20.7.23

Former 10,000 Maniacs Lead Singer, Oskar Saville, to Perform Break Out Show at Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Former 10,000 Maniacs lead singer Oskar Saville will make her Edinburgh Fringe Festival debut with her acclaimed show, Breaking Open.

In Breaking Open, Saville takes audiences on a captivating and intimate journey of life, love, and letting go. She shares her story of leaving her music career to raise a family, only to find herself on a challenging journey of self-discovery, confronting her past with courage and resilience.

Fate had brought Oskar to her husband—a destiny she believed would allow her to create the ideal family and shield her children from the pain of her own childhood. She had even given up her music career. Isn’t that what a good wife and mother would do? However, a transformative moment occurs when Saville hears a compelling voice whilst in her closet, urging her to leave her marriage.

Saville's performance is spellbinding, taking spectators on a global voyage, traversing three continents. She navigates the arduous task of almost single-handedly raising her three children while relentlessly striving to create a sense of familial harmony. Along the way, she grapples with the sacrifice of relinquishing her music career, only to unearth a remarkable realisation—by leaving her ‘fairytale’ marriage and finding her voice again, she finds the real meaning of family.

Breaking Open is a testament to Saville's exceptional storytelling abilities, intertwining personal anecdotes with soul-stirring musical renditions. Her unique voice serves as a beacon, guiding audiences through a tale brimming with resilience, determination, and ultimately, the discovery of love in unexpected places.

"I'm so excited to share my story with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival audience," said Saville. "This show is about finding your voice, even when it feels like the world is telling you to be quiet. It's about finding your way back to yourself, even when you've lost your way. And it's about finding love, even when you don't think you deserve it."

Venue:                         the Space @ Surgeons' Hall, Theatre 3

Dates:                           4–12 August 2023

Time:                            10:45 (0hr50min)

Ticket prices:                £11 / concessions £9

Ticket link                     https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/breaking-open

Suitable for all ages

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Hashtag #OskarBreakingPpen

About Oskar Saville

Oskar Saville is a singer, songwriter, and author, best-known for her time as lead singer with multi-platinum band 10,000 Maniacs, fronting the band from 2002 to 2007 on tours around the US, Mexico, and Brazil. She has released four solo albums.

She embarked on her artistic journey within London's vibrant singer-songwriter community before transitioning to Chicago, where she fronted the band Rubygrass crafting captivating music and lyrics. Her exceptional talent soon caught the attention of 10,000 Maniacs, who invited her to join them as lead singer. Oskar has explored diverse mediums throughout her life, including contributing to an advice column in a newspaper in Anchor, Alaska, hosting podcasts, and engaging in public speaking.

In 2022 Oskar wrote Breaking Open a memoir charting the break-up of her marriage that she adapted into her one-woman play, that debuts at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023. Born in Chicago, Oskar has lived around the globe in London, California, Ireland, Thailand, and even a stint in South Africa. Oskar currently lives in NYC with her 3 children and works as a transformational energy coach - www.oskarhealingtherapy.com - committed to helping people ‘break open’ and unlock the extraordinary potential within. 

Director - Douglas S. Hall

Douglas S. Hall is a director, actor and teacher who has worked at theatres across the US including The Williamstown Theater Festival, the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, Merry Go Round Playhouse, Mountain Playhouse, and Seven Angels Theater. He directed the New York premiere of The Religion Thing (Project Y Theater Company), and the regional premiere of Tenderly, The Rosemary Clooney Musical (Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival). Other directing credits include an award-winning production of Daddy Long Legs at freeFall Theater, multiple casts of Forever Plaid, Merrily We Roll, Chicago, Guys And Dolls, and Always… Patsy Cline (starring Sally Mayes). As an actor, he most recently appeared in Sea Wall at the SaraSolo Theater Festival. Other acting credits: Red Velvet (Pierre) at freeFall Theatre and the webseries Precious Cargo (Lionel). He has been a Guest Director at Elon University and was on the faculty at CAP 21/NYU for ten years before moving to the University of South Florida where he teaches acting and is the Director of the USF Theatre in Paris program.