Interviews

Steve N Allen: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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Who? Steve N Allen
What? Better Than
Where? The Stand Comedy Club 2 (Venue 5)
When? 20:50

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

A healthy dose of terror mixed with a little bit of unhealthy terror. Around this time I get a little over-eager to get up there and start doing my material to people. It probably makes me annoying to know for a few months. Most conversations get peppered with me saying, ‘Oh, I should put that in the show’.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

Doesn’t it feel like the world keeps getting worse? There are some bad people but no one thinks they’re in the wrong. What if you could make the right choice? In the show I look at those small moments in life where you get to pick what to do and these days we’re being coaxed into doing the bad thing and justifying it to ourselves. Pick the option that’s better and you could end up better than the angry shouting people in politics, better than the dodgy movie moguls, better than what you would have been. It’s that. A look at how to be slightly better than the alternative. 

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

Pretty much all of my past shows in Edinburgh have been topical reviews of the year. That’s harder to write but the trick there is I’d be stood next to a big screen that shows the headline that I’m talking about. It was basically there to remind me what bit to do next. This year it’s all pure stand up, no gimmicks, so I actually have to learn it all.

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

I remember the first few times I did it I felt an obligation, you have to do Edinburgh if you want to get on. I don’t think you can hold that opinion long-term of anything. If you think you have to do something you will find a way out. If you want to do something then you can start to enjoy it. That’s where I am these days. I can’t wait to be doing this show.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Any of my fellow cast members on The Mash Report seem to be acing it at the moment. Erich McElroy who crops up on my BBC podcast also has an interesting take on the state of society in his show. But in general, see as much as you can.

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

Doing what I do now but doing more of it. I’ve realised that this job is one of the most enjoyable things you can do as long as you take the time to enjoy it. If I get another year where I’m telling jokes on stage, doing odd things in podcasts and recording topical stuff on The Mash Report I’ll be very happy indeed.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR STEVE N ALLEN: ‘BETTER THAN’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Daisy Earl: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Trudy Stade
Who? Daisy Earl
What? Fairy Elephant
Where? Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose – Nip (Venue 24)
When? 16:00

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

I’m really excited! I love Edinburgh, especially at Fringe time, and I feel really happy to be doing my first full hour. It’s really lovely as a comedian to be able to perform every day of the week in a city where almost all of your comedy friends are at that time.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

My show is essentially about self improvement and the extremes people can go to in order to feel happy. When I turned 30 (now over a year ago), I set myself a task to fix a lot of things in my life; I wanted to get sober, to get a boyfriend, to lose weight, to earn more money, to control my mental health. I had a long list of things I felt I needed to be content. This show I suppose is about what I lost and what I found and what I should have maybe stopped looking for.

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

I think knowing when to stop. You can get really over excited when writing a show and want to put everything in. I think being disciplined enough to not over pack the story is something I’m definitely developing but takes work.

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

Not really- I’ve always loved the Fringe. I suppose it’s different in that years ago I would only be visiting Edinburgh in August as an audience member; it’s much more exciting to be visiting as a performer. I lived in Edinburgh previously, started comedy on the Scottish circuit and my Mum is Scottish, so it still feels like coming home.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

To be honest it’s hard to pick one but I started comedy on the Scottish circuit and have so many Scottish acts that I love that it’s hard to pick one: Jojo Sutherland, Jay Lafferty, Susie McCabe, Janey Godley, Vlad McTavish, Ashley Storey, Billy Kirkwood, Liam Withnail, Gareth Waugh, Gareth Mutch, Gus Lymburn, Marc Jennings, Stephen Buchanan… and so many more! It’s hard to pick just a few because the Scottish circuit on the whole is really strong so I would just seek out as much Scottish talent as you can.

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

Just performing comedy. I think it’s an industry where you can sometimes get too focused on what comes next and forget that just to be able to perform is a really amazing thing. I love stand-up so, as long as I’m still performing, I’ll be happy.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR DAISY EARL: ‘FAIRY ELEPHANT’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Chris Grace: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Greg Crowder
Who? Chris Grace
What? Voldemort and the Teenage Hogwarts Musical Parody
Where? Assembly George Square Studios (Venue 17)
When? 17:00

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

I am excited and scared. Every year I have added more performing and producing tasks to my plate. So I might be the proverbial frog boiling myself to death with responsibility. But I’m also looking forward to new discoveries and bringing new people and projects to Edinburgh, and I’m excited about the things I’m going to learn and the stunning new things I’m going to see.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

I’m producing two shows, Voldemort and the Teenage Hogwarts Musical Parody, which is what it says on the tin, and John Accardo: Method to the Magic which is a fantastic comedic magic show with one of my favorite American magicians.

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

I don’t know yet. Producing Voldemort was surprisingly smooth last year. I am prepared for adversity from any corner in the next three months.

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

I’m not as bowled over with wonder as I was when I first went, and I think I see more of the pattern of the kinds of shows that people bring. But I still look for that distinct Fringe experience, a show I had no idea about that turns out to be amazing, or the show that is so bad that I will never forget it (or performing a play for 2 people in a 288-seat house).

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

I recommend people see as many types of shows as possible, especially if they aren’t well-represented in their home locales. For me it’s lots of circus, clown, and magic shows!

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

Promoting my finished independent film that I haven’t actually written at this moment.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR CHRIS GRACE: ‘VOLDEMORT AND THE TEENAGE HOGWARTS MUSICAL PARODY’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Robin Morgan: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Matt Stronge
Who? Robin Morgan
What? What a Man, What a Man, What a Man, What a Mighty Good Man (Say It Again Now)
Where? Laughing Horse @ The Pear Tree – Main room (Venue 257)
When? 16:05

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

Nervousness. My brilliant wife will be 8 months pregnant in August and we are keeping everything crossed she doesn’t go into labour early and we have an Edinburgh baby. Not that there’s anything wrong with that – Scottish citizenship will probably come in handy, but I think we’d rather have them at home.

Also excitement about the show. It’s the best one I’ve done. But mainly the nervous about the baby thing.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

It’s a ‘dead Dad show’ about my not dead Dad. It’s about my son, calling out the double standards in parenting, and what makes a good male role model. I think it’s my Dad.

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

I’ve currently had 3 walk-outs, all at the same point in the show, so I know at least one bit of material is pissing a certain type of person off. But that’s exciting. I’ve never had that before! I’ve got a plan of action with how to deal with it (nothing aggressive) which I’m very excited about.

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

I’m going to try and gig less this year. Every year I do about 10 gigs a day and then wonder why I’m exhausted by Week 3. It helps I’ve got the family up. Soft play in the mornings, gigs in the early evening, dinner and Emmerdale after that. World’s Biggest Arts Festival and I’m going to have dinner with Emmerdale. Yes please. Can’t wait.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

I’d always recommend Jordan Brookes as we started at the same time in Cardiff, and you just don’t know what he’s going to do. Helen Bauer is doing her first show, as is Sophie Duker, they’re both amazing. Olga Koch and Maisie Adam have me in stitches every time I see them so excited to see theirs too.

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

With all the love in the world, not doing Edinburgh. I’m giving myself a year off next year so I’ll probably go on HOLIDAY. What countries do they have Emmerdale? I’ll go there.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR ROBIN MORGAN: ‘WHAT A MAN, WHAT A MAN, WHAT A MAN, WHAT A MIGHTY GOOD MAN (SAY IT AGAIN)’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Konstantin Kisin: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Steve Ullathorne
Who? Konstantin Kisin
What? Orwell That Ends Well
Where? Gilded Balloon Teviot – Wee Room (Venue 14)
When? 19:00

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

Terrified and very excited at the same time. It’s how you feel before a first date that will cost you £5,000 if it doesn’t go well.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year? [note: debut show?

It’s a show about the erosion of free speech in the West, growing political correctness and self-censorship. I decided to make the show about that after being embroiled in a massive news storm after I refused to sign a behavioural agreement form for a university gig.

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

The events the show is based on only happened in December so I’ve had less than half a year to write the show!

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

I went to the Fringe for the last couple of years and really enjoyed the vibe, but it’s my first time taking up my own show so the pressure is on.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Yes, check out Geoff Norcott, Andrew Doyle, fellow newcomer Esther Manito, Jamali Maddix. Also, Geoff Norcott’s Taking Liberties 2019 tour, and Sean McLoughlin’s 2019 tour.

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

Prepared. 🙂

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR KONSTANTIN KISIN: ‘ORWELL THAT ENDS WELL’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Laura Davis: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© James Penlidis
Who? Laura Davis
What? Better Dead Than a Coward
Where? Heroes @ Bob’s BundaBus – Top Deck (Venue 212)
When? 21:10

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

I’m looking forward to it. 2017 was my first year at Ed Fringe and it was all a big swarm of new experience. 2018 I was doing a show that required me to dress up as a ghost every night and I also decided to compound my stress with getting married halfway through the festival. This year feels like I know the festival, I don’t have to dress up as a ghost every night, I’m stoked to be on Bob’s BlundaBus and I know where I can get the best baked potatoes (8ft from the BlundaBus conveniently enough) so I’m all set. If the baked potato van isn’t there this year though everything could be thrown into chaos. I know it’s a massive festival and a big churning behemoth of a thing, but if you change your mindset just a little bit it can also just be a really great way to spend a month in an incredibly beautiful city eating chips, so I’m going to just focus on that aspect.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

Better Dead Than a Coward is the title of the show and also a personal motto of mine. Sort of my own bastardised, much blunter version of all the sayings along the lines of ‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself’ and people fearing death so much they forget to live. So this is a show about fear and chaos and life that I mostly wrote riding around drunk on a London bus. London busses really being the perfect place to contemplate all of those things.

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

Every year that I write a new show take the part of my last show that was my favourite and try to write an hour that captures the way that one part felt. Sort of like taking a cutting of a plant. The last show I wrote was Cake in the Rain (which you can buy a very cheap download of off of my website…ahem). The thing I liked best about that show was the couple of parts in it that I really got to let go of myself in. Sort of relaxed and supercharged at exactly the same time and it requires a fair bit of trust in the audience to be able to do. I think the biggest obstacle in putting the new show together has been trying to pin that down and commit to it. It feels like trying to paint a detailed picture of something I only got a couple of glimpses of.

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

It is my third year at the Edinburgh Fringe and I’m doing Free Fringe for the first time. I understand the machinations behind the Fringe, but I wanted to reduce my overheads and ticket prices so that I’m not left in debt and more people can come and enjoy the show and we can all just fucking relax for a bit. I respect that it’s probably a lot more complicated than I can see at face value but I just feel like the system of artists losing thousands of pounds while punters pay high ticket fees stinks like a big, damp, stinky arsehole left to stink.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Always go and see Alice Fraser, and James Nokise any time you get the chance. They’re both such incredibly smart and wonderful performers that really make you feel like you’ve learned something without being patronised.

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

I’m really happy with where I am this year, but I’m looking forward to seeing the outcomes of some projects I’ve been working on and would hope that this time next year feels similarly exciting with some new ones. Or that said, I would like to be walking along a rugged beach somewhere which is mostly all I really like to do anyway. I’m very ready to quit comedy at some point and go into aquaculture and seaweed farming so if I’m not in the program guide for next year that’s probably where I’ve got to. I guess long time fans are welcome to come and buy tickets to my seaweed farm if they really want.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR LAURA DAVIS: ‘BETTER DEAD THAN A COWARD’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Paul F Taylor: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Edward Moore
Who? Paul F Taylor
What? Odd Paul
Where? The Stand Comedy Club 2 – Stand 2 (Venue 5)
When? 13:20

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

Pretty good thanks, previews have been fun. The weather has been good. As long as I don’t watch too much of the news, I feel great!

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

It’s about how I use my surreal scattergun style of comedy as a distraction, to avoid revealing too much about myself. Then some cracks slowly appear.

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

Working out what it was. The content of the show is an ever-evolving thing that is the culmination of playing with a pen on paper and with a mic on a stage, then when you start to group all that stuff together to make something bigger it can be difficult because some bits fit and others don’t. I knew there was something that I wanted to say this year, but it’s been hard for me first to distil what that really was and how I can do that whilst staying true to my style of comedy.

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

Yes, in some ways I’m far more businesslike about it these days, I still have a lot of fun, but it’s no longer the three weeks piss up with my pals that it once was. Additionally, I’m much more level-headed about why I’m doing it. It’s to show people what I can do, increase my fanbase and to artistically satisfy myself doing that.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

There are hundreds of very capable comedians up at the Fringe who need the audience so I would recommend taking a risk on someone you haven’t heard of. It’ll only be an hour of your time if it’s terrible, and at least you’ll have the story of that weird show you saw. Also, conversely, you could have the story of the person you saw before they became HUGE!

For me, 110% John Kearns and Pat Cahill will be something I will definitely go to see.

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

Here, but in a better me.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR PAUL F TAYLOR: ‘ODD PAUL’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Harriet Dyer: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Nigel Hillier
Who? Harriet Dyer
What?  The Dinosaur Show
Where? Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose – Dram (Venue 24)
When? 20:15

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

I’m feeling great about it to be honest. Am very excited to do my very silly new show every day. I’m very dramatic and have previously been like, ‘I’m never doing the Fringe again, it’s everything I hate in the world!’ But now I’m back on the meds and all is fine. I think the key is finding a way to make it work that’s best for you.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

To be honest the premise has drastically changed about 47,000 times but at the moment it’s about what really happened to the dinosaurs. It’s all a massive conspiracy, loads of chaos, songs and of course inflatable dinosaur outfits. It’s just fun so if you’ve got imagination in your head and laughter out your mouth, this is for you!

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

I’ve majorly spiralled out of control with the amount of props I’ve purchased, it’s ridiculous. Sometimes I actually hope for someone to rob my bag just for the look on their face when they look inside… but that’d be short lived as I’d then have to buy all these ruddy props again!

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

It’s a real love/hate thing for me, mainly because it’s nothing other than a cash cow for so many people and I don’t think that’s how it should be and not what it originally was. ‘Tis so easy to get swept up in the nonsense of it all and I for one shall no more so this year will just focus on making my show the best it can be, watching lots of lovely people’s shows and overall have a splendid time with nice people.

Plus this year where I’m staying will have an en-suite toilet, I do believe this could be an absolute game changer!

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

I saw The Delightful Sausage do a preview at Mach fest and it was so so funny.

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

I’d like an en-suite toilet in my non-Fringe life too.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR HARRIET DYER: ‘THE DINOSAUR SHOW’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Dave Green: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Edward Moore
Who? Dave Green
What? Guest Bed
Where? Just the Tonic at The Mash House – Just the Attic (Venue 288)
When? 19:55

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

I’m very much looking forward to doing the Fringe in 2019. I’ve really enjoyed working on my show and it’s going to be something pretty different from what I’ve done before.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

My show this year is called Guest Bed and is a personal storytelling show about my journey to becoming a celebrity lookalike and the resulting chance encounter that forces me to confront my past.

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

This is my first show where I’ve really spoken about true life personal events so that has been quite a change of gear for me.

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

Every year I come to the Fringe I get a little bit better at dealing with the stresses involved in putting on a show. I try and take time out to do things that have nothing to do with the festival. Last year I was staying next to a swimming pool and I learnt how to swim.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Nick Dixon, Saskia Preston, Lucy Hopkins

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

I’d just like to be working on another show that I’m as excited about as this one.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR DAVE GREEN: ‘GUEST BED’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Archie Henderson: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Hunter Allen
Who? Archie Henderson
What? Jazz Emu
Where? Gilded Balloon at Old Tolbooth Market – Bothy (Venue 98)
When? 18:45

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

It’s my debut show, so naturally I feel a warm glow combined with a profound sense of dread. My venue is nice, though, which is giving me hope. Also I’ve worked my tiny little ass off on my show and I’m really happy with it.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

I’ve spent the last two years in my pants making musical stings on my computer that no-one would ever find. I really don’t need that whole Van Gogh ‘successful 100 years after he died’ thing in my life, so I figured I should just bring the art to the people. It’s a refined musical smorgasbord. It also contains enough jokes about birds that, when they discuss my work centuries down the line, I feel like it’ll feature under the ‘Themes & Images’ tab on my Wiki page.

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

A crippling and constant pang of inadequacy combined with totally unmerited feeling that my art is going to change lives.

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

There’s way too much comedy now. It’s tedious! How am I meant to sell my show?! There’s a parallel universe in which the whole festival is puppet circus acts, and I’m single-handedly cornering the market.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Heidi Regan is the most unsettlingly funny stand up I’ve seen for ages. I’m also looking forward to Garry Starr’s new show, which I loved last year. Janine Harouni is high on my list as a smash-it-out-the-park newcomer.

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

Have a Wikipedia page with a Themes & Images tab.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR ARCHIE HENDERSON: ‘JAZZ EMU’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019