"Hollywood In Edinburgh" 2024 Artist Ambassador!

We are thrilled to introduce your “Hollywood In Edinburgh” 2024 Artist Ambassador…. 

Natasha Mercado

This year we are excited to offically launch our new support program for US artists bringing their work to Edinburgh Festival Fringe: Hollywood in Edinburgh, made possible through a venue partnership with Summerhall! 

The program will feature two networking events in Edinburgh and a late-night Cabaret spotlighting some of the fantastic US artists bringing their shows to Ed Fringe this year. Helping us launch this new program is Artist Ambassador Natasha Mercado! A 2022 Hollywood Fringe scholarship recipient, multi-fest award winner, and brilliant community builder. 

Natasha is excited to host our first event in Scotland, USA Artists Meet Up In Edinburgh at Summerhall on August 4th! RSVP to the FREE event today! 

Get to know your 2024 Artist Ambassador, Natasha! 

What is your background in theatre and storytelling? How did you get started- was it at Fringe, or in other spaces? Tell us about your Fringe experience – what got you involved?

My way of creating theatre is through an absurdist, feminist lens charged by unapologetic vulnerability and connection. My background in storytelling started with drama classes I had been taking since I was a toddler. So, I’ve been trying to tell stories since I could babble, but I truly fell in love with improv in high school at the Washington Improv Theater. After college, I ended up working at the Upright Citizens Brigade as a producer and director for their corporate events and was able to take their improv, sketch and character curriculum backwards and forwards. But I think a significant milestone for me as an independent artist was creating my first solo show “Tree” over Zoom after I had been laid off from UCB. I ended up premiering “Tree” in November 2021 at Junior High, a non-profit 501©3 community arts space that prioritizes the safety and expression of female, queer, nonbinary, and artists of color.

“Tree” went on to have sold-out runs at the Hollywood and Victoria Fringe Festival, receiving accolades such as Victoria’s ‘Pick of Fringe’ and Stage Raw’s ‘LA’s Top Ten Shows.’ I have extensively toured the North American Fringe circuit, winning numerous awards including three sold-out runs (Orlando, Victoria, Hollywood), Most Fringe Buzz Award (Orlando 2023), George Wallace Producer Pick (Orlando 2023), Best Clown/Physical Theatre (Victoria 2022), Encore Producers’ Award (Hollywood 2022), Fringe Scholarship (Hollywood 2022), and the Fruit Loop Scholarship (Edmonton 2023).

In 2023, I made my directorial debut at the Hollywood Fringe with Alex Kern’s “Thank You So Much for Coming” which won “Best of Broadwater” and “TVO’s Best Immersive”. And this year in 2024, I had two shows I directed in the Hollywood Fringe, “Medicine Woman” by Veronica Osorio and “Astro Cabaret” by Emma Irene, which cumulatively were nominated for 8 awards (including “Top of Fringe”) and won 3.

I’m about to make my Edinburgh Fringe debut with my second solo show  “#1 Son”, which I have been workshopping in Los Angeles for the past year and a half. I’m self-producing and it’s all been a huge labor of love– every text blurb, graphic, Instagram post, etc. Over these past 3 years since making “Tree,” I’ve realized that being an artist is a lot of admin work and that admin work for me has to be an extension of my art so that I can stay inspired (because it is a LOT of admin work).

Why Fringe? What makes the Fringe Festival model special? 

I love the Fringe! I’m so deeply grateful for my experience because it has made me a working independent artist. Someone told me early on that a person gets as much from the Hollywood Fringe experience as they put into it and it’s so true. The Fringe is so near and dear to me because I feel like I was able to go in with an open heart, even with all the new social anxieties fresh from quarantine, and I’ve received back ten fold in terms of community, support, friendship and career opportunities.

The Fringe is special because it provides unparalleled artistic freedom. At any given Fringe, I can promise you will see the weirdest, best, one-of-kind art that you didn’t even know was possible until that very moment. And anyone can do it! So there’s artists at all different stages in their career, which is incredibly inspiring.

And Fringe audiences get it. They want to connect to different perspectives and storytelling techniques. That’s why they show up. Because they want to see all the weirdo stuff!

Overall, the sense of community and collaboration among artists at the Fringe is palpable. Whenever I’m on the Fringe circuit, I’m always surrounded by the hardest working theatre artists you’ll ever meet. It’s just a sweet little ecosystem of collaboration, inspiration, and mutual support– which of course, lends itself to genuine networking, learning, and growing as an artist.

Accessibility is another crucial aspect of the Fringe. The lower cost of participation allows emerging and independent artists like me to present their work and tour, while affordable ticket prices make theatre more accessible to a wider range of people to actually SEE it. It’s seriously a steal to see the quality of shows at this price… because as an artist, I get to see a lot of the shows for free! Awww yeahhhhhhhhhhh

The recognition and exposure I’ve gained have opened doors to further opportunities, as a performer and as a theatre arts educator. I’m proud to say that I’m also a teaching artist with the Unusual Suspects Theatre Company non-profit, which is committed to creating – with Yield Giving’s recent $2M award – a Youth Theater Conservatory that will provide youths from underrepresented communities in Los Angeles with free access to college-level education in acting, playwriting, directing and production design.

And yes, I teach kids in communities in-need and incarcerated youth, yet I’m doing my show “#1 Son” about being “God’s sexiest son”. That may seem contradictory and even shocking! But really, my view is that clowns take on structures of power and difficult subjects – and I believe there’s a way to do that with heart, responsibility and positivity.

I also teach adults with my “Soft Clown” workshops which are unapologetically centered around sensitivity and earnestness to give participants the chance to explore vulnerability as a path to connecting with their most authentic comedic voice.

We know you’ve developed a new work for this year’s Edinburgh Fringe through some LA based programs. Can you give us a hint of what to expect if someone comes to see #1 Son?

I mean… expect the unexpected! There’s pretzels, plungers, demons, and nipples but all with a healthy dose of heart and pointed jabs at masculinity. And of course religious iconography. It’s a clown epic following Father Greg Orian (like gregorian chant) as he navigates lust, lies & living with the demon on top of his head.

Why is community important to you? What do you hope to help build as our first Hollywood in Edinburgh Program Ambassador?

Community is incredibly important to me because it fosters a sense of belonging among artists. In all my experiences working at the Upright Citizens Brigade and at various Fringe Festivals to now teaching and directing multiple shows, the sense of community has been a constant source of strength and motivation for me to keep creating. Like lots of my artist friends, I have experienced firsthand a deep sense of loneliness and isolation in my life, but being part of a supportive network allows us to share our stories, learn from one another, and grow as artists.

As the first Hollywood in Edinburgh Program Ambassador, I hope to help build a bridge between the vibrant artistic communities of Hollywood and Edinburgh. My goal is to foster a sense of unity and collaboration, creating opportunities for artists to connect, share resources, and support each other’s work. By doing so, we can create a more inclusive and dynamic arts scene that benefits everyone involved.

Additionally, I want to bring attention to the power of vulnerability and authenticity in storytelling. Through my work, including “#1 Son”,  “Thank You So Much for Coming” and “Medicine Woman” (which will all three be at the EdFringe this year?!), I strive to create spaces where artists and audiences can connect on a deep, emotional level while laughing their asses off. By embracing vulnerability, we can foster empathy and understanding, breaking down barriers and building stronger communities.

Ultimately, as an ambassador, I hope to inspire others to engage with the arts, support each other, and create meaningful, impactful work. The Fringe has given me so much in terms of community, support, friendship, and career opportunities, and I want to pay that forward by helping to build a thriving, supportive arts community that encourages artists to take risks, be bold, and stay ruthlessly inspired.

Say hello to Natasha in Edinburgh & get your tickets for her show: #1 Son!