Teesside performer wows Edinburgh Fringe

A Teesside performer has earned acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Scott Turnbull, former Tees Valley Artist of the Year, has received four-star reviews from The Scotsman and LondonTheatre1 for his one-man show, Surreally Good, at the world’s largest performance arts festival. 

The show follows his ‘Best Performance’ win at this year’s Newcastle Fringe Festival.

Featuring overhead projectors and nods to his home region, Scott brought his creative vision to Summerhall, one of Edinburgh’s top fringe venues, known for its bold and acclaimed programme of theatre, dance, music and visual arts. 

The Guardian said of Scott’s show: “The final sequence is a tenderly rendered, wondrous folktale that would make a surreally superb sequel.”

Scott, an associate artist at the ARC in Stockton, began his career as an actor on Byker Grove and has since appeared on The Bill, Wolfblood, The Royal Today, Vera and other UK television productions, while performing on stages including London’s Old Vic and Newcastle’s Northern Stage.

His journey to the fringe was supported in part by a crowdfunder to meet rising festival costs.

Scott added: “Seeing the reviews from audience members saying it’s their favouring thing they’ve seen is brilliant. 

“It’s been really successful in so many ways. 

“We won the award for Best Performance at the Newcastle Fringe – and with the reviews here, it feels like it’s moved everything forward from this time last year, and this time last month.

“We’ve also sold lots of artwork – which is an area which has really progressed and has been a bit of a dream come true.”

The £30,000 support from the Tees Valley Artists of the Year programme in 2024 helped Scott expand into workshops and show development, joining a cohort of artists making national waves. 

Former winner Amelia Coburn has also featured on Paul Weller’s new album Find El Dorado, while this year’s artists include Finn Forster, who has toured with Stereophonics, as well as DJ Boo, who was picked to open the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend Dance Stage, in May. 

Councillor Brenda Harrison, leader of Hartlepool Borough Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority cabinet member for creative place, added: “The Artists of the Year programme was created to give our most talented people the helping hand they need to reach new heights.

“Scott’s success at the world’s biggest arts festival shows exactly why it matters. 

“He’s taken our creativity and humour to the big stage, and we couldn’t be prouder.”

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