2017 in Southwest China. If humans hadn’t chopped down our enormous rainforest, you’d never have found us. We’re pretty cheesed off about that. There are only 150 Skywalker gibbons. Partly because gibbons are the only other primate that mates for life. I mean, we do cheat a bit… but mainly to get the numbers up. Did you know that 60% of primate species are endangered? Including you lot. If you’re not careful.
EN: I hadn’t realised you were so close to extinction. Welcome to the Edinburgh Fringe, where everyone feels endangered; you’re going to feel right at home here. Reuben Kaye calls it “The Hunger Games for the Performing Arts”. Why are you called Skywalker?
SKYWALKER: We leap around the rainforest canopy (also, the international boffin crew who found us are massive Star Wars nerds). The Chinese translation of my name means “touching heaven”. That’s how I got permission from King’s Hall to be here during August.
EN: [covers ears] ooowwww, is that an ambulance??
SKYWALKER : it’s just my love call. Sorry if I freaked you out. I’m only allowed to do it between shows. Still trying to find a date, or preferably an LTR. No luck, but at least I can see across the rooftops and into the top deck of the bus from here.
EN: you looked a bit deflated earlier this morning, are you okay??
SKYWALKER: Thanks for asking, I’m fine. I have a wind problem. As in meteorological wind. So, I go to sleep at night. The crew wakes me up at 10 o’clock [by inflating me) and I practice my shout-out: in Edinburgh, that’s what’s known as a free outdoor performance. Everyone gets their phone out. I’m trending on TikTok. I’m what the TV festival crowd call “an appointment to view”.
EN: Talking of which, have you seen many shows?
SKYWALKER: I tend to block sightlines, so I prefer to hang out here. I can tell you what’s on at House of Oz though? I’m very fond of that foyer installation Facets of Our Resistance and of our Resilience by Charlotte Allingham and I’ve been watching the team sticking stars on the show posters, so they must be alright.
EN: Go on then.
SKYWALKER: So, right after I wake up, the giant bugs crawl in for a beautiful kids’ show called Beetle, staged on and around a huge tree. That’s my favourite, cos it’s about habitat loss. Then there’s The Listies Make Some Noise but they’re only allowed to stay until August 20 because they’re just too funny.
EN: What about the bigger kids?
SKYWALKER: At 14:30pm there’s a theatre show called Maureen. People come out laughing and crying. I hear that’s brilliant. There’s Common Dissonance at 16:30pm, a gritty First Nations circus piece by Na Djinang Circus and Michaela Burger’s show A Migrant’s Son at 18:00. I wish Michaela would come sing to me, I reckon she could match my upper register.
Then at 20:00 Anna Piper Scott: Such an Inspiration makes the walls shake with laughter. She’s the 5* standup with the hilarious placards (“Meet Australia’s deadliest creature: a trans woman with nothing to lose!”). Then Leather Lungs: Higher Love , an unbelievable vocal talent and another one I wouldn’t mind duetting with. Most of these shows could never have come to Edinburgh without House of Oz’s helping hand, it’s tough for the Aussies.
We’ve got ripper late shows Friday with Dolly Diamond and Tash York, then Otto and Astrid’s Haus Party on Saturdays at 11pm – those fabulous creatures were all part of last year’s menagerie and have been showing me the ropes. All day long there’s a very special intimate secret thing for two participants called Two Strangers Walk Into A Bar…
EN: Now you’re making me thirsty.
SKYWALKER: [dodgy Scottish accent] Fill yer boots! We’ve got all the best Aussie brands on the bars, outback and indoors. The best food on the Fringe in the garden apparently, tho all I ever see is bloody bananas.
EN: Bananas??
SKYWALKER: The Scotsman set its readers a challenge to grab a selfie under my feet while eating a banana… NOICE! If you must do it, can you at least hashtag #skywalker or #followthegibbon so I can see. But the smell of bananas is making me gag, to be honest.
EN: Sure it’s not Covid?
SKYWALKER: Nope, I had that on my way over. Actually, come to think of it, I may have been Patient Zero – sorry, Edinburgh!
Founded by arts philanthropist Georgie Black, House of Oz – winner of Entertainment Now’s Best Venue award in 2022 – is Australian culture’s premiere outpost at the Fringe and occupies the King’s Hall in Newington for the duration, showcasing Australian creativity and talent in an immersive space with a beautiful secret garden, close to The Meadows and Summerhall.
Open from 10am daily (later Thursday & Sunday) til late, til 27 August.
Address: King’s Hall, 41 South Clerk Street, Newington, Edinburgh, EH8 9N Google Maps
