"Horrorshow" by Chronic Insanity.

1 Fisher Gate Point, Nottingham.

First off, let me say that I hadn't been aware of this venue before, but what a brilliant bijou little place this is. It has a comfy seating area looking out onto the traffic flow, a small bar selling a selection of mouth watering drinks and snacks, and up the stairs there's a performance space that has seen several bands play and for Friday night is home to Chronic Insanity's "Horrorshow"

This is the show that is due to head up to Edinburgh for The Fringe as from 25 August until 31 August at the Summerhall, Anatomy Lecture Theatre (Venue 26).

Written by Doug Deans, what I really liked about this piece, which is just a little over an hour long, is that the story starts at the same place as the story also ends, bringing a complete circle. 

Dan's got a rucksack full of weed that he has stolen from his mother's current boyfriend, and he has a plan that'll definitely work, and also get him out of the family home. There's also something that he has been hiding from his best friend, Ollie. Living on the Isle of Wight, neither have been to the iconic festival that is held on the island and Dan, along with his rucksack, has plans to get them into the festival, and make a bit of money as well. Dan is played by Doug Deans and plays guitars and on vocals.

Ollie's got his A-level reading list and serious reservations, aiming for University and a job in London. They've been mates their whole lives, but they're also becoming strangers, as their lifestyles head off in different directions. Joe Matty, who by the way looks like a young Ralf Little, plays Ollie and also is on keyboards and vocals.

Joe Strickland provides the voices of every other character in the story and is on drums.

Set against the 00s music festival that swallows their town every summer, "Horrorshow" tears into class, nostalgia and masculinity. The musical backing is all by Joe, Joseph and Doug, playing original songs by Anya Pearson of Dream Nails. The songs written for this piece of theatre are incredibly catchy with echoes of The Housemartins, Brit Pop bands and even Chas'n' Dave in a little ditty which revolves around the quantity of beverages at the Festival Bar.

I have my fingers crossed that, maybe sometime in the future, these songs performed in the show will turn up on some streaming site, because they are just too good not to have a lasting record of.

Musical Direction, music and lyrics are by Anya Pearson.

This is such a clever show because it's like listening to a visual audio podcast play, and what I mean by that is that, if you closed your eyes (but why would you) the story is so well delivered that you can picture everything that happens in your mind. This trio provide all the narrative to allow you see, hear and even smell the journey that Dan and Ollie go on.

Directed by Joe Strickland, this is the perfect vehicle for The Fringe, and it's possibly one of the best pre Fringe shows that I have seen. Some short theatre pieces I've seen has left me wanting more; this one didn't because it delivers a story that has a start, middle and end, completing the story that the show has been written to deliver. It's the perfect length with a wonderful storyline that bubbles along at just the right pace. The characters are completely believable, as is the storyline, and with the soundtrack being completely original, this gives yet another big bonus in the show.

There's one more chance to catch this show which is tomorrow, 22 August at Bolton Gate Arts, Stoke at 6.30.

I guarantee that this show is going to be a big success at the Edinburgh Fringe.