[AD – PR invite*]
★★★
Carys Jeffrey Evans would love to represent the UK at Eurovision, but has also wanted to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe for years. This August the performer is making her first professional performance in over a decade and fusing these two goals together in a persuasive pitch to audiences, explaining why she should be the next Eurovision entry. When I heard about this show, as a Eurovision fan myself, I knew I had to be in the audience to hear why Jeffrey Evans wants to take part in this international competition.
Show background
Carys Should be the UK’s Next Eurovision Entry is well-researched, and actually focuses on the recent history of the contest. Jeffrey Evans explains that she only discovered the competition earlier in her twenties, having moved back to the UK from the USA. Complete with some songs which are sung live and a slide deck, Jeffrey Evans takes us through her own performance and life experience that would make her a solid choice, detailed contest trivia and a recipe for success for a strong Eurovision entry. Her day job is in Marketing and you can tell, as this presentation has SMART targets and a new acronym which highlights what makes a good entry.
Thoughts on the presentation
It goes without saying that this is an enjoyable show, but the slide deck format and fusion of the songs makes the material stop-start in places. The persuasive format also risks becoming repetitive, as emotionally it is all on a similar level and lacks depth and range. That being said, the performer wears her heart on her sleeve and this is a really personal and authentic pitch.
A love letter to Eurovision
Despite my thoughts on the continuity of the piece, from one Eurovision superfan to another, Jeffrey Evans really deserves to catch the attention of the BBC. The performer’s sheer joy for the contest reminded me why so many of us adore this chaotic competition that brings people together from all over the world. You can catch Carys Should be the UK’s Next Eurovision Entry at Theatre 3 at theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall (venue 53) until 22nd August (not 16th). Performances start daily at 15:05, with tickets available via the festival’s website.
*My ticket for Carys Should be the UK’s Next Eurovision Entry was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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