Comedians

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Seymour Mace

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© Stan Henderson

Seymour Mace is a comedic force that embraces the value of messing around on stage. This extremely physical kind of comedy certainly doesn’t take itself too seriously: Mace is expressive, energetic and yet at times brooding, and he will be performing his latest show at The Stand throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

The intensity, the chance to do the same show in the same venue every day for a month. I spend far too much time alone and pondering so it’s great to be surrounded by others with similar issues, it’s like living in a prisoner style village where all the comedians have been captured and held for the month. Seeing friends, having fun, doing stuff. My life’s fairly dull so pretty much everything about Edinburgh excites me.

2) What was your first Edinburgh show about?

It was called ‘Imaginary Friends Reunited’ and it was about a fresh faced idiot who struggled for numbers in an expensive venue. It was just me messing about really, it had a few characters, stupid gameshow, ninja attack, other stuff. I didn’t enjoy myself, let the circus get to me, forgot how to have fun. I took a year off after that.

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

Yeah, sparse, haha! Not really, I think my youngest audience member last year was 13 and my oldest was in his early 90’s. Hopefully it attracts people who like watching me being stupid in the early afternoon. I get described as alternative, surreal, whimsical, out there but really I’m just an idiot doing what I want and trying to be as stupid as I can.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

Most of my accommodation has been great, I normally leave it really late but usually end up somewhere cool, it’s only for a month anyway so I can put up with a lot more shit than I would at home. I guess the only time I remember being really pissed off was the time I was staying in the meadows, sharing with three other comedians and I got up one day to find one of them in the kitchen with a documentary team who were capturing his day on film, they we’re currently filming him making his breakfast. What with it being early and me being a miserable cunt I was outraged at this invasion of my privacy and walked around the flat slamming doors and loudly swearing in the hope that the footage would be rendered useless.

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

There are quite a few but one that springs to mind is the time I spent in Japan during the early nineties. I first went over to do street theatre with the Natural Theatre Company. We were based in an amusement park in the centre of Tokyo and it was the most wide eyed experience I’ve ever had since being a kid. While I was there I got to know some Japanese clowns who were in the next dressing room along from us and when my contract was up they invited me back to work as a clown, which is a dream I’d had since being a very small boy. I spent a very happy few months working with the Japanese clowns and a couple of great American clowns, one of whom I took an incredible acid trip with whilst shopping for material for my clown costume through the centre of Tokyo. The material I ended up with was black.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

I was introduced to Simon Munnery’s under tent heating system at Machfest this year, it was a Heath Robinson-esque delight. He’s an incredible man and an inspiration. Go and see him.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

Fame and fortune, the same as every year. I want people to give me work. I struggle to be happy, I’m happy when I work, please give me work.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about? (If you dare imagine!)

I dare. When I returned to Edinburgh after my unhappy first year there I followed the rules, picked a theme and kind of talked shit about it for an hour, I stuck with this for a couple of years before at some point realising that I didn’t need a theme, I could just be stupid. I later realised that I do have a theme, the theme is me, all my shows are about me and what I think is funny/relevant/sexy/dark/emotional at any given time. Therefore I guess my last show ever will be about a bitter, nasty, bucolic one hundred and seventy five year old man who’s super pissed off that he couldn’t survive long enough to get a new robot body. It will be called ‘Super Pissed Off’.

BOOK TICKETS FOR SEYMOUR MACE’S MAGICAL SHITCAKES FROM HEAVEN AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Carmen Lynch

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© Eric Korenman

Carmen Lynch is a stand up comedian who is half Spanish and half American, and has performed in Spanish as well as English. She is expressive, self-assured and cheeky, with a deliciously dark sense of humour. Carmen will be performing her free show Lynched in the Loft at the Counting House throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival? 

That I’ll walk around and see my giant eyeballs staring at me from the walls of all the buildings. It’ll either be very cool or I’ll have nightmares.

2) What is your first Edinburgh show about? 

It’s my latest hour of stand up, which covers my life and my thoughts, but edgier because I’ll be in a different country thousands of miles away.

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience? 

At this point I’ll take anyone, but it’s usually people who laugh at inappropriate jokes and like to leave a tip after the show.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation? 

I don’t know yet, but I’m guessing that it’s getting to Edinburgh with a large suitcase with no wheels and then realizing the place you’re subletting just burned down.

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far? 

A reporter who was interviewing Bob Newhart told me that Mr. Newhart told him that he saw me on The Late Show with David Letterman (the night that Don Rickles was on) and apparently Mr. Newhart told the reporter I was wonderful and had a lot of great things ahead of me.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year? 

Anything after 5pm, which is when my show ends and when I’ll be stuffing my face and holding a drink.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year? 

I just want to have a good time, because that’s when I’m not in my head. I don’t want to stress about the business side of things. It’ll be summer and I’m trying to look at it as a vacation with a little bit of work.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

Probably death. Maybe I’ll even get to die on stage. That would make a great dramatic ending and then maybe the audience would get a refund.

BOOK TICKETS FOR CARMEN LYNCH: LYNCHED, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Leo Kearse

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© Philippa Michael

In Leo Kearse’s latest show he claims that he can convince his audience members to vote Tory by offering the joys of the right wing political sphere. Kearse is also the co-creator of Hate ‘n’ Live, where topics suggested by audience members are ‘hated on’ by comedians most nights at the Fringe. He is performing his free show in the Gothic Room at the Three Sisters throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

Someone I know always has a really entertaining mental breakdown. In case you think I’m making light of mental illness, yes I am, but I’d be just as entertained if they broke their legs or had a hernia or discovered their children were in fact sired by another man.

2) What was your first Edinburgh show about?

The last two years I’ve done a show as Pun-Man, a spandex clad superhero here to save humanity from observational comedy and long form anecdotal based humour by doing improvised puns based on audience suggestions. It was a really really good show.

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

My current show, “I Can Make You Tory”, seems to attract 25% actual red trousered Tories, 70% regular comedy punters who are up for a laugh, and 5% neo-progressive hyper-liberal social justice warrior fat activist cunts who just come to get upset.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

Aww man we rented a flat a few years back that was £1,200 each but was falling apart (beds missing slats, no front on drawers, oven wouldn’t close), then when we moved out they said we caused the damage and kept our deposits. Another time I shared with Candy Gigi so the fridge was full of skip loads of rotting vegetables all month.

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

I’ve made my best friends through comedy but fuck them – my most treasured memories are closing Birmingham Comedy Loft at New Years; I felt like it was the stamp of approval from a top promoter. Also, getting my first twenty minutes at the Comedy Store – it’s the equivalent of becoming a made man in the mafia.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

Trevor Lock always makes me forget myself and laugh loads.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

I want to get famous and get loads of money and I want to crush my enemies

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

My conversion to radical Islam.

BOOK TICKETS FOR LEO KEARSE: I CAN MAKE YOU TORY, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Paul McCaffrey

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© Brian Ritchie

Paul McCaffrey is a recognisable face as one of the jokers on Impractical Jokers, alongside Roisin Conaty, Joel Dommett and Marek Larwood. McCaffrey has supported some of the biggest names in comedy on tour, from Sean Lock to Rob Beckett, and now he brings his latest stand up show Suburban Legend at the Edinburgh Festival. He is performing his free show at the Laughing Horse at the Counting House throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

Certain restaurants and the rooftop hydro pool at the Sheraton hotel (I never used to be this much of a ponce, I’m sure I didn’t).

2) What was your first Edinburgh show about?

It was about a man trying to stretch 20 minutes over an hour with varying degrees of success.

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

It’s starting to. I was in a TV show a few years back (Impractical Jokers on BBC3) which some people really liked and I get a good few people that come from that. I’d say it’s fairly broad though, accessible to most people.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

Mice, last year. My regular Edinburgh flat mate, Matt Forde absolutely shat himself and had a sleepless night in the front room because he could hear them in his bedroom. Very funny.

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far? 

I’ve been on tour with Sean Lock this year, as a long time fan, that was pretty special.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year? 

I always see Matt Forde, that’s kind of set in stone. I want to see Carl Donnelly on the Blundabus, for my money, one of the best in the business.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year? 

To come back with a new set and to improve as an act is the main reason but I feel like I’m on good form at the moment so it would be good if I got some work from it too.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

Whatever is annoying me at that time, other people in the care home probably.

BOOK TICKETS FOR PAUL MCCAFFREY: SUBURBAN LEGEND, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Pierre Novellie

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South African stand up Pierre Novellie claims to provide observational comedy for audiences that think they hate observational comedy. Nominated for the Best Club Comedian award by Chortle in both 2016 and 2017, Novellie is clearly a competent performer with something extra about him. Pierre will be performing at the Pleasance Courtyard throughout August.

© Ivan Vranjić

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

It’s sort of the Olympics of comedy – a month of solid gigs and seeing comedy friends from around the world.

2) What was your first Edinburgh show about?

It was a “best of” show of my first four years of stand up and writing.

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

Nerds and other people with weird food issues.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

I think sleeping on a tiny sofa in a kitchenette full of mice up seven flights of stairs is up there.

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

Meeting and eventually working with Adam Buxton!

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

Evelyn Mok’s debut show looks great from the bits I’ve seen

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

More fans, more work!

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Olaf Falafel

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Swedish stand up Olaf Falafel is an idiosyncratic performer to say the least. His latest show is packed full of surrealist energy, entitled The Marmosets Of My Mind. Olaf is also an illustrator, having just published his first children’s book, proving him to be a natural creative in other aspects besides performance alone. He will be performing his free show at The City Café throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

Convincing people who’ve never heard of me to come and spend an hour observing the marmosets of my mind.

2) What was your first Edinburgh show about?

My first Edinburgh show ‘Olaf Falafel & The Cheese Of Truth’ was about mystical cheese that could reveal the core truth of whatever it landed on and also loosely documented the journey of becoming a man.

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

My comedy is universal like one of those plug adaptors you can buy at the airport

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

I slept on a sofa for a fortnight a few years ago and it was one of those L shaped sofas so I had to sleep at a right angle.

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

The second year I came to Edinburgh I split an hour with two other comics, we averaged six audience members each show – glorious.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

Really looking forward to seeing Michael Stranney’s debut hour ‘Welcome to Ballybeg’ – we shared a show a few years ago so it’ll be great to see what his alter ego Daniel Duffy has been up to.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

Big sacks of cash.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

Velcro.

BOOK TICKETS FOR OLAF FALAFEL PRESENTS THE MARMOSETS OF MY MIND, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Prom Kween’s Rebecca Humphries

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Prom Kween is a musical comedy that explores topics such as gender, identity and relationships, written by Rebecca Humphries and Joanna Cichonska. The cast itself is made up of Humphries, Sam Swann, Sean Rigby and Lucy Pearman. Rebecca Humphries will be performing in Prom Kween at the Underbelly, Cowgate throughout August.

© Max Lacome

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

It’s either the atmosphere of boundless enthusiasm and pro-activity or the fudge.

2) What was your first Edinburgh show about?

It was in 2014, and it was about my obsession with Disney. While the passion for the subject still stands, you have to move on artistically I find. Plus I’d used all my good ideas.

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

Yeah, fabulous people/no basics.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

I’ve been pretty lucky in the past. My worst nightmare would probably be anywhere I’d have to share with more than one other person. So my house of 6 will be a laugh.

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

I never in a million years thought I’d win the musical comedy award. In fact after our performance in the final myself and my accompanist Jo were draped backstage spouting some shit like ‘all hope it lost’. So dramatic. We hated competing, it was really stressful. But we loved winning so… you can’t have it both ways.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

I will definitely be seeing Maid of Cabbage by the inimitably insane Lucy Pearman. In her last show she played an egg. She literally played an egg.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

That we put on a great show, that we prove you don’t need a massive budget and fancy things to do so, and that audiences come away from it feeling good about themselves.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

I like to think I would have prophesied the end of the world (I presume that’s why it’s my last show).

BOOK TICKETS FOR PROM KWEEN, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Mark Thomas

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Mark Thomas’ most recent show is an exploration of the social and political state of humanity at this point in time. The infamous award-winning satirist examines the unexpected, and often disastrous, events of last year, before laying out well-considered predictions as to where we might now be headed. Thomas will be performing A Show That Gambles on the Future at Summerhall throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

Going to see loads of shows and performers. It is the biggest arts fest in the world, what is not to like? I always try and see a minimum of 40 shows every fringe, I know others see more and other see many less, but with a target of 40 it means you get and out and don’t waste time.

Other things I like: actors being actory, spotting Nicholas Parsons in a cravat, arguing performance art at Summerhall, bumping into mates in queues for shows and/or chips, drama students practising by being actory, taking my kids to a performance that is inappropriate- last one was naked mine artist with 14yr old daughter, Fruitmarket gallery, being interviewed in the BBC tent in front of an audience in cogoules, seeing Kirsty Walk filming at the Traverse, the comics wrestling match, and having tourists from Norway asking me if I am Mark Steel.

© Jane Hobson

2) What was your first Edinburgh show about?

My first time at the fringe performing was as a stand in for Paul Merton. He broke his leg playing football, ended up in hospital with a blood clot and his promoter asked me to stand in. Lots of anti-Tory stuff and sex. People v disappointed 

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

I hope so, otherwise my audience would be comprised of people taking random chances, which after 32 years performing would be a bit shit. According to bar staff and front of house folk, my crowd tend to be ‘nice’.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

One festival my accommodation was  sharing a mattress with a friend on the living room floor in a flat rented by  actors, which meant we would be woken by actors in their underwear stepping over us with mugs of coffee. Once we were woken by an actor with no underwear steeping over us looking for his underwear. He went on to star in Eastenders.

But the worst was a van. I spent most of the festival smelling of diesel and sweat and was shouted at for weeing out the side door directly into a drain. Which is fair enough.

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

Winning 3 Bafta’s in one evening.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

Richard Gadd, Bilal Zafar, Archie Maddocks, Northern Stage and, if Gary McNair is around, him too.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

Money and a cure for Hep C.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

An audience participation show teaching untrained amateurs the joys of the high wire without a net.

BOOK TICKETS FOR MARK THOMAS: A SHOW THAT GAMBLES ON THE FUTURE, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Charlie Baker

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© Andy Hollingworth

Stand up comic Charlie Baker’s latest show The Hit Polisher is an interesting blend of comedy and cabaret. As an ode to pop music from the 80s, 90s and 00s, there is surely something for everyone within this show. Charlie has made appearances on Harry Hill’s Teatime and the 02 Comedy Gala in recent years, proving himself to be a slick and energetic stand up performer, and he will be performing at Assembly George Square Theatre throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

The opportunity to perform exactly the kind of show you spend all year dreaming of performing. It’s completely up to you what you put on stage. Also being with all your mates in a beautiful city is pretty perfect.

2) What was your first Edinburgh show about?

My first hour was a mixture of jokes songs and dancing about my life. I’ve continued the theme in every show since.

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

A very attractive one. I get a very broad mix of ages and gender. I like that.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

A mouse for 3 weeks. Caught him with some chocolate, felt guilty.

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

Just starting and realising I was going to be able to do it for a living was amazing. Having a very nice gig in the Channel 4 Comedy Gala at the O2 was intensely fun.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

As I have my children with me I expect to see Sarah and Duck at least twice.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

One Million pounds.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

I think it will be a mixture of jokes songs and dancing about my life.

BOOK TICKETS FOR CHARLIE BAKER: THE HIT POLISHER, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Lost Voice Guy

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© Caroline Briggs

Lee Ridley, aka Lost Voice Guy, has cerebral palsy, which for him means he has a lack of speech. From a comedy point of view, this has allowed him to confront the stigma surrounding disability from an angle that is far more interesting for audiences to see. His blasé approach to the attitudes of others towards his disability, teamed with his dark sense of humour, makes for a deliciously funny combination. Lee is performing at The Stand throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

I think the thing I actually enjoy most about the festival is the fact that I get to hang out with all my comedy mates for a month. Because you only see each other every few months on the circuit, it’s pretty nice to have everyone all in one place for a change! I know I should probably say that the thought of performing to hundreds of people excites me, and of course it does, but I enjoy the social side of the festival just as much.

2) What was your first Edinburgh show about?

My first ever Edinburgh show was called Voice Of Choice, and it was basically a biographical show about my life so far, and how I ended up being a comedian despite not being able to speak. That was five years ago but I’m still quite proud of the show. 

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

I’m not sure really. Because I’m disabled and I talk about disability issues a lot, I do think that I get a lot of disabled people coming to my gigs (if they can access the venue anyway…). But other than that, I haven’t really noticed a certain type of person turning up. I seem to attract all sorts, which I think is a good thing. 

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

It might not be strictly to do with Edinburgh accommodation in the normal sense, but I was stuck in a hospital bed for three weeks during my first year at the Fringe. Basically I got pneumonia about two weeks into my run so I had to stay in an Edinburgh hospital bed while everyone else was packing up and going home. That was quite a nightmare! 

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

It would have to be when I supported Ross Noble at The Stand in Newcastle. Not only is Ross my comedy idol, but Newcastle’s Stand is my favourite venue to play. So to have both of those things together was awesome. It was definitely a dream come true. 

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

I’m a massive fan of Gein’s Family Giftshop so I’m looking forward to seeing what they have in store for us this year. Hopefully it’ll be something very dark and very wrong. 

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

I think a better question would be what would I hope not to lose. I’d quite like not to lose thousands of pounds, but I doubt I’ll get that wish! To be fair, I’m with The Stand who really look after their acts, so it isn’t as bad as it could be. If I can break even I’ll be very happy.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

Imagine if medicine had advanced so much that they actually found a way to give me my voice back, and my last show was just me telling jokes with my own voice like any other comedian. That would be both amazing and devastating at the same time. I mean I’d be able to talk, but I wouldn’t have an unique selling point anymore!

BOOK TICKETS FOR LOST VOICE GUY: INSPIRATION PORN, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017