Meet Fringe innovators Berk's Nest

Berk's Nest return to Edinburgh after an exceptional year. At the 2016 Fringe, a quarter of its 12 show roster attracted nods from the Comedy Award panel. Jayde Adams' debut was nominated for Best Newcomer, Kieran Hodgson for the main award, and Richard Gadd walked away with the prize.

The venture has come a long way since Phoebe Bourke and Katie Churchill founded it four years ago. "It is so weird, and it freaks me out," says Bourke, "that it is now a thing. I saw somebody on the street with a Berk's Nest tote bag – a stranger – and I was just, 'Oh my god' – I lost my mind!"

Churchill adds: "It was always quite lo-fi. And when various people would ask, 'Can we meet at your offices?' we'd say, 'Let's meet at the coffee shop.'"

It all started when Kieran Hodgson was looking for someone to produce his debut solo show Flood in 2013. Bourke and Churchill knew each other, but heard about this separately. However, given their near identical experience in Edinburgh – Bourke had produced the Leeds Tealights, Churchill the Cambridge Footlights – it became obvious to everyone they should work together.

Word of mouth soon spread and they took four shows in that first year. They decided to employ the ethos they'd picked up at uni, not realising this was quite rare when producing non-revue shows. Bourke explains: "We thought, let's apply that university producing style, where we're involved from the beginning, we rehearse and get the show out of them. It turns out no-one really does that, and it is very valuable to the acts."

Berk's Nest work with comedians from the initial spark of an idea to managing the queue at the subsequent hit show in Edinburgh. It includes support with editing, previews, tech, props and publicity. And, they direct too. Such is their rapport, Bourke and Churchill found themselves able to share roles fairly equally. Well, apart from some occasions giving feedback, when they would diverge into a classic good cop / bad cop routine. "I'll say, 'You're fine, it's going to be great," says Churchill, "and then Phoebe can come in and be... 'Fuck!'"

Bourke shouts out to finish the sentence: "You've got to work harder!"

As the operation expands, they are endeavouring to keep its homegrown character, alongside the obvious and natural need to specialise. Churchill says: "We're trying to maintain the weird collective vibe that we had, while logistically finding what is best for each show. It suddenly became much bigger, and we have to separate things a little. When Owen joined last year, we realised, 'We can now do three different things at the same time!'"

Joining the founders, Owen Donovan quickly became an integral part of the team and directed Richard Gadd's Monkey See Monkey Do. "There's a lot of spooky voodoo about what a producer does... a lot of the job is problem solving and making sure everything is going to be fine. When it is on such a large scale – with 12 shows last year, and 14 this year – we can't be at every show. We need the skill of people like Maria, our technical manager, and Frankie, who is in charge of our flyering." 

The experience of knowing each role so well has been invaluable in several ways.
 "You might get some problem," says Bourke, "and think, 'Well, we just need a technician.' But, having been technicians we know how important it is to be there everyday, to be calm..." Churchill continues the thought: "And, to have comic timing and know that a light change can affect a laugh. Having done all the different jobs it helps. Like, I know how shit it is when you're flyering in the rain. We make sure we're not dicks to the flyerers. I think if we had just become producers from the top down, without all that ground work, we wouldn't know how to do things in the right way. It has given us quite a deep understanding."

And understanding the significance and detail of each role, means they can stay focussed on the big picture: "It always comes back to the idea," says Donovan, "to the concept of the show. Is it funny enough, interesting enough and compelling enough to be performed every day for a month? That is more important... Because we're so editorially involved, and we are working with an act for eight to nine months, it is not worth us letting other stuff in Edinburgh creep in that is outside of our vision."

Berk's Nest help artists to harness their potential, and to create an hour that's true to that artist. As Churchill puts it: "It's about knowing what you want to say, and finding the best way to say it, that's the only way to do Edinburgh."

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Daniel Cook: For Money

Directed by Phoebe Bourke and Katie Churchill

A stand-up show about dreaming big while being flat broke. Just the Tonic at The Caves (Out of the Box), 3-27 Aug (not 14th), 1.20pm, £5/PWYW

Christopher Bliss: Writing Wrongs (Rob Carter)

Directed by Katie Churchill and Owen Donovan

Shropshire's finest author returns to Edinburgh to school us on the literary classics. PBH Free Fringe at Voodoo Rooms (Speakeasy), 5-27 Aug (not 14th), 2.55pm, free

Tessa Coates: Primates

Directed by Owen Donovan 

Flying solo from sketch trio Massive Dad, Tessa Coates' debut promises nothing less than an entire history of mankind. Pleasance Courtyard (This), 2-26 Aug, 3.30pm, £6-9

Tom Neenan: Attenborough

Co-directed by David Reed (Penny Dreadfuls), Phoebe Bourke and Owen Donovan

A young David Attenborough is sent on an impossible mission – expect exquisite storytelling from Tom Neenan as he salutes one of his heroes. Underbelly Med Quad (Buttercup), 2-27 Aug, 3.55pm, £6.50-11

Ingrid Oliver: Speech!

Directed by Owen Donovan and Phoebe Bourke

People with the urge to talk the most are the ones who should talk the least. Pleasance Courtyard (That), 2-27 Aug (not 14th), 4.30pm, £6-9

Colin Hoult / Anna Mann in How we Stop the Fascists

Directed by Phoebe Bourke

Seasoned actress Anna Mann unaccountably tries to fix the world. Pleasance Courtyard (Upstairs), 2-27 Aug (not 14th), 4.45pm, £6-11

Nick Coyle: Queen of Wolves

Directed by Katie Churchill and Owen Donovan

Ingenious Nick Coyle turns the screws on the gothic horror genre. Underbelly, Cowgate (Iron Belly), 3-27 Aug (not 15th), 5.30pm, £6.50-10

Evelyn Mok: Hymen Manoeuvre 

Directed by Phoebe Bourke

Expect assured stand-up from debutant Evelyn Mok, a show about identity from someone with a kaleidoscopic heritage. Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker One), 2-27 Aug (not 14th), 6pm, £6-9

Jack Barry: High Treason

Directed by Phoebe Bourke

A stand-up war on drug legislation. Just the Tonic at the Mash House (The Attic), 3-27 Aug (not 14th), 7.40pm,  £5/PWYW

Tom Walker: Bee Boo

Presented by Berk's Nest

Nominated for Best Show in Melbourne, Walker excels in clowning that is both playful and powerful. Underbelly, George Square (Wee Coo), 2-27 Aug (not 15th), 8pm, £6.50-11

Graham Dickson is The Narcissist

Co-directed by Hamish MacDougall, Phoebe Bourke and Katie Churchill

Russian literature and surrealism fuse into a colossal comedy breakdown. Underbelly, Cowgate (Iron Belly), 3-27 Aug (not 15th), 8.10pm, £6.50-11

Goodbear

Directed by George Chilcott, with an original score by Max Perryment

Joe Barnes and Henry Perryment check-in to a place as weird and wonderful as Wes Anderson's Grand Budapest Hotel. Pleasance Dome (10 Dome), 2-27 Aug, 9.40pm, £6-11

Rose Matafeo: Sassy Best Friend

Directed by Phoebe Bourke

Matafeo's sophomore show sees her break out of rom-com stereotypes to find her own voice. Pleasance Courtyard (Beside), 2-27 Aug (not 15th), 9.45pm, £6-9

Phil Dunning: The House of Pigs

Directed by Katie Churchill and Owen Donovan

When the diabolical pub chain The Slug and Arsehole attempt to take over a uinque cabaret bar, who can save the The House of Pigs? Pleasance Courtyard (Below), 2-27 Aug (not 14th), 11.00pm, £6-9

Berk's Nest also present...

Mid-Fest Comedy Special 

A late-night party with current acts and old friends alike. Pleasance Dome, 14 Aug, 11pm

Amy Annette: What Women Want

A chat show described as ‘a panel of comedians discuss everyone's favourite topic – women,’ but doubtless with all the insight missing from the Mel Gibson movie of the same name. Underbelly Med Quad, 16-20 Aug, 12.15pm