The kids are all right

ACCORDING to Will Poulter, his chances on having a career as an actor are, at the very most, slim.

Looking at the 15-year-old's already sterling resume – which includes a lead role in the movie Son of Rambow, and a part in the forthcoming Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader film alongside Liam Neeson – that comes as a real surprise.

"It would be great if I could continue acting, but I think that it's very unlikely I'll be able to make a proper career of it," says the affable youngster, who played bad boy Lee Carter in Son of Rambow, and is currently appearing on the Fringe in School of Comedy – a sketch show for adults, performed by teenagers and devised by his drama teacher, Laura Black.

"It's all so competitive, and the chances of making it in this profession are slim," he continues. "It's a dream, of course, but I'm under no illusions.

"Put it this way," he adds, "I've got my back-up plan should things not work out."

A wise head on young shoulders, the young Londoner made his Fringe debut last summer in an earlier incarnation of School of Comedy.

"It's a lot of fun being back in Edinburgh," he says. "We had such a great time last year, and though I was a lot more nervous doing it the first time around, I still have great memories of it.

"The show was an enormous success. People seemed to love how original it was.

"I can remember there were a few gaping mouths, but they generally belonged to adults who didn't have children and had forgotten what it was like to be 15 years old.

"The reaction this year has been just the same," he adds. "We were just getting so many people in, so we're all very pleased about that. It's a real dream come true."

For making his dreams come true, Poulter credits his drama teacher Black. "I was very lucky to get involved in acting really," he says. "Ms Lawson was running an after school club, where people could get together and just try improvisational routines. She'd worked as a comedian before and just gave us scripts to read and try out ideas with. We got the chance to perform the act at school, and it's just all developed from there."

That development has seen the kids put in just as much work to the show as the crack team of comedy writers Lawson enlisted to help write the show for an adult audience.

"All the material starts really with the improv games we played with Ms Lawson," explains Poulter. "We got to explore each character we created and try out different settings and situations to build workable scenes. It's a real group collaboration."

And it seems the kids have built a real team spirit between themselves. "We spend every day with each other really, and it's still always a lot of fun," he says. "It's good to share this weird experience, because we're still only really children at this adult festival."

This image of an 'adult' festival did initially concern Poulter. "There was a worry we might have just been seen as a novelty," he explains. "We definitely didn't want to be just some kids doing adult comedy. But we're all really proud of what we've created, people have been coming along to the show with an open mind."

The show – which also stars Ella Ainsworth, Lily Ainsworth, Max Brown, Jack Harries, Africa Nile, Beth Rylance and Arthur Sturridge – is soon to feature on an episode of Channel 4's The Comedy Lab, which is an thrilling prospect for Poulter.

"The idea of our work being on TV is just amazing," he beams. "It would be so incredible to do more television, but you've got to have that ultimate goal."

Getting bums on seats in Edinburgh was a challenge in itself, but the hard work Poulter and his gang put in paid off. "We've really had to work hard with the flyering but it helped so much," he enthuses. "Everyone I've spoken to who has been to see the show really seems to have loved it, and the audience reactions have been really encouraging as well. Lots of laughter.

"We have a really great laugh ourselves just doing it," he continues. "Essentially, it is kids doing adult comedy, so it's a little bit different in that respect from other shows on at the Fringe this year. But I think the most important thing is for everyone to have a good time."

School of Comedy, Pleasance Courtyard, The Pleasance, 1.40pm, until Sunday, £9 (£8), 0131-226 0000


my pleasure in other people's leisure: The School of Comedy teens have been drawing big laughs at their adult humour fringe show

Jimeoin's never board when there's a skatepark

IN last week's edition of The Guide, comedian Paul Tonkinson explained why it's not cool to be seen on a skateboard once you hit 30 – pity no-one told Jimeoin.

At the age of 40 I bought myself a present. A long-board skateboard. That says it all doesn't it?
I was touring all over Australia and we were staying in hotels that all had massive car parks which were always deserted at night when we got back from doing the gigs.
I had been snow-boarding before and skateboarding is exactly the same except you don't have to go up a mountain, put loads of clothes on or throw away lots of money.
The main difference, however, is that concrete is very unforgiving when you come off. I dug it.
I had my long-board for a while, then one day I saw kids using short-boards in a skate park. Short-boards are a different thing altogether, and I decided I wanted to have a go at that, too.
I got the kids to show me the basics and they taught me that, in order to be able to 'drop in on a vert ramp', you have to be able to roll in both directions. I practiced this for a while and at the end of the day I bought the pads, dropped in . . . and broke both my wrists, cracked a hip and rolled an ankle.
So, yes, Paul Tonkinson was right, it's a ridiculous thing to be doing at my age. Nevertheless I really enjoy it and it's a good way of getting round town. You can't pick a bike up and put it under your arm and take into your venue.
Skating down the bike lane from the top of Arthur's Seat all the way down to the Palace of Holyrood is a great way to wake up. I listen to The Map of the Problematic by Muse on my phone and it takes just about the length of the song to get to the bottom.
The other day I beat the Dead Cat Bounce guys (go and see their show by the way) to an interview at Radio Forth ­ them in a taxi and me on my board.
During the festival there's a lot of hanging about before your show, so I just take my board wherever I go. It fits into my suitcase and it keeps the mind sharp.
In Australia they have skateboard parks in every regional town. Each one is different and each one is brilliant. Councils spend a lot of money on skate parks and in return the kids use them and have a great time.
But, to be honest, they probably weren't thinking about boys my age. Skate parks are really just for kids and for clowns – both have nothing to do in the middle of the day and it keeps them off the streets and out of mischief.
I've got young kids who both already skateboard and I think that's great. My four-year-old son can't ollie as high as I can, though.
Still, he's got 37 years to get the hang of it.
JIMEOIN, age 413/4

Jimeoin on Ice, Gilded Balloon, Teviot, until Monday, 8.45pm, £11.50-£14, 0131-226 0000

ALL ABOARD: Jimeoin gets in some much needed practise at the C Soco skateboard ramp. Picture: BILL MACKELLAR

Kring is sure of a Heroes welcome at Chillax show


gareth edwards

THE CREATOR of the hit TV show Heroes is to appear at a Fringe chat show tonight.
Tim Kring, who is in town to attend the Edinburgh International Television Festival, has been confirmed as one of the guests at tonight's Chillax, a late-night chat-show being held at C Venues.
Kring, 51, is a screen-writer and producer who shot to fame two years ago following the phenomenal success of Heroes.
The drama series, which charted the emergence of people with super-powers and their fight to save man-kind from destruction, earned rave reviews and the third series of the show is due to air in America in September.
Kring will be giving a masterclass on Heroes at the Edinburgh International Television Festival tomorrow, when he is expected to discuss the difficulties of working on a show with such high expectations, and his plans for a spin-off series, as well as giving a preview of new material.
And he is likely to face some tricky questions from the Chillax audience, after the second series, affected by the writers' strike in America, received a poor reception.
The show's final weekend is being hosted by former Hollyoaks stars Matt Littler and Darren Jon Jefferies, who will also be joined by Daniel Kaluuya, the young actor and writer of Skins.
Chillax is billed as an "interactive chat show", with audience members able to text question for the guests in advance, or ask them on the night.
It has been inspired by TV chat shows such as the Sunday Night Project and Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, and also provides a platform for unsigned bands to perform live.
Tonight, local Edinburgh band Two Carved Stones will be featured as the house band and perform tracks from their new album.
Producer Jacqui Garbett said: "I'm thrilled that Matt Littler and Darren Jon Jefferies want to come and host Chillax at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
"Having an audience interaction element, means the show always reveals a surprise as guests can be asked anything.
"With Tim Kring coming on as a guest and Matt and Darren at the helm and let loose on Edinburgh audiences, it will be a memorable and thoroughly entertaining show."

Chillax with Matt Littler and Darren Jon Jefferies, C Venue, Chambers Street, £9.50, today and tomorrow, 12.15am, 0845-260 1234
www.CtheFestival.com

MINE HOSTS: Littler and Jeffries at C Venue



Welcome to Danny's mudpack festival

ONLY three days to go and the Fringe is winding down. Not seen all you wanted to? Still feel a bit left out of all the buzz? Never fear, there's still time. Danny Robins explains how to have your own 60-minute Festival.

START THE CLOCK: The good thing about having a festival indoors is you don't have to worry about the weather. I prepare to take the stage, clutching a powerful torch and an extra large party popper. I am planning a big entrance.
00.01: Party popper fails to go off. Entrance is less impressive than planned.
00.02: With festivals growing at the rate they are, the logical conclusion is that, one day soon, everyone will have their own festival. I view myself as a pioneer. Ideally, I hope to attract 100,000 people to my festival. At the moment the venue have said the limit is strictly 80.
00.03: I have decided to entertain the audience through the medium of air guitar. I actually came second in the UK Championship. Weirdly, they seem quite impressed.
00.11: As a family entertainer I can't be seen to endorse drugs, but I attempt to achieve a legal high on stage using a cocktail of strongly flavoured crisps, tooth paste and orange juice. You have to see it to understand.
00.15: I feel quite ill after the legal high. The taste of citrus, mint and Pickled Onion Monster Munch has made me feel slightly dizzy. This must be what they mean by a come-down. Now I understand why Amy Winehouse looks so rough.
00.30:It's now time for me to do the part of the show that can only be described as Gothic Karaoke. I re-enter with my face painted white and wearing an Edward Scissorhands wig. I look like Robert Smith after a bout of dysentery.
00.40: It's time for Mud Fight. Think TV darts gameshow Bullseye, but with mud. Members of the audience throw mud at a target to win top prizes. It is so much fun and really captures the Glastonbury spirit – oh sorry, wrong Festival.
00.45: Somebody has thrown mud in my face. They've ruined it. I hate festivals.
00.50: I'm hungry. At any festival, food is vital. At Dannyfest, I have decided to toast marshmallows. I use a catering blowtorch. It is a health and safety grey area – no one has been injured yet.
00. 58: Full on burnt marshmallow, I build towards a big end. The last night of the Edinburgh Festival always involves fireworks. These have been discussed with my venue and ruled out as 'absolute madness'. I settle for another party popper. It works this time. Ah, the festival magic – and I get to do it all again tomorrow.

Danny Robins: Dannyfest, Pleasance Courtyard, until Monday, 6pm, £11–£12, 0131-226 0000