Projects
Upcoming & available for programming
The Faustus Project
Directed by Caden Scott
60 minutes
21:05 @ Underbelly / Belly Laugh
July 31 - August 24
Edinburgh Fringe 2025
An actor makes a deal with the devil. This new version of Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus features a rotating cast of brave guest performers taking on the challenges of a devilish ensemble. One problem... they've never rehearsed with the rest of the cast.The Faustus Project is funny, a little dangerous and an actor's worst nightmare. With a fresh victim every night, this will be the ultimate theatrical torture. Funny, dangerous, devilish.
ALL EDINBURGH THEATRE
"a trick worthy of the devil – surely no one can resist."
★★★★★
“An impressively deep exploration”
“Definitely what the Fringe Festival needs!”
THE STUDENT
"a masterclass in bringing traditional theatre to the Fringe. Camp, outrageous, and utterly unexpected"
★★★★1/2
“There is clearly an audience for this sort of thing, as some stood up when clapping.”
BROADWAY BABY
"Half Trick Theatre company certainly knows how to entertain."
★★★★
“Astoundingly impressive.”
“Ideal late-night Fringe”
“Brilliant and insane.”
With thanks to Lindsay Strachan, Rebekah Avery, EGTG, Lev Siegel, Courtney Eggleton, Ariane Lenihan, Amy Beth Waterston, Juliet Gentle and the cast and crew of the original run.
The King in Yellow
Directed by Courtney Bassett
60 minutes
18:35 @ The Banshee Labyrinth
October 31 - November 3
Edinburgh Horror Festival 2024
The King in Yellow is a two-act play, a gothic fantasy, penned at an unknown time by an unknown author. Details of the plot and themes are obscure. It was thought lost in the fire that consumed the theatre on the night of its first and only public recital. It is said to be cursed.We have obtained the sole surviving manuscript of this sinister text, and we will not let urban legends of insanity, possession, and eldritch gods get in the way of a good show.Preparations have been made. We are ready. Will you be witness?
“Words whispered on the gales and scrawled on high,
That all should fear when Hastur’s son is nigh.”
— The Phantom of Truth, Act I Scene I
The King in Yellow (Act I) £4.99
We’re very pleased to announce that you can now purchase your very own digital copy of the first act of our pioneering new translation, never before seen on Earth. These sold eerily well at our debut performance, with people rushing the merch stand after the show to take as many home as they could.The King in Yellow (Act I) is a little book (or in this case a 'portable document file') with a yellow front and back and 32 white pages in the middle. On those pages are words (the words are black) and some pages have little drawings (also black) courtesy of our very own illustrator, James Jennifer Wright (JACQAL).The text itself contains the first act of the script of the play The King in Yellow. In addition to this, there is also a foreword, glossary, and footnotes providing fascinating insights from our very own translator, C.W. Scott.A copy of portable document file can be all yours for the low price of £4.99!
Click 'RETURN TO SELLER' upon completing payment to receive your digital script!
If you have any problems or don't use Paypal, let us know and we can hook you up.
“Ghostwatch meets The Play That Goes Wrong”
“Fucked up”
“Probably the scariest play I’ve ever seen”
A YOUNG-ISH PERSPECTIVE
"a spectacle that is unlike anything ever.”
“Half Trick are certainly not scared to put in the effort and do groundbreaking things.”
“a true masterclass in screaming”
“always something to see even if you are too scared to turn around.”
“Indescribable”
★★★★
“I legit thought I was going to die at one point.”
“I was scared shitless!”
“viscerally uncomfortable in the best way”
Cast
Cassilda – Alex Medland
Camilla – Isabella Velarde
The Shepherd – Indrid Heron
The Stranger – Joshua Fleming
The Phantom of Truth – Caden Scott
Featuring Lev Siegel as herself
Crew
Music – Dan Collins
Sound Design - Alex Medland
Production & Technical Design – James Jennifer Wright
Production Assistant – Indrid Heron
Marketing Manager – Joshua Fleming
With thanks to Rebekah Avery
Antonio's Revenge
Directed by Courtney Bassett
60 minutes
22:30 @ C Arts / C Alto / Venue 40
July 31st + August 2-24 (even dates)
Edinburgh Fringe 2024
Dad's dead. Mum’s shagging his killer. Girlfriend's crazy. Then Dad’s ghost appears, crying for revenge. What else does one do but start killing? Antonio makes Hamlet look like a little bitch. This rarely-performed Early Modern hidden gem from John Marston is batsht insane, featuring everything you'd expect from a Jacobethan revenge tragedy: feigned insanity, an evil duke, an all-knowing fool, a smoking-hot mum, a ghost dad, a sad girlfriend locked in prison, a plucky kid who’s definitely gonna get murdered, and, of course, cannibalism.In academia it has often been debated whether John Marston intended this work as a parody of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. Regardless, we will be performing it as one. Our tone will be gory, irreverent and playful."Rude, crude, and theatrically unglued" Rick Bowers
“Tightly produced”
“Wickedly funny”
“would recommend for anyone, especially for people who think Hamlet is far too tame.”
NORTHWEST END
"the performance is so well acted and directed that these actors could be merely speaking the language of the Swedish Chef, and we would still have a clear idea as to what is going on."
★★★★
“Funny, dramatic, and oft times sensual”
"definitely not one to bring the children to"
“Acted with great zest”
Cast
Antonio – Juliet Gentle
Piero – Courtney Bassett
Maria / Mellida – Amy Beth Waterston
Andrugio / Pandulpho – Caden Scott
Strotzo / Julio / Galeatzo – Alex Medland
Crew
Production design, imagery & technical operation – James Jennifer Wright
Technical assist & operation – Eliza Roberts
Music – samwooddoowmas
Intimacy Direction – Becca Mahar
Fight Direction – Caden Scott
Co-production – Luke Thornborough
With thanks to Lindsay Strachan, Rebecca Avery, and EGTG.
Waiting for Wonka
By Courtney Bassett & Caden Scott
An original new play about capitalism, wonder, parental abuse, faith, growing up, magic, and chocolate.Fifteen years after the competition that ruined their lives, five damaged adults try to understand what happened to them as children.Available for programming and seeking a producer. Contact us for enquiries.'Trauma informed post-Wonka comedy''One of the smartest and funniest bits of theatre I've ever seen'
Whom
Meet the team
Courtney Bassett
Artistic Director & Producer
She/her
Fresh off of her ‘excellent’ and ‘impeccable’ performance in EdFringe 2023 in Alone at Assembly, Courtney is eager to return to the Fringe.She has performed with New Zealand’s prestigious Auckland Theatre Company, as well as many productions at the beloved indie darling of Auckland, Basement Theatre. She holds a Masters Degree in Screen Writing and a morbid fascination with all things dark and fantastical.
Caden Scott
Artistic Director & Production Manager
He/him, she/her
As an actor, has performed with Auckland Theatre Company, across a broad range of New Zealand television series, and in smash-hit webseries Nothing Much To Do.As a director, assisted with Much Ado About Nothing at the Pop-up Globe, worked with Auckland Summer Shakespeare, was a founding member of Stray Theatre Company, and has a strong background in devised and immersive work.
James Jennifer Wright
Production designer
They/them, she/her, he/him
Nocturnal, semi-arboreal artist from Auckland, New Zealand. AUT Digital Design grad, freelance illustrator, animator, game designer, seamstress and speculative biologist.A two-time Fringe survivor responsible for most of Half Trick's graphics, web design, costumes, propmaking, and technical operation.
Alex Medland
Key creative
She/her
Alex Medland (Kai Tahu) is an actor and writer based in Edinburgh.In 2019, she trained at The John Bolton Theatre School in Melbourne and since then has performed on screen, TVNZ’s ‘The Doghouse’ and in several theatre shows including Touch Compass’s ‘AIGA’, GLORIANA’s ‘The Maid’s Tragedy’ and touring Aotearoa with Duffy Books ‘Duffy in Bubble Trouble’.
Luke Thornborough
Producer
He/him
Key producer on the award winning production of ‘ALONE’ that played at Assembly Studio One for a full run in 2023.With over ten years of experience, Luke Thornborough works as a producer for stage and screen in New Zealand and has successfully toured shows to the UK and Australia as well as having international success with a number of short films.
Gallery
Previous productions
Antonio's Revenge (2024)
Photography by Eliza Roberts
The Faustus Project (2024)
The Maid's Tragedy (2022)
The Faustus Project (2017)
Other productions
Comedy of Errors (2017)
Revenger's Tragedy (2016)
Revenger's Tragedy (2016)
Revenger's Tragedy (2016)
Revenger's Tragedy (2016)
Collaborations
Work with us
If you're looking to collaborate or sign up for any future auditions, please drop us a line!
Let us know where you're based and your area of interest - if you're an actor, include a link to your Spotlight, agent's page, or C.V.
The Faustus Project
Directed by Caden Scott
60 minutes
22:30 @ C Arts / C Alto / Venue 40
August 1-25 (odd dates)
Edinburgh Fringe 2024
An actor has made a deal with the devil. One of theatre’s greatest roles, Dr Faustus, all theirs to perform. One problem: they’ve never rehearsed with the rest of the cast and things seem to be spiralling out of control.Carnage, chaos and comedy, The Faustus Project is funny, a little dangerous, and an actor’s worst nightmare. With a fresh victim... I mean actor... every night... Faustus is the ultimate torture for all of your Fringe Favorites.A version of Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus where there’s a new Faustus every night. They’ve never rehearsed with the cast, and have their script in their magic spellbook so they don’t get lost. But the company has devised challenging ways of staging the scene that force the guest to think on their feet. Sometimes funny, sometimes terrifying. This show was a hit in Auckland New Zealand in 2017 and is sure to delight Fringe audiences.
ALL EDINBURGH THEATRE
"a trick worthy of the devil – surely no one can resist."
★★★★★
“An impressively deep exploration”
“Definitely what the Fringe Festival needs!”
THE STUDENT
"a masterclass in bringing traditional theatre to the Fringe. Camp, outrageous, and utterly unexpected"
★★★★1/2
“There is clearly an audience for this sort of thing, as some stood up when clapping.”
BROADWAY BABY
"Half Trick Theatre company certainly knows how to entertain."
★★★★
“Astoundingly impressive.”
“Ideal late-night Fringe”
“Brilliant and insane.”
Cast
Courtney Bassett
Juliet Gentle
Alex Medland
Caden Scott
Amy Beth Waterston
& a new guest actor each night
Crew
Production design, imagery & technical operation – James Jennifer Wright
Technical assist & operation – Eliza Roberts
Music – samwooddoowmas
Intimacy Direction – Becca Mahar
Co-production – Luke Thornborough
With thanks to Lindsay Strachan, Rebekah Avery, EGTG, Lev Siegel, Courtney Eggleton, Ariane Lenihan and the cast and crew of the original run.