Feature: Edinburgh Fringe - Festival - A Big Day for the Goldbergs

Published: 19 August, 2010
by GERALD ISAAMAN

THERE was a two-week gap in the season at Hampstead’s New End Theatre. Even artistic director Brian Daniels, responsible for some 200 productions there over 13 years, didn’t know how to fill it.

So he went home to nearby Frognal and wrote a play in two days, giving it the title A Big Day For The Goldbergs, and dedicating it to Emma Gordon an up-and-coming actress he admired and wanted to promote.

Originally a monologue, all about a young Jewish girl who wants to do her own thing and join a circus, his idea was to make it a show-stopper for Emma, but it turned into a two-hander with actress Elisa Boyd also coming on board.

Big Day became a big hit at New End last year, one national newspaper describing it as a “must see” and Big Day, after selling out at New End, went on to success at two festival productions staged in May and June this year in Leeds, the city where Brian grew up.

Now it is at the Edinburgh Festival until the end of August. “And it is doing very well there too, and has already enjoyed one four-star review,” says Brian. “People really love it.

“It’s a play that comes out of my own Jewish background growing up in the provinces, a light-hearted look at modern family life, as seen through the eyes of three generations of the Goldberg family.

“And it took me only two days to write when I decided that if we didn’t have anything to sell at New End I’d better fill the gap and write my own play.”

Edinburgh is a place 57-year-old Brian knows well, having been there for the August festival 16 years in a row.

“And it is as hectic as ever up there,” he points out. “The recession doesn’t seem to have hit the fringe. That’s probably because it’s much less expensive than going to the West End for musicals and major plays with star casts. And people want to have fun to get away from the bad news.” 

• A Big Day For The Goldbergs is a the Edinburgh Festival Fringe until August 30, www.edfringe.com