I've totalled my fringe count this year at 52 shows. That's one show for every week of the year!
I decided to finish my fringe off by seeing Irish storyteller Clare Murphy. I first discovered her when I was listening to an interview with her on The Blindboy Podcast, which is a personal favourite of mine. She had such charisma on the podcast that I could not wait to see what she would be like onstage!
Murphy takes to the stage with great gusto, racing around with her arms in the air to the sound of Bonnie Tyler's "I Need A Hero".
She welcomes us all and explains who she is and what she's about. She removes her shoes and tells us three tales from the many she has discovered on her recent journey of story collection.
These tales were discarded in time for the typical reason of showing woman in a positive and strong light.
She regails us with tales of warrior women of royalty who train the best and battle the mighty Cú Chullain to a draw, we hear tales of a queen outwitting her husband with the wisdom of the old poets, and we hear of a little naughtiness like a goddess spanking a god.
Murphy has a way of telling the story to the audience like she is individually telling each and every one of us a secret. We forget for the hour that we are in a room with a bare stage. Instead, her words paint a picture in our mind's eye. I feel I speak for everyone in the room when I say I was completely entranced.
It was a wonderful way to finish off my fringe, and I'm only too delighted to end my fringe by awarding a Fantastic Fringe Award, coming full circle by awarding it to "Clare Murphy: The Spanking Goddess and Other Discarded Tales".
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Murphy is going on an Irish tour this autumn. If you're in Ireland, you should take some time to check out the show when it comes near you. If you're not in Ireland, you should take a trip there this autumn to experience what you missed out on at the fringe!
It has been a pleasure writing reviews for you all this year, I hope your fringe was just as fantastic as mine! Can't wait to come back next year and do it all again!
Love,
Tony x