If you reviewed your own show, how would you describe it?
Molly-Rose Treves: Five stars.
Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson: Yeah, Five stars I reckon.
Molly-Rose Treves: That’s the only way we can describe what we do.
Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson: Five stars!
Tell me a little more about your show and what audiences can expect?
Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson: It’s a long-form comedy improv show where we land a comedy guest star in the dream of an audience member. Catch is… the guest star hasn’t heard what the dream is so they’re totally clueless.
Molly-Rose Treves: It’s very funny.
Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson: Almost too funny.
Molly-Rose Treves: We have had that issue in the past. Had to call a highly skilled medical team.
Looking at this production, how would you say it links to previous work personally and thematically?
Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson: As a theatre company, we’ve always been obsessed with making the normal or boring seem weird and wonderful. We’ve done 4 proper stage productions now – Sniff, The Nag’s Head, The CO-OP and Gawain & the Green Knight – all of which incorporate this idea. But The Dream Machine really does hold the foundation of everything that we love about live performance. In one improvised show, you get a real insight into our crazy, twisted, beautiful brains.
What would you like audiences to take away from seeing this production at the Fringe?
Molly-Rose Treves: God I mean we really just hope people have a laugh, we’ve kept the ticket prices low because we really just want to encourage the old way of the Fringe where people could have pints and watch six shows in a day. Those were the glory years of the Fringe for us.
Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson: Also, I think in some ways I think it’s therapeutic, having your dreams played out for you, so maybe we’ll heal some people too.
Do you tend to take inspiration from events happening in the world around you in terms of your work? Do you think artists have a responsibility to respond to what’s happening?
Molly-Rose Treves: For sure, we came together as a company just after Covid which played a massive part in us wanting to seek the joy in things…
Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson: I guess our response to what’s happening has always been to just try and connect with people and have a giggle.
What do you do to relax in August?
Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson: Snax Cafe, swim in the sea and Brass Monkey.
Molly-Rose Treves: Pop to the Book Festival, that’s my holy grail at the Fringe, sit in one of those comfy chairs and have a nap.
How do you feel about the current arts landscape in your country and your part in it? Does it excite you and inspire you to keep pushing the boat out?
Molly-Rose Treves: I’d say it’s sort of totally and utterly fucked to be honest, but I mean, we will still make work, it’s just mental how few opportunities there are for improv in the UK, we treat it like some kind of embarrassing art-form when the practice so clearly creates some of the best performers in the world.
Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson: Artists are really not given much, if not any, support to do their profession. So every act you do feels like some mini act of rebellion.
Have you got your eye on any other shows that are part of the programme?
Molly-Rose Treves: Can’t wait for Lorna Rose Treen’s WIP, Jonathan Oldfield, Elf Lyons and Lara Ricote.
Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson: Yes! And Crybabies are back. Josh Glanc and Ify Nwadiwe will also be great.
What’s next for you and how are you feeling about the future in general?
Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson: We’re launching a new online sketch series – CO-WERK – which we’re super excited about. It basically takes all of the crazy energy, vibe and chemistry of our improv show and brings it to the screen! We’ll also be doing more workshops next year in our specific form of long-form improv and hopefully get a juicy sexy tour in there too.
How can Edinburgh audiences keep up with you beyond the festival?
Molly-Rose Treves: Find us on instagram! @makeitbeautifultheatrecompany – then @mollyrosetreves and @gabefg individually!
The Dream Machine, Pleasance, 22-29 Aug, 12pm