Interviews

Olivia Rhee: The Edinburgh Interviews 2018:

Leave a Comment

© Olivia Rhee

Who? Olivia Rhee
What? Adventures of the Singing Acupuncturist, Big O Makes It in New York… or, Does She?
Where? Laughing Horse @ The Phoenix (venue 146)
When? 21:00

Are you prepared for what this year’s Edinburgh Fringe has in store for you?

I hope so! I have an open mind and so do not have any idea what it has in store for me, but I welcome it with open arms… Love conquers all…

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

I think the title of my show says a lot: Adventures of the Singing Acupuncturist. Big O makes it in New York… or does she? It is my comedy debut and so introduces me, a (Korean-American) lady, into the Comedy World. I talk about topics such as my culture, my food (kimchi, etc.), my relationships, my career, and my life this past year… a lot in an hour? Yes, but entertainingly so.

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

Finding venues to host my preview shows and making my jokes funnier

Who would most enjoy your show?

Anyone who has a dream, has ever had a dream, and who enjoys learning about other cultures and getting free healthy tips and who enjoy laughing at me.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Yes, 1) Baby Wants Candy; 2) One Woman Sex and the City; 3) Even more Naked: Lucy Frederick; 4) Dave Chawner: Mental; 5) Cow Café Cabaret Show at Midnight; 6) Croft and Pierce: Comedy Sketch Duo; 7) Falling with Style: David von Jones; 8) Kimono My Comedy Show: Martin Angolo.

What is your favourite thing about Edinburgh as a city?

How beautiful it is, with its hills and castle; and the people are friendly, I feel safe here, although I had a stalker the other night… (for the first time in the 9 years that I’ve been coming to the Fringe).

What are your plans for after the festival?

I will go back to work so that I can make enough money to do what I love, which is to perform on stage. If my show does well and is discovered by a wealthy billionaire producer, I hope to take my show on a World Tour!

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR OLIVIA RHEE HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2018

Interview: Daddy-Less Issues Podcast

Leave a Comment
Daddy-Less Issues is a podcast created and hosted by orphan comedians Amber Rollo and Chanel Ali, with the aim of opening up discussion about the experiences of losing one or both parents, whilst also investigating the effects that this can have on an artist’s outlook and process.
This podcast discusses topics that are often seen to be too heavy or sensitive for casual conversation, but Rollo and Ali are challenging this presumption by producing such a fascinating and largely upbeat show. MoodyComedy spoke to Amber and Chanel to find out more about Daddy-Less Issues…

What spurred you to start The Daddy-less Issues podcast?

We kept seeing this pattern of orphans talked about in fiction but not in real life. Fairy tales, comic books and movies are filled with stories about orphans that are fantastic and magical, we wanted to show that real life orphans are pretty fantastic and magical themselves.

What, for both of you, does it mean to be an orphan?

In the nitty gritty definition sense, we go by the UN definition of orphan “a child who has lost one or more parents through death or abandonment.” But in a general more spiritual sense, it means we are enterprising independent kick ass hustlers, but who like also need love too.

Chanel Ali (left) and Amber Rollo, © Mindy Tucker

How do you think being an orphan has affected your career choices and comedy style?

We have found that we are a bit more free to talk about whatever we like on stage, compared to other comics who struggle with parental tsk tsking.

Have you discovered anything surprising about being an artist without parents as you’vebeen making this podcast?

We’ve discovered so many things, but our favorite is a sentiment best stated by Armistead Maupin “there are biological families, and then there are logical families” and we are both growing beautiful and supportive logical families. We have enjoyed the freedom to pursue our dreams and define success without the pressure or judgment that is often accompanied by two parent households.

What is the most difficult aspect about talking to people about potentially painful subjectssuch as losing a parent?

Often guests have never openly talked about this stuff with others who truly understand, sometimes they get so swept up in that release that they don’t want to stop talking about the past traumas. One of the hardest most delicate parts is to move the conversation forward into the present: what they are doing now, what tools have they picked up to self-parent and how are they thriving.

What has been the most valuable thing you have gained or learned since beginning thispodcast?

We love learning about all the famous orphans from history, it is really inspirational to hear all their stories and at the same time seeing our guests making history, in real time, right in front of us.

Who would be your dream future guest?

That’s a hard question, there are so many amazing orphans. Someone we are reaching for right now is Tiffany Haddish, she is killing as an orphan comedian and we love that. But a real dream dream, Obama or Madonna (both orphans).

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT DADDY-LESS ISSUES AND LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

Lily Lovett and Patrick Monahan: The Edinburgh Interviews 2018

Leave a Comment

© Steve Ullathorne

Who? Lily Lovett and Patrick Monahan
What? Date Night
Where? Just the Tonic at The Caves (venue 88)
When? 21:25

Are you prepared for what this year’s Edinburgh Fringe has in store for you?

Yes. We’ve been previewing our dating show all over the country so I feel ready to matchmake all the singles in the city this month! It’s such a fun show to perform so I’m just excited to have fun with our audiences.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

We are hosting a dating show that is both for singles and couples. It’s Love Island meets Blind Date, a bit old and a bit new. We have a special guest each night, a single fellow Fringe performer, and we play games to eventually match them with their most suited member of the audience. We test couples on how well they know each other and there’s lots of comedy and sketches. 

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

Working with my partner (comedian Patrick Monahan)… No it’s great working together but because we’re a couple we don’t have the sort of politeness two colleagues would have with each other. We’re very much ‘that’s an awful suggestion Pat’ and ‘Lily that’s a terrible idea’. Being so honest and unafraid to be blunt with each other probably saved us a lot more time compared to less intimate double acts!

Who would most enjoy your show?

Anyone! Lots of performers say that but really, our show is clean and fun for everyone, families can come, older couples can come, young single people can come, it really is one for everyone.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Obviously I’m going to say my partner Patrick Monahan’s solo show at the Gilded Balloon, 8pm. It’s basically an hour of him taking the piss out of me, which I don’t mind because my dad is a comedian (Red Dwarf’s Norman Lovett) and since I was old enough to talk I was watching him make jokes about me on stage. Pat’s show this year is brilliant, it’s my favourite of his yet. It’s very relatable, all about relationships and living together, in the previews I’ve seen a lot of the audience nodding throughout! He talks about how we’re from such different backgrounds (immigrant working class versus British middle class) and there’s a particularly great routine based on me making avocado on toast. It’s very funny! 

What is your favourite thing about Edinburgh as a city?

It’s so beautiful. And I have a strong connection with Edinburgh. My parents met here at the festival, my dad was performing at Gilded Balloon so it’s funny that my partner also does. I spent my very early years in Stockbridge and after moving to London we still came up to the festival for my dad’s shows. Now I perform here in festival time and we often come for Christmases so it feels a bit like a second home. 

What are your plans for after the festival?

We are off to Ibiza for a well earned holiday straight after our last show so Edinburgh can rain as much as it wants this August, in September I will make up for it and finally get a summer tan! Then we’re going to set up a regular night in London for our dating show and do some shows in other cities too.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR ‘DATE NIGHT’ HERE

PATRICK MONAHAN: ‘#GOALS’

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2018

Patrick Monahan: The Edinburgh Interviews 2018

Leave a Comment

© Steve Ullathorne

Who? Patrick Monahan
What? #Goals
Where? Gilded Balloon Teviot (venue 14)
When? 20:00

Are you prepared for what this year’s Edinburgh Fringe has in store for you?

You can never be prepared for Edinburgh, no mater how much you preview & train for the festival, the month long run is like an assault course that even the best SAS soldiers would struggle with. 

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

It’s a brand new stand up show with a slight theme looking at me being ‘immigrant working class’ and my misses being ‘British middle class’ and about how easy/difficult it is living together from our two backgrounds.

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

Cutting the show down to 60 minutes. Because when I started writing it at the start of the year, I write out 90 minutes of material on it because I tour the show straight after Edinburgh! 

Who would most enjoy your show?

Everyone! Because my shows are non-threatening, cleanish material and uplifting, I try not to exclude anyone, except for racists and serial killers!

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Yes, “Date Night” at 9.25pm every night at Just The Tonic, it’s a brilliant brand new dating show, which is hosted by my misses & me! 

What is your favourite thing about Edinburgh as a city?

Everything, the people, the surrounding scenery, the old style buildings, the cheap Lidl on Nichols street, the free samples of fudge in the fudge shop, the quiet walk home through the meadows at the end of each night, the value for money food in the mosque kitchen… the list is endless, what’s not to love about this city!

What are your plans for after the festival?

Sleep, Tour, sleep, tour, write, rest, tour, eat loads of food!

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR PATRICK MONAHAN: ‘#GOALS’ HERE

LILY LOVETT AND PATRICK MONAHAN: DATE NIGHT

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2018

Eleanor Tiernan: The Edinburgh Interviews 2018

Leave a Comment
Who? Eleanor Tiernan
What? Success Without A Sex Tape
Where? Banshee Labyrinth (venue 156)
When? 13:40

Are you prepared for what this year’s Edinburgh Fringe has in store for you?

Yes I am all over it in that all I have done is some google maps searches to see what amenities are in the area I will be staying.  Last year I had to carry a projector into my venue every day and it was quite heavy. That meant that the by the second week my spine was shaped like a cheese twist. Luckily there was a great massage therapist nearby to unravel the knots. This year I don’t need to carry a projector but I may engineer some discomfort in another way so I have an excuse to go back.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

My show is about trying to survive in the world without doing a sex tape. Is it even possible? Who knows! Readers might think it selfish of me not to share details of my intimate life but I am willing to not be popular for the sake of others who wish to live without others opinions on our bedroom activities.

© Idil Sukan

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

The biggest obstacle was too many people asking to see my sex tape. I told them I hadn’t made one but they wouldn’t listen. The constant interruptions made life hell.

Who would most enjoy your show?

Hollywood producers, powerful TV commissioners and casting agents who are looking for a fair haired woman 5’7″ who can write with her left hand and answer phones with a charming lilt.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Yes I would urge you to go and see Hayley Ellis if you like comedy about pigeons and also Gráinne Maguire who is the sharpest tool in the box.

What is your favourite thing about Edinburgh as a city?

I like the light at dusk. It’s soothing and close to when I get my tea. Usually, I try to get up on a rooftop at some point during the festival for a night time bevvy under the stars. It lends an unearned air of romance to the undertaking of going to the Fringe.

What are your plans for after the festival?

Sleeeeeep.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR ELEANOR TIERNAN: ‘SUCCESS WITHOUT A SEX TAPE’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2018

Lead Pencil: The Edinburgh Interviews 2018

Leave a Comment
Who? Louise Beresford, Maddie Rice and Dave Bibby
What? Lead Pencil
Where? Underbelly Cowgate (venue 61)
When? 19:40

Are you prepared for what this year’s Edinburgh Fringe has in store for you?

Why, what have people been saying? They been saying we haven’t been working hard? Who said that? Was it Noel Edmonds? Prick. We’re ready. Tell Edmonds we’re ready.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

Our uber-famous 90’s TV kids show legends The Art Team are doing a reunion that will most definitely not go wrong and descend into a frantic hour of sex, drugs and an investigation into the suspicious death of our beloved mascot, Mr Sausage. Everyone’s a suspect. Especially Noel fricking Edmonds!

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

Brexit. Also we we’re literally on the other side of the world from each other for most of this year. January – June Maddie was touring Fleabag in Australia. She then came back in time for Dave to start his World Cup show, which then finished as Louise started rehearsals for her new one-woman show. So yeah mainly Brexit.

© Lead Pencil

Who would most enjoy your show?

Anyone who knows the lyrics to the Fresh Prince theme tune. Our show is packed with 90’s tunes: big shout out to Ini Kamoze, Britney and B*witched! Should be fun. 

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

DON’T MAKE A SPREADSHEET! I mean, of course, book ahead if there’s someone you really wanna see. But it’s an ARTS FESTIVAL. It’s about creativity and spontaneity. The next big stars do not have thousands of pounds to spend on PR and huge billboards. They’re in a shitty little room somewhere – take a punt! Also add Louise’s show (sorry) at Assembly and Maddie’s shows ‘Pickle Jar’ and ‘Zazu’ at Underbelly to your spreadsheets. 

What is your favourite thing about Edinburgh as a city?

The climate. It’s cool and rains a lot. Usually this is the thing we hate most but we’re currently sat in a boiling hot London Itsu sweating like an Edinburgh sketch group who haven’t actually finished writing their show yet. 

What are your plans for after the festival?

Probs sort out Brexit.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR ‘LEAD PENCIL’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2018

Sunday Service With Ola: The Edinburgh Interviews 2018

Leave a Comment
Who? Ola
What? Sunday Service With Ola
Where? Gilded Balloon Teviot (venue 14)
When? 17:15

Are you prepared for what this year’s Edinburgh Fringe has in store for you?

If we’re talking about comedy performances then yes. If we’re talking about my inevitable fame and fortune then heck yes.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

It’s an immersive church service themed comedy and debate experience. Taking elements that I enjoy of church, as a black Christian comedian who also enjoys rap music, out into the world in a way most people can relate.

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

Not being rich yet.

© Sanaa Abstrakt

Who would most enjoy your show?

Everyone who wants to. Only those who want to be miserable will be so. The show is that good.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Yeah, first off, all the black people. Chuck in some Eshaan Akbar, Alistair Williams, Chris Betts vs. The Audience, Ed Night, Pierre Novellie and all the other stars that continue to support my show, Sunday Service with Ola. I am not ashamed of my open nepotism.

What is your favourite thing about Edinburgh as a city?

I don’t really know it outside of the Fringe so I’ll just say something vague and pretentious like its “natural beauty”. 

What are your plans for after the festival?

Become rich and successful.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR ‘SUNDAY SERVICE WITH OLA’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2018

Clara Cupcakes: The Edinburgh Interviews 2018

Leave a Comment
Who? Clara Cupcakes
What? The Worst
Where? Underbelly, Bristo Square (venue 302)
When? 18:50

Are you prepared for what this year’s Edinburgh Fringe has in store for you?

I think so? I hope so? Look yes I am let’s just be positive and peppy about it all shall we. It’s my first time there doing a run of my very own show and I’m nervous but excited! I’ve already sold some tickets which is pretty wild. Nobody knows me there and I’m a bit like “Who are you? Why did you pick me? ARE YOU A SPY?” but also I’m exceptionally joyous and grateful for them and the gumption they have to take a punt on this little Aussie oddball.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

It’s about an octopus queen trapped in a terrible 8bit video game of her own making where she has to win back the heart of her Octoking. You know, just some very relatable content.

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

Making a very sad and fraught story funny. Underneath all the octopussery and 8bitness it’s a true and real story of something that happened to me and in turn something that’s happened to a lot of people and within that I have a responsibility to treat that with respect but also find the humour in it. Also I basically built my own video game. That took a long time and I had no idea how to do it when I started. I learnt a lot about 8Bit animation and midi files.

© 42nd Street Photography

Who would most enjoy your show?

Anyone who has ever had their heartbroken. Anyone with nostalgia for sega megadrives and Super Nintendos. A lady in Adelaide got mad and said the show was “an hour of stupidity and nonsense” so if you like those things it’s definitely for you.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

OH! Too many. Edinburgh you are so lucky. Aussies you should check out are The Travelling Sisters (amazing sketch comedy/clown), Laura Davis (life changing stand-up), Seen & Heard (a story telling show that I’m also part of) and Rhys Nicholson (sharp as hell stand-up). Other country humans I would recommend are Douglas Walker (clever, clever sketch), Chris Turner (clever, clever stand up), Elf Lyons (economist clown) and Natalie Palamides (just really damn smart and funny).

What is your favourite thing about Edinburgh as a city?

It’s beautiful in all weather. Sunny or rainy or snowy as heck, it looks like a fairytale and makes me smile.

What are your plans for after the festival?

I’m heading straight to LA to write a new show called “Ballbuster”. It’s about my parents, who for dramatic purposes are Lucille Ball and Buster Keaton. I’m also going to take a little road trip down the 1 and soak up the last of the summer sun before heading back to the chill hands of Melbourne Spring.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR CLARA CUPCAKES: ‘THE WORST’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2018

Claire Sullivan: The Edinburgh Interviews 2018

Leave a Comment

© Nayt Housman

Who? Claire Sullivan
What? I Wish I Owned A Hotel For Dogs
Where? Gilded Balloon Teviot (venue 14)
When? 22:15

Are you prepared for what this year’s Edinburgh Fringe has in store for you?

I have asked so many people, but like, woah!! I can’t quite imagine the size of the beast that is Edinburgh Fringe! This will be my first Edinburgh. And performing EVERY DAY is…  fuck me! I’ve never performed the same show 4 weeks straight, you know? I know I have to make sure I eat lots of veggies every day, yoga, meditation, not drink every night. Basically look after my body and mind because it’s a marathon.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

Well, it’s a show about dogs and feminism, in short. I take the audience on a fast-paced surreal journey through my mind. So like, short stories, sketches, dogs, some absurd observations etc. It’s totally wack, and out of this world (off da leash hehehe). 

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

Hahaha Umm, LEARNING IT. I have actually have a bad memory and making sure I keep every little piece in my head in the correct order, and make it seem effortless… That is actually a huge obstacle for me. I have a hard time learning scripts when I go for auditions, and in my previous shows there’s been some sort of plot, so this happens therefore this etc. But with this show, there isn’t a plot, so I have to remember the bloody order. Other performers are like ‘CLAIRE WTF, it’s not hard to learn your show.’ But, it is for me.

Who would most enjoy your show?

Young women in their twenties and thirties love my show the most. Also members of the queer community seem to love and relate to my show. Which is interesting because although I am a young queer woman, this show does not necessarily touch on that at all! Maybe because it’s easy to make humour out of dating cishet men hahaha.

But really, people who love dogs, who are into the surreal/weird/out there, and who are into feminism and human rights. 

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Oh my gosh, yes so many. I’d recommend Two Little Dickheads, The Travelling Sisters, any of the Fringe Wives Club whether in their show or solos, Clara Cupcakes, David McIver, Laura Davis, Alice Fraser, Garry Starr just to start with. But holy hell, you know, go see comedy by people you’ve never heard of. Especially Australian comedy. Australians are making some bloody amazing stuff now.

What is your favourite thing about Edinburgh as a city?

I have no idea, But I’m excited to find out!

What are your plans for after the festival?

I’m going to visit a friend in Italy, then going to a friend’s wedding in France and then I’m flying back to Australia in time for Melbourne Fringe. But after Melbourne Fringe I am going to recoup all the money I spent on Edinburgh by working in a pub in a very small coastal town in Tasmania for the summer.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR CLAIRE SULLIVAN: ‘I WISH I OWNED A HOTEL FOR DOGS’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2018

Damian Clark: The Edinburgh Interviews 2018

Leave a Comment

© Kymann Power

Who? Damian Clark
What? Extra Show
Where? Gilded Balloon Teviot (venue 14)
When? 22:00

Are you prepared for what this year’s Edinburgh Fringe has in store for you?

Yep. Socks, jocks & a phone charger. Actually do you know anyone who has a spare bedroom, couch or floorspace? 

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

Since my last Fringe we’ve had a baby, moved house & I did some time in the clink (suspected car thief but I’m innocent I tells ya!). So funnies about all sorts & probably some of that.

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

Getting out of jail hahahahahahaaaa. But yeah probably that. 

Who would most enjoy your show?

All mammals except blue whales because of lack of water in the venue. Shame really. If you get 2 whales in the place is PACKED. 

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Heidi Regan – Heidi vs Sharks 

What is your favourite thing about Edinburgh as a city?

How 3D it is. From any point in the city you can see a mountain, a castle, a laneway, a whisky bar & a dungeon. Feels like we should be riding around on horses, which would also make it easier to climb Arthur’s Seat after the whisky bar. 

What are your plans for after the festival?

A huge International Worldwide tour! Or at least Hull, Milton Keynes & Castlebar

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR DAMIAN CLARK: ‘EXTRA SHOW’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2018