Podcast 13

This week on Podcast 13 we welcome Philadelphia solo performer Chris Davis to Venue 13. Chris brings us the world premiere of The 40 Year Old Ballerino this August, his first new Fringe show in seven years, and his first return to Edinburgh since 2019. Before we get to Chris, Ian and Vanesa run through what's worth catching in June across Scotland, with Eden Festival in Moffat, Les Ballets Trockad...

This is the big one. Episode 10 of Podcast 13, and Ian and Vanesa use the milestone to reveal the full 2026 Venue 13 programme: eleven shows across theatre, comedy, musical theatre, dance fitness, immersive digital performance, and workshops. Five world premieres. Ten of the eleven companies are making their Edinburgh Fringe debut. Seven productions from Canada, two from the USA and two from the U...

Venue 13 is joining forces with Soft Serve Cartel and Renewable Energy Vendors to bring the Edinburgh Fringe's first carbon-conscious vegan food trailer to the festival this August 2026—and we are launching a crowdfunding campaign to make it happen! Stationed at the foot of the Royal Mile outside Venue 13 (Harry Younger Hall on Lochend Close), this trailblazing project will run for the full Fringe...

In this episode, Ian and Vanesa return from the Prague Quadrennial Symposium, Performing Exhibitions, Curating Scenographies , held at ARCHA+ in Prague from April 13–15, 2026. Gathering more than seventy speakers from around the world in the lead-up to PQ's 60th-anniversary edition in 2027, the symposium explored the rich interconnections between contemporary scenographic practice, curating and ex...

In this episode, Ian and Vanesa return from two international conferences held at opposite ends of the world, both exploring the rapidly evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and the arts. They both reflect on Vanishing Acts: AI, Performative Knowledge and Sustainable Memory at the University of Malta , where conversations centred on performance and the preservation of cultural kno...

After a winter break, Podcast 13 returns with renewed energy as Ian and Vanesa reconnect with listeners and look ahead to the next phase of work at Venue 13. In this episode, they reflect on the early stirrings of the Edinburgh Fringe season as thousands of artists around the world begin preparing their productions. Ian and Vanesa discuss how Venue 13 is already shaping its 2026 programme and how...

In this special end-of-year episode of Podcast 13 , hosts Ian Garrett and Vanesa Kelly reflect on the revival of Venue 13 and the ideas shaping its future, using the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future as a guiding frame. The episode looks back on reopening an artist-led Fringe venue, explores standout projects from the season including Market 13 and AI Campfire , and considers what ethi...

In this episode, Vanesa and Ian focus on sustainable theatre practice after Vanesa’s visit to the National Theatre event on the 14th November in London, where the Theatre Green Book took centre stage in an incredible event. They unpack the discussions, the international perspectives, and the sense of collective responsibility that shaped the day. Ian reflects on his own past involvement with the G...

In this episode, Ian and Vanesa take you on the next stage of their UAE adventure! After World Stage Design 2025 in Sharjah, Ian delivered a talk at NYU Abu Dhabi, exploring “Somewhere in Time: Ghosts, People, Sites, and Signals.”  Together they reflect on Ian's presentation, touring the university’s incredible Red Theater, Blue Hall, and Black Box, and engaging with the curiosity around sust...

In Episode 2 of Podcast 13, Ian and Vanesa take you inside World Stage Design 2025, an international gathering of scenographers, artists, and researchers shaping the future of performance. Ian shares his perspective as a seasoned participant, and reflects on how this year’s WSD compares to previous editions, while Vanesa brings her first impressions as a playwright and producer, discovering this g...

In our very first episode, we celebrate the launch of Podcast 13 by completing the Climate Change Theatre Action 2025 project with the final three plays: SCARY-Scary by Klae Bainter, UNDERTOW by Keith Barker, and We’re Running Out of Chairs by Kirby Vicente. Alongside these readings, co-directors Ian Garrett and Vanesa Kelly reflect on the whirlwind of Venue 13’s debut season as the first fully ve...

Podcast 13 launches with a special teaser episode, completing Venue 13’s ambitious presentation of all fifty plays from Climate Change Theatre Action 2025. Recorded at the Edinburgh Fringe, this debut captures the energy of a month filled with theatre, food, and conversations about sustainability and community. The series sets the stage for weekly play readings, artist interviews, and deep dives i...