By Michael Casey

LAST week, I went on my annual “busman’s holiday” when I work for the Edinburgh Reporter newspaper at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Thirteen shows and 23 miles walked later, I reflected on the presence of people with a link to Harlow at the festival.

All the reviews can be found here.

The first show I saw, Shakespeare for Breakfast featured former St Mark’s pupil, Roseanna Connolly. Roseanna had superb comic timing and really looked like she enjoyed what she was doing.

After that we saw Viking, which was directed by Harry Tennison. Since YH started in 2013, we have seen Harry’s work as a school-pupil, student and now post-univ. His direction had discipline as well as flair.

The next day, I saw Lucy Farrett in her one woman tour-de-force as Lois.

Around the corner, was one of Harlow’s hardest working comedians, Clare Harrison-McCartney, who continues to fly the flag for Harlow comedy.

There was also Harlow producer, Leila Sabatti, whose show South Afreakins is doing well.

I was always told that magician Tom Brace and Play People’s Faye Linden were all performing.

There may well be other artists I have still to her about

So what’s my point? It just seems very encouraging to me. I think we may well be a town punching above our weight.

There is a lot of home grown talent in a host of organisations such as Hip Hop Pop, Livewire, Makin Steps. Theatre groups at all the schools.

There is also the am-dram groups such as MHP Theatre, Harlow Theatre Society and the newly formed HATS.

I haven’t even begun to extol the virtues of the Harlow Playhouse.

I am not necessarily saying this is a cause to get the bunting out as I am sure that many will be saying that they would like to seem ore investment.

With that in mind, I plan to interview a number of key players in the arts in Harlow.