Latest news with #Bar50
Daily Record
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Edinburgh Fringe comedian fulfils dream after devastating cancer diagnosis
Karen Bucknall has battled cancer, and has been left with recurring health issues. A performer at the Edinburgh Fringe has opened up about her experience of visiting Scotland, and travelling without letting her health problems limit her opportunities. Karen Bucknall, from Birmingham, said her "dream came true" after performing two comedy shows at a bar in the capital. The 55-year-old admitted she "didn't know what the future holds" after her health deteriorated following a cancer diagnosis. However, she decided to take a leap and travel north of the border to perform at the famous festival. Karen told our sister title Edinburgh Live: "I had the time of my life in Edinburgh, it really was a dream come true - with my cancer journey, you never know what will happen so I just went for it. "I always wanted to do the festival, whether it was acting, poetry, stand-up or comedy. I recently lost my dad and he supported me and loved a good comedian. "I just went for it and did it now. I got two slots at Bar50 and I searched everywhere for a cheap hotel in Edinburgh. The Scottish people looked after me so well." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. In 2019, she was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer, and underwent radiotherapy and surgery. The cancer then spread, requiring six months of chemotherapy, before she received the all clear in July 2020. However, she has suffered repeated bowel and bladder issues in the years since, as well as a bad cough and sore throat. Karen explained that she forgets what she is going through when she performs on stage. Going to the festival was a last-minute decision, but she already wants to come back next year. She added: "No word of a lie, going up to Edinburgh is the furthest I have been in about 12 years. Going up to Scotland in itself was an achievement. "When I am on stage, I feel happy and I forget my journey. When the audience laugh at your misfortune, they get it. "The people of Edinburgh were so lovely. I got lost several times and the amount of people that helped me were so friendly. "Everyone was so kind and supportive. I hope to do the Fringe again next year all being well."
Edinburgh Live
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Fringe performer defies odds to 'follow dream' despite 'cancer journey'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Edinburgh Fringe performer has told of her experience visiting the capital despite suffering from a number of health conditions. Karen Bucknall, 55, from Birmingham said her "dream came true" after she performed two comedy shows in the capital as part of the famous festival. The stand-up comedian admitted she "didn't know what her future holds" and decided to take the leap and travel north for the Fringe. In 2019, Karen was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer before undergoing radiotherapy and surgery. The cancer then spread and she was forced to face six months of chemotherapy before being given the all clear in July 2020. However since then, Karen has consistent problems with her bowels and bladder while continuing to suffer from a bad cough and sore throat. She said visiting Scotland was such an achievement and she didn't want to let her health limit her opportunities. Speaking to Edinburgh Live, she said: "I had the time of my life in Edinburgh, it really was a dream come true - with my cancer journey, you never know what will happen so I just went for it. "I always wanted to do the festival, whether it was acting, poetry, stand-up or comedy. I recently lost my dad and he supported me and loved a good comedian. "I just went for it and did it now. I got two slots at Bar50 and I searched everywhere for a cheap hotel in Edinburgh. The Scottish people looked after me so well." Karen added when she is on stage she forgets what she is going through. The festival was a last minute decision but she hopes to return next year. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. She said: "No word of a lie, going up to Edinburgh is the furthest I have been in about 12 years. Going up to Scotland in itself was an achievement. "When I am on stage, I feel happy and I forget my journey. When the audience laugh at your misfortune, they get it. "The people of Edinburgh were so lovely. I got lost several times and the amount of people that helped me were so friendly. "Everyone was so kind and supportive. I hope to do the Fringe again next year all being well."
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Free Fringe festival show pulled after controversial 'Diddy Party' show
Two comedians have had their controversial show pulled by their venue and promoters after a spate of complaints, but they say the show is misunderstood. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Mark O'Keefe and Richy Sheehy had been performing the Diddy Party show as part of the Free Fringe before a spate of complaints over the show's poster. It depicted Sean Combs, better known as P Diddy, shirtless and with a baby oil necklace - a reference to the disgraced rapper's recent trial for people trafficking. The rapper was convicted on two counts of transportation for prostitution of his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, and another woman, known as "Jane" during the trial. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The show had been held at Bar 50 as part of the Free Fringe programme of events, however it was pulled on Saturday morning after complaints, according to Sheehy. He said: 'At 8am on Saturday morning we woke up to the news that the show had been taken offline, and that we needed to have a meeting with the venue and Fringe promoters to address complaints that had been made about the show. The show was hosted at Bar 50 at AO Hostels on the Cowgate | Google Maps 'We had been contacted by a WhatsApp message and email that morning, asking us to come for said meeting to address complaints made. We met on Saturday morning about this. 'After the meeting we submitted the new show, we were informed that we were not allowed to have anything that could be deemed controversial in the name / blurb / image. The new show 'Bad Boys Comedy Party' did not go on sale until 4.30pm on Sunday.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, Sheehy said that the show has been misunderstood, with the perpetrators being the butt of the joke. He said: 'I would ask people to be not judge something unless you actually know it's content, try coming to the show before making assumptions, the show was an attack on the perpetrators of heinous acts, and it served to give a space and environment for comedians who do material on these issues, to find the engaged crowd that they deserve seeing their material. 'I would ask people to try to create, instead of focusing on destroying that which they do not understand.' The Fringe Society said that the show had not been cancelled, but had been renamed. Bar 50 has been approached for comment.
