On and Off Campus Blog: Finding a crew to call my own
By: Hailey Zhao ’28
It’s difficult to act in a play. But even harder to do in front of complete strangers in a foreign country.
Over the summer, my friends and I from BB&N flew all the way to Scotland to participate in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. For months, we had rehearsed the comedic and adventurous play we all adored, Treasure Island. I played the role of Tom Morgan, a very silly and brain-damaged pirate, and also performed flute for many of the sea shanties. I had previously acted in multiple plays at BB&N with most of the actors on this trip, but there were quite a few whom I hadn’t really interacted with or gotten to know well yet. Little did I know, they all would become some of my closest friends who I say hi to in the halls and eat lunch with to this day.
We lived in the dorms of the University of Edinburgh, a living situation which especially created a bond between my peers and me. Together, we would wake up very early in the morning to eat breakfast at the Pollock Dining Halls and arrive back exhausted quite late in the evening, returning from a busy day of flyering, rehearsals, or performing at Surgeon’s Hall.
Because some of the main qualities of the Fringe Festival were creativity and interaction, we had to figure out how to advertise for our show and get audience members to come see the show. I would say that we spent almost one-third of our time flyering on the Royal Mile, promoting our show by handing out flyers and acting or posing in public in our costumes out on the streets of Edinburgh. We did a pretty successful job, since on certain show days there would be more audience members than we had anticipated. By rehearsing and performing almost every day with a total of six shows, I bonded with the rest of the cast and got to know each and every one of them better. Every actor had their own unique qualities, and the diverseness of what each person brought to the table and our performances really complemented our team as a whole.
We also visited many Edinburgh landmarks, such as Holyrood Palace, Princes Street, Scott Monument, Edinburgh Castle, the National Museum of Scotland, and attended many other shows that caught our interest. One highlight was a theatre workshop at the Royal Lyceum, where we participated in numerous acting activities. Every place we visited created so many unforgettable memories and experiences and brought the entire cast closer together, creating excitement and opportunity for teamwork and collaboration.
Not only did I learn how to become independent in traveling without my parents, but I also learned how to appreciate the importance of friends helping and supporting each other along the way. Our performances in Edinburgh couldn’t have been such a success without the help from all the students and teachers, and this entire trip felt so smooth and enjoyable with everyone pulling their weight and caring for each other the entire time. This trip will always have a special place in my heart, and I can’t wait to see what future theatrical experiences bring.
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