Interviews

Njambi McGrath: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Steve Ullathorne
Who? Njambi McGrath
What? Accidental Coconut
Where? Just The Tonic at Marlin’s Wynd – Just The Wyndy Room (Venue 296)
When? 16:05

What are your feelings as you enter into this year’s Edinburgh Fringe season?

It’s always exciting when I hear the thud at the door and the directory lands on my welcome mat because that signals that Edinburgh is nigh. This is my annual ritual. I wait for a sunny day because there is nothing I love more than sitting in my garden with a cup of tea looking through all the shows. It’s always the same every year as I get halfway slowly panic sets in, that my show needs polishing, and that I need more previews. This year is no exception. I am excited, and nervous at the same time.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

My show is about identity hence the title Accidental Coconut. It bothered me that someone took the trouble to find a racial slur that describes a brown person who thinks white and my show questions the notion whether a black person can truly be of independent mind given the hijacking of the black narrative from slavery and colonialism. This is in juxtaposition with Brexit as the British people wrestle with identity and how our two worlds collide having being born in an ex-colony. 

What is the biggest obstacle you face(d) while putting this show together?

Getting enough previews to do the whole show is always problematic.

Has your attitude towards the Fringe changed at all in recent years?

The issues still remain the same, every year for rentals get even more expensive and every year affordability becomes even more questionable. I guess this is still my view.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

I do. There are a few Africans at the Fringe this year so go see Daliso Chaponda and Loyiso Gola.

Where would you like to be in a year’s time?

Doing a Netflix special.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR NJAMBI MCGRATH: ‘ACCIDENTAL COCONUT’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Patrick Monahan: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Steve Ullathorne
Who? Patrick Monahan
What? Started From The Bottom, Now I’m Here
Where? Gilded Balloon Teviot – Nightclub (Venue 14)
When? 20:00

What are your feelings as you enter into this year’s Edinburgh Fringe season?

Excitement, hunger, sleeplessness, and tiredness. But this is all because we’re moving house just before the 2019 festival. Which is probably one of the maddest things you can do at this time of year. Normally a couple of months before Edinburgh Festival I’d be travelling around doing previews, and getting myself rested up ready for a month long marathon in Scotland. Instead i’m moving around boxes of notes and comedy ideas for my new show from one house to another. It’s actually a great way to distract yourself from worrying too much too.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

It’s a very personal show this year. Each year I always try to reveal a bit more of my upbringing and life, flashing back to my immigrant roots and comparing it to today’s world. This show looks at how we not only were immigrants, as outsiders, we were also poor immigrants coming from the Middle East as kids, growing up in a small working class town in the north of England, living in a caravan for most of my teenage years. I could probably make about 10 separate one hour Edinburgh shows out of just this part of my life. 

What is the biggest obstacle you face(d) while putting this show together?

When you start to open up and reveal more of yourself to the audience you have got to be careful that you don’t scare or alienate them. But I think we’re so lucky in the UK that we have the best comedy savvy audience that they love to hear about every aspect of life. Also, it’s important when you’re doing a show like this at the festival that you get the balance right between observational comedy and personal routines. 

Has your attitude towards the Fringe changed at all in recent years?

No, the Fringe does a great job, in that it allows performers to bring a new show and let it live and breath and take shape amongst one of the greatest audiences in the western hemisphere.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

See as many shows as you can. Theres no point spending hours on a train, and £100’s on hotels and food and only see one show. But don’t try and see more than 5 shows a day or you’ll be heading to the festival on a train and leaving in an ambulance.

Where would you like to be in a year’s time?

I’d love to be settled in my new house, with all my new notes of my new show neatly organised in folders in my filing cabinet instead of in crates and shoe boxes in the back of a truck or warehouse, which is where they are today.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR PATRICK MONAHAN: ‘STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM, NOW I’M HERE’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Mr Twonkey: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Steve Ullathorne
Who? Mr Twonkey
What? Twonkey’s Ten Year Twitch
Where? Just The Tonic at The Caves – Just the Wee One (Venue 88)
When? 16:10

What are your feelings as you enter into this year’s Edinburgh Fringe season?

Climate change seems to the big issue that everyone is focusing on this year it seems. I am covering that but in my own way. I think what’s coming around the corner for the whole world is really going to hurt but let’s have fun before the devil takes the wheel, in fact he’s already at the wheel so lets hide in the hold together and make merry.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

Its kind of a piss take on conspiracy theories, its about the idea of fake weather being produced by a sinister cake decorating shop in the Dordogne. At the same time its just framework for me to hang my loons and larks with puppets and props and diddlysquats. I use a fair number of wigs this year.

What is the biggest obstacle you face(d) while putting this show together?

I’m ten years into doing this so sometimes the hardest person to please is myself. Often I get bored with myself, which can be a nightmare, as you can’t really escape yourself but wearing a wig helps. Sometimes a long fast run around the docks helps clear the air. A guy four doors down has an old chow chow (like really super fat bear but in dog form) that always needs walking so I sometimes take that for sniff about and I’m dyslexic which means a get on well with dogs and it takes my mind off the Twonkeyverse.

Has your attitude towards the Fringe changed at all in recent years?

Yes it seems to get more and more fierce and cutthroat but you can’t really let that into your mind. You just need to get on with your small corner and make sure your show and yourself are in the best place possible to make the most of it all. I still get joy from it and I’m always finding new ways of sucking huge amounts of nectar from the giant Fringe flower.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Enjoyed these two shows at the Prague Fringe this year: Isa Bonachera: The Great Emptiness; An Audience with Yasmine Day

Where would you like to be in a year’s time?

Crystal Caves would be lovely, it’s a cave in the British overseas territory of Bermuda. It is located in Hamilton Parish, close to Castle Harbour. The cave is approximately 500m long, and 62m deep. The lower 19-20m of the cave are below water level. That would be wonderful, I could have a wee rest down there.

When and where can people see your show? Twonkey’s Ten Year Twitch, Just the Tonic at the Caves – Just the Wee One. 16:10 August 1-11,13-25.

http://twonkey.blogspot.com
https://www.instagram.com/twonkeyverse/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/twonkeys

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR ‘TWONKEY’S TEN YEAR TWITCH’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Jayne Edwards: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Fox Dog Studios
Who? Jayne Edwards
What? Jayne Edwards Is Top Bodybuilder Brian
Where? Heroes @ Dragonfly – Room (Venue 414)
When? 22:00

What are your feelings as you enter into this year’s Edinburgh Fringe season?

Well, as it’s my first solo show, I’m really excited. I know nothing of the psyche crushing intensity of it all yet, so I’m feeling pretty great. I have a really great show so I am looking forward to get it out there. And obviously I’m self-flagellating about saving money right now.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

My Edinburgh show is about an ex-top bodybuilder called Brian. Brian is based on guys from my home town of Rhyl, where he lives in a caravan and tries to crack the recipe to Lucozade in his spare time. The show is going back through his life to find out where it all went so right. Brian is essentially a satire, but at times physical and ridiculous. As well as stand up, the show is a bit of everything. Dance, song, animation, video. Many comedians warned me not to mix other mediums with stand-up. It releases evil spirits that can only be cleansed by an old school comedian telling you to write a joke, love. But I told them I wasn’t afraid. And now I’ve made a really fun show! And the evil spirits just add to the vibe!

What is the biggest obstacle you face(d) while putting this show together?

Putting the show together was overall pretty fun. I find writing for Brian natural and the idea of my very own show freeing. I wish I had a big dramatic story about finding a huge personal obstacle in making this show but I’m don’t. So I will just say “9/11”.

Has your attitude towards the Fringe changed at all in recent years?

I used to see it as kind of closed off. I applied and didn’t get a venue despite being relatively established on the Northern circuit for years. I’ve always lived in the North and I felt left out. This got compounded because I’m naturally shy. I was a humble bumpkin. And, not to be crude, but the cost of Edinburgh is terrifying. Coming from a working class background, it’s hard to personally justify the expense and the time off my day job. It’s a personal fight to force myself to invest financially in my talent and years of hard work, in a way that isn’t just on needed train tickets or a new bald cap. Especially as a “weird act”, getting any sort of footing is hard if you don’t get your elbows out and start digging. But recently, I have had people reaching out and helping me organise stuff, giving me bigger opportunities and putting me in touch with people I didn’t know how to approach. And now? I’m a complete fucking monster. God, I can’t wait to get up there, put on a tiara and shove flyerers into puddles because they look at me the wrong way.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Foxdog Studios: Tomorrow’s Office – 17.00 – Heroes @ the Hive

Sean Morely: Soon I will be dead and my bones will be free to wreak havoc upon the earth once more – 15.20 – Heroes @ the Hive

The Delightful Sausage: Ginster’s Paradise – 12.00 – Monkey Barrel

Andy Barr: The Ruby – 20.15 – Heroes@ Black Medicine

Adam Larter: Good Morning Croissant – 19.20 – Heroes @ The Hive

Consignia – 11th-17th – 1.45am – Banshee Labyrinth

The Glang Show – 7th and 14th – 21.00 – Heroes @ The Hive.

Where would you like to be in a year’s time?

Ideally I would like more comedy writing work. I like writing. I’ll do stand-up till I die but I sometimes feel old already so the idea of just writing and not drawing on myself and throwing my body about a stage is starting to become very appealing. And Edinburgh is a good chance to be seen by a wider range of people. I was one of those acts who became obsessed with becoming some kind of DIY punk cult comedian after getting one rejection email from a big name club. So broadening my group of loyal fans to three, possibly four people would be great!

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR ‘JAYNE EDWARDS IS TOP BODYBUILDER BRIAN’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Nick Elleray: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© James Deacon
Who? Nick Elleray
What? Big Nick Energy
Where? Laughing Horse @ The Counting House – The Attic (Venue 170)
When? 12:45

What are your feelings as you enter into this year’s Edinburgh Fringe season?

I have a vague sense of optimism, which is a new flavour for me. I’m not sure how I feel about it yet.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

It’s the human condition to desire to be something we’re not and to desire to not be something we are. We pine for change but find ourselves incapable of it. For example, about five minutes into this show, I drop the c-bomb. It’s out-of-character for me and I should probably change it, but find myself incapable of doing so. So, yeah, it’s generally operating on that level of philosophical enquiry.

I also trash-talk the Rolling Stones for not releasing a decent album in nearly 40 years.

What is the biggest obstacle you face(d) while putting this show together?

Wrestling with my own genius.

Just kidding! I didn’t wrestle with my genius, we just pushed each other in the chest for a while, playground-style. He won, unfortunately, so he’s at my place now, eating my biscuits. And fair play to him.

Has your attitude towards the Fringe changed at all in recent years?

I’ve given up booze, so I now have much more fun onstage to make up for my miserable, temperate existence offstage. So I still look forward to the general fun-and-games of the festival, but I’m way more into the idea of making and performing a really good show.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

I’m sure your readership are already hip to these cats but here we go: I’ve loved every show The Delightful Sausage have done. They clash with me, so I’ll be seeing them on my day off. I recently saw sketch group Moon and they made me laugh constantly.

I saw a preview of Alasdair Beckett-King’s new show and it’s chock-full of great jokes and silliness.

Helen Duff and Pat Cahill are always doing exciting and funny stuff. Helen Bauer is doing her first full show and it will be a real cracker.

I’m also looking forward to seeing the new stuff from Heidi Regan, Micky Overman and the dead-eyed monster that is Sunil Patel.

Where would you like to be in a year’s time?

Lounging on a sofa, eating a white chocolate Magnum, smiling as I think about how well-attended my 2019 Edinburgh show was.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR NICK ELLERAY: ‘BIG NICK ENERGY’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Darius Davies: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Steve Ullathorne
Who? Darius Davies
What? Persian of Interest
Where? Just The Tonic at The Tron (Venue 51)
When? 14:20

What are your feelings as you enter into this year’s Edinburgh Fringe season?

I’m feeling a combination of nervousness and excitement. This is my first year not doing a show on the Free Fringe and having an earlier start time than usual. Also unlike most years I have previewed the show already – as opposed to writing it the night before!

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

My show touches on my heritage but really it deals with the way our lives are being more and more dictated by our online presence. I talk about the weaponisation of social media, the spread of fake news, and more importantly I demonstrate how easy it is to manipulate the news in 2019. I believe my show has a very important and FUNNY message.

What is the biggest obstacle you face(d) while putting this show together?

Getting the narrative arc to flow properly – which I believe I have managed and ensuring that I have enough “jokes” so my show doesn’t turn into a boring Ted Talk. It’s a comedy show first, and hopefully it will have a take away message too.

Has your attitude towards the Fringe changed at all in recent years?

My attitude has changed so much as in previous years I was mainly bringing a show up for fun and to enjoy the festival. I still wanted to make money and do as well as I could, but perhaps I didn’t see the big picture of what Edinburgh could offer, in regards to opportunities and development as a performer.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Yes I do! You should come and see Hate N Live (JTT The Big Cave 10:30pm). This is a show I co-created and is now in it’s 6th year. It gets bigger and better every year. Audience write down things they hate, and the comedians have to hate on them. Simple.

UFC Unleashed for MMA fans with Justin Panks (4.30pm Free Sisters) will be great if you like combat sports, and of course I have to plug Leo Kearse Transgressive which knowing Leo will be amazingly funny.

Where would you like to be in a year’s time?

This time next year – I would like to be more established within the industry and frantically trying to write a show to follow up Persian of Interest’s litany of 5 star reviews! I’d also like to get Hate N Live onto television in some form or other.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR DARIUS DAVIES: ‘PERSIAN OF INTEREST’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Nigel Ng: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Jiksaw
Who? Nigel Ng
What? Culture Shocked
Where? Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker Two (Venue 33)
When? 18:45

What are your feelings as you enter into this year’s Edinburgh Fringe season?

Nervous. Excited.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

It’s about my life in the UK as a Malaysian immigrant. And the tragic ways of how Westerners prepare rice.

What is the biggest obstacle you face(d) while putting this show together?

Constantly battling the fears that what I do is not the kind of critically acclaimed, artsy, narrative, thematic comedy the Fringe loves. And having to be OK with that. I know it’s a funny show, and I need to be comfortable doing things my way.

Has your attitude towards the Fringe changed at all in recent years?

I’ve always loved it! I love how the Fringe it showcases art from all genres (where else can you see a magic show, music, and standup all in the same university classroom?)

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Loyiso Gola! That guy is a monster on stage and super smart. Ivo Graham, Rosie Jones, Jake Lambert are all amazing! For non-comedy stuff: I love watching circus and acrobatic shows up there. I’m drawn by their sheer physical prowess, the precision of movement, and how they defy death every day. And not a show, but an Edinburgh experience for me: the noodle bar known as Noodles and Dumplings on South Clerk St. Noodles in warm broth is the best antidote for shit weather.

Where would you like to be in a year’s time?

Continue building and finding my audience. Be a better comic than I am today.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR NIGEL NG: ‘CULTURE SHOCKED’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Dreamgun: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Killian Broderick
Who? Dreamgun (Heber Hanley)
What? Film Reads
Where? Underbelly, Bristo Square – The Dairy Room (Venue 302)
When? 22:15

What are your feelings as you enter into this year’s Edinburgh Fringe season?

The perfect mix of excitement and trepidation. Edinburgh is such a hectic festival with so many highs and lows. There’s the constant fear that you won’t be able to get anyone to see the show or that everyone will hate it. Also I find there’s always some curveball that gets thrown at you no matter how much preparation you do so you have to stay on your toes.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

Film Reads is big dumb comedy show where we take our favourite films, cut the script down to an hour and stuff it full of jokes and nonsense. Each night we do a totally new film like Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Jaws or Silence of the Lambs. None of it is rehearsed and the cast are literally reading their lines for the first time on stage which gives it a ramshackle charm.

What is the biggest obstacle you face(d) while putting this show together?

I think probably just the size of our cast. I know that seems like a very technical answer but we’ve got a relatively large cast (8 people) and so it can make it a little unwieldy for travelling. But the upside is when we make it to Edinburgh you’ve got a team of the best people in the planet at your side for support.

Has your attitude towards the Fringe changed at all in recent years?

Completely. Especially before my first Fringe there was no way I could have predicted what to expect. No matter how many people I talked to you can’t understand until you’ve just done it. This is only my third Fringe but second going over with this show and you just have to sort of take it as it comes. The first two years I went over with pretty lofty expectations and the Fringe promptly knocked me on my ass.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Shout out to Alison Spittle, a very funny Irish comedian. She’s incredibly charming on stage and also just one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Another Irish Comedian, Tony Cantwell is someone you absolutely should not miss. It’s his first Edinburgh and he’s going to knock it out of the park. I’d also recommend checking out Double Denim. We performed with them in Adelaide and they’re two incredibly funny women. I’d also finally recommend going to see whatever Mat Ewins has cooked up this year as it’s certainly going to be genius.

Where would you like to be in a year’s time?

Ideally I’d love to be working full time doing the show or just comedy writing in general. It’s what I enjoy doing the most in my life so if I ever got the opportunity to quit my day job and do it full time I’d be over the moon.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR DREAMGUN: ‘FILM READS’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Eric Lampert: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Troy Conrad
Who? Eric Lampaert
What? Borne of Chaos
Where? Laughing Horse @ The Counting House – The Ballroom (Venue 170)
When? 16:15

What are your feelings as you enter into this year’s Edinburgh Fringe season?

There’s so much pressure for comedians to have a ‘good Edinburgh’, but no longer living in the UK and having multiple territories to play with means I can just concentrate on doing my best and continuing to polish the show while at the Fringe, using it as a platform to workshop rather that some exam, which is certainly how I felt when I first started going there.

I can’t take it too seriously anyway as I’m waiting to hear back from show pilots I auditioned for, which means I may have to cancel none, some, or all of it.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

I either had a mental breakdown and lost my mind, or an atheist had the equivalent of a conversation with God & experienced ego death. Either way, I wanted to get my story down before I get hospitalised again. Good enough, right?

What is the biggest obstacle you face(d) while putting this show together?

I have one story to share, but presented in two chapters, two shows. They will each work separately so you don’t have to see the first to enjoy the second (although I do recommend it). The former is set before I experienced this life changing moment in my life and therefore can be constructed as one scripted piece. The latter is everything after the event and, as I’m still dealing with its ripple effect and discovering new things in real time, the sequel is evolving constantly, so… the biggest obstacle is accepting that the second show will be mostly improvised. I’m not worried about it, I love being in the moment with the audience, but that means accepting the unpredictability of the future.

Has your attitude towards the Fringe changed at all in recent years?

It’s a rich person’s playground, pushing out poorer talent or forcing them to get in debt. And it gets more expensive every year. I think this added pressure on talent has certainly soured how colleagues view the Fringe. Without artists, there wouldn’t be a festival, so perhaps they should walk away at the end of August with a fairer slice of the money made from the venues.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

I’m excited to see Diana Dinerman’s show Detour. I became friends with her in LA where everyone says they’re a comedian – every, person – but you only find out when you see them perform. I saw her perform a very short set and was nervous our friendship could end there and then, but thankfully she was a hilarious breath of fresh air. I only got a little slice of her show, so I look forward to seeing the full story.

Where would you like to be in a year’s time?

Thanks to my trans-continental career, I’m currently living out of a bag and couch surfing across the oceans, which is exhilarating, but comes with its challenges; one being it’s not yet as financially fruitful as it looks from the outside looking in. Paying rent in either London or Los Angeles is already hard enough, so paying for it when you barely use it is not a prospect I’m keen on right now. Hopefully by next year, I can pay for a nest regardless of how long I spend in it. Either way, I’ve no fucking idea why I’ve been listening to ABBA lately, but I’m into it, so maybe you’ll see me in line for Mamma Mia! the musical by next year, or couch surfing in Sweden.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR ERIC LAMPAERT: ‘BORNE OF CHAOS’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Harriet Braine: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Karla Gowlett
Who? Harriet Braine
What? Les Admirables
Where? Gilded Balloon at Old Tolbooth Market – Top (Venue 98)
When? 18:00

What are your feelings as you enter into this year’s Edinburgh Fringe season?

Broadly positive. I’m in a better place financially and mentally than I was last year, and so far I am happier with my show. The Fringe could easily turn that all upside down though!

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

Telling the stories of some amazing women from the history of science and technology, while also diving into my career as a performer and a bit of family history, talking about my grandmas, both scientists. It’s also funny (promise).

What is the biggest obstacle you face(d) while putting this show together?

The two main challenges were finding the funny side of the subject matter, and writing original songs rather than parodies this time. It’s not been easy, as my whole schtick in previous shows has been based around mocking supposed ‘genius’ artists, usually male, so an easy punch up. Whereas now I’m talking about people who really had to deal with a lifetime of not being taken seriously because of their gender. Take away most of the parody song elements (I’ve still got a couple in there for old times sake…) which provide easy laughs, and it’s a real challenge. A good challenge! Love a challenge.

Has your attitude towards the Fringe changed at all in recent years?

Yes, and it never gets easier! I’ve learnt to keep my expectations low, and then it means any positive things that happen feel really good! I’ve learnt over the past few years that it’s really important to pay attention to your mental and physical wellbeing, which for me means taking a lot of time out, being quiet most of the time to save my voice and also just remembering to chill out, and not staying up late. Boring but important.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

I’m really looking forward to seeing Siblings’ latest show, as they always have me in stitches. Also Sooz Kempner’s new show looks amazing. Can’t wait to see Jayde’s Ballad of Kylie Jenner’s Old Face. Best title ever. I love me a bit of improv too, so I’ll be trying to see Spontaneous Potter, and other people I don’t get to see in London.

Where would you like to be in a year’s time?

I’d like to be either preparing another exciting new show for Edinburgh (I love it really) and maybe even without a day job! Or I’ll get a part in a West End show that runs forever and be famous. Without having any acting or singing training or qualifications. That’s how it works, right?

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR HARRIET BRAINE: ‘LES ADMIRABLES’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019