The Big Red Variety Show

(originally published by The Student)

     If there's one thing that last Tuesday's Big Red Variety Show can tell us, it's just how much talent can be called upon at the University of Edinburgh at a moment's notice. Organised like a kind of mini Comic Relief show, the Variety Show was the brainchild of Edinburgh Societies' Charity Appeal (ESCA) member Tabby Gould, who had a lot of entertainers to pick from.

     “I looked through the societies' guide for entertainment groups” she told me “the Fresh Air guys were doing the commentary at the Meadows Marathon, and I thought they were funny” and the rest, it seems, is history. The name of Comic Relief goes a long way towards getting support for an event, from both performers and audience members alike, and the hope of the event being filmed to have a clip featured on Friday night's show meant that societies were eager to get involved.

     Drumming Soc started off the night with a tight-knit set that woke us up with its energy and the enthusiasm of the players- a spontaneous dance here and there came out and set an appropriately tongue-in-cheek tone for the rest of the evening.

     It was these societies, who didn't take themselves entirely seriously, who made the night fun and professional. There's a fine line between Royal Variety show and School Variety show, and at times the Big Red Show teetered on the edge of it. But with acts like Juggling Soc, who effortlessly accepted the audience's attentive applause, and Modern Dance Soc, who went from hiphop trackies to Clark Kent glasses in one swift costume change, we stayed on the right Royal side of the line, with Fresh Air Radio's Adam and Colin making sure every pause in acts was filled with laughter.

     As well as raising money for Comic Relief, the Variety Show acted as a kind of showcase for the societies involved. With details of where each society meets and the odd bit of information from Adam and Colin, we were given a real advertisement for each society, and this is exactly what Tabby was intending. She wanted “a night in Edinburgh that all students can come to, something that brings all the societies together, and which is cheap.”, and this is exactly what the Big Red Show was. While raising money for charity, this was a real visual demonstration of exactly what our societies can and will do, given the right opportunity.

     A few hours before the show, Juggling Society were practising in Teviot's Debating Hall but, as they explained to me, “If we weren't here we'd be doing this at home”. As well as Drumming Soc and the Rev Ed Rock Gospel Choir, the Jugglers take part in numerous performances at events throughout the year, so their shows are slick and professional even on short notice. Specially-picked music meant that routines could be meticulously choreographed, using a range of props and techniques so they could “hopefully show people something they haven't seen before”.

     As well as the VIP pass that is Comic Relief, ESCA has official status as a charitable body, and could use this to make its way around local businesses for raffle prizes. This meant that your School Variety show's box of Cadbury or free cream tea were replaced with signed Gavin and Stacey DVDs, tickets for the Cameo Cinema, and a bottle of Chanel perfume.

     After being completely absorbed by the jugglers and given a preview of the Female Voice Choir's spring concert, our hosts from Fresh Air sounded almost humble as they introduced the Improverts, who filled their headline slot with barrelling applause and laughter.

     The range of acts from across the University made this more than just a charity night. The elements of the School Variety show were cancelled out by the professionalism and skill of the amateur performers- something which the live Comic Relief show hasn't really incorporated before. “The live Comic Relief show never really involved Unis before”, Tabby muses, “but I'm hoping to make this a yearly event.” and having raised £430 for the charity, this seems set to happen.