Interviews

Quarantine Questions: Lauren Pattison

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© Andy Hollingworth

Over four weeks into a minimum six week lockdown in the UK due to the Covid-19 pandemic, now is a time where we need comedy more than ever. Unsurprisingly, it’s also a time where it’s perhaps hardest to find something that’s actually damn funny. MoodyComedy is trying to remedy this.

Lauren Pattison chats to MoodyComedy about her love of reality TV, and her efforts to give herself a break…

What is the first thing you plan on doing once the lockdown is fully lifted?

I want to see my niece and nephew – I’m not sure if they’ll give two shits about seeing me but I miss the daft idiots so much. Weirdly I have no interest in going to the pub – I think they’re gonna be rammed and it’s gonna turn feral very quickly, y’know like the weekend before Christmas when there’s both excitement and the potential for violence buzzing in the air? So I want to continue my journey into the fifteen-year-old I’ve regressed into during this lockdown by going to have a drink outside somewhere with some mates. To clarify, these two things are separate events and I won’t be taking my underage niece and nephew to get hammered in a field.

What’s your current lockdown binge watch?

I’ve been binging Friday Night Dinner from the beginning; it has absolutely been time well spent. I also watched Too Hot To Handle arguably too quickly. Loads of people sneer at reality TV and I’m like, okay Einstein, sorry this is too low brow for you, enjoy reading your encyclopaedia or whatever you’re doing instead.

Has anything made you laugh recently?

Mark Nelson’s videos of homeschooling his son have really been cracking me up. He’s also done an amazing job hosting The Stand’s online gigs. Aunty Donna’s Instagram feed has been making me laugh on a daily basis, without fail. Laura Lexx’s Twitter feed is hilarious regardless of whether we’re in a pandemic or not, but she’s been a much needed source of laughter during this. Also Rob Mulholland is putting out lockdown chats with groups of comics and the feeling of just chatting with my mates again was like being back in a greenroom which is what I’ve missed almost as much as the gigs; we had a right laugh and they’re well worth checking out. Oh, and I got sent a great video of my niece eating a lemon, top stuff.

How are you trying to keep sane at the moment?

I guess I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself. There’s this worry that I bet I’m not the only creative person has, that if you’re not putting loads of new stuff out online to entertain, then others will think you’re not adapting and you’ll look like a failure. The truth is – this is a weird as fuck time, everyone’s circumstances are gonna be slightly different and you shouldn’t feel bad if you’re not in a position where you can or want to make anything creative. Absolute fair play to those who are, it’s amazing seeing the kind of things people are coming out with but I’m also trying my best to not feel bad if I’m not doing it on the regular. I’m trying to keep doing some of what I was doing before in the sense of being funny and making people laugh on Twitter, in the hope I can keep building a little audience that way and raise a few smiles. Also not every creative thing you do has to be stuff that goes out straight away, I’ve tried to focus on getting a few bits of writing done, things that have been bubbling for a while but I hadn’t had the time to put on a page. I’m really just trying to do what’s best for me, arguably something I should have been doing for ages. Sorry this wasn’t a very funny answer was it, I should have said wanking or something.

What past, current or future projects of yours would you like to draw our attention to?

I have a podcast called Conversations Against Living Miserably. It’s a mental health podcast where we try and tackle everything with as much laughter as possible. I think it’s such an important time for people to be keeping their mental wellbeing in check, and an even more important time to keep smiling and laughing and finding light in the dark, so hopefully this is literally the ideal podcast. It’s the thing I’m most proud of and hopefully I can make more if it gets loads of lovely listens and feedback, no pressure to you all there. I also have my debut show Lady Muck available on NextUp, there’s so much great stuff on there to keep you occupied and the NextUp team are working their arses off to help comics during this. As for the future – I urge you to support your favourite comics after this, come see them live, spread the word, take chances on people who you may not have heard of. I also think when the dust settles after this, it’s a time more than ever to champion the voices of working class performers.

THE QUARANTINE QUESTIONS

Ask The Expert: Chris Evans (Not That One)

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Chris Evans is the founder of the film production and distribution company, Go Faster Stripe. From Stewart Lee to Seymour Mace, Go Faster Stripe has produced a huge variety of live comedy recordings, and the company continues to grow its catalogue each year.

MoodyComedy chatted to Chris to find out more…

Hello Chris! How did Go Faster Stripe begin?

Hello. Thanks for asking me to do this – but I am hardly an expert. We started as a bit of a ridiculous dream. I read somewhere that Stewart Lee was having trouble getting his show recorded for DVD. I had seen the show, and I thought it was ridiculous that no one wanted to film it. 

At that time I was working in a little arts centre in Cardiff and as I was wandering through the theatre one afternoon I thought that it would make a great venue for a DVD recording. A couple of days later – in the bath – I remembered I had a couple of mates that were cameramen, and I knew a chap who was handy with his sound recording equipment. So – by chance – I had all the components in place to record Stew’s show, and I wrote to him and told him. To my huge surprise and absolute delight he agreed to come down. 

We filmed the show, and then we surprised ourselves again when it came out rather well. So Go Faster Stripe was formed to release it. I had a pint with Stew to celebrate, and he suggested I got in touch with Richard Herring to ask if he had anything he’d like us to record. And then it all went from there. I now have my dream job. I am very lucky.

Where did your love of comedy originate?

I don’t know. I mean we all like a laugh, don’t we? I had a friend from school that shared my love of comedy. We used to record Radio 4 comedy shows and were hungry for any laughs we could get our hands on. We used to go to the bookshop in Cardiff and browse their comedy book section. Now I’m thinking about it, I think I was just after funny things to say to my friends in school. You know, so I could be popular. We all want to be popular, don’t we?

© Chris Evans

Who do you most enjoy watching perform?

I enjoy watching people comfortable in what they are doing. I love the likes of Tony Law and Simon Munnery – you can tell immediately that neither of them are copying anyone else. And that they’ve evolved their own styles.

Why do you continue to do what you do?

This is my perfect job.  I wouldn’t change it for anything. I try and keep things sustainable, and not risk too much on any daft projects, whilst at the same time making sure I get involved in daft projects.

What element of your work are you most proud of?

I’m over the moon that I’ve managed to save some excellent shows for future generations. And I like to think that we’ve done it with a little bit of style. I like that we’ve managed to get our DVDs jam packed with loads of extras and hidden stuff. 

Oh, and I’m really proud of a Robin Ince DVD we made that plays in a different random order every time you put it on. It took ages to get that to work.

VISIT GO FASTER STRIPE HERE

ASK THE EXPERT…

Interview: David Ruby, How to Date a Magical Creature

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Comedy writer, director and producer David Ruby’s latest project is a web series about, as the title aptly suggests, how to date a magical creature. From vampires to zombies to the twins from The Shining, host Toby Vanilla interviews all kinds of monsters about their love lives. David spoke to MoodyComedy about the show…

How did the How to Date a Magical Creature series evolve from the original improv show?

Actually the series inspired the improv show. We had so much fun and laughed so much when we were filming the interviews for How To Date A Magical Creature that during the filming I thought this could translate brilliantly onto a live stage as an improv show.

Jonah Fazel, who plays Santa and Death, had the exact same thought and at the end of the filming approached me suggesting we make that vision a reality. The end result was a sold out run at the Vault Festival in 2019.

Who are the cast and characters in How to Date a Magical Creature?

In alphabetical order…

Jonah Fazel (BAFTA-winning History Bombs, Edinburgh Sell-Out Bumper Blyton, award-winning Treasure Champs) plays Santa in How To Date Satan and Santa, as well as Death in How To Date Death and his girlfriend Janet from Accounts Payable.

Susan Harrison (BAFTA-winning Class Dismissed, Olivier Award-winning Showstopper! The Musical) steps into the shoes of Catriona Gunningforit in How To Date A Vampire. She also plays Medusa in How To Date Medusa, as well as ‘Short Twin’ in How To Date The Creepy Twins from The Shining.

John Henry Falle (Edinburgh-Nominated Best Newcomer Story Beast) is a grumpy zombie in How To Date A Zombie.

Alex Holland (Royal Television Society Award-winner, Free Association) dons his best television suit to become Toby Vanilla, the host of How To Date A Magical Creature.

Richard Soames (BBC Quickies, Michael McIntyre’s Big Show) is the significant other to Clive The Zombie as they embark on a couple’s therapy session.

Dan Starkey (Good Omens, Doctor Who) polished his horns to play Satan, Santa’s better-behaved little brother in How To Date Satan and Santa.

As the ‘Tall Twin’ to Susan Harrison’s ‘Short Twin’, Lucy Trodd (Olivier Award-winning Showstopper! The Musical, Channel 4’s Lee and Dean) stars in How To Date The Creepy Twins from The Shining. She also plays Janet, Death’s girlfriend in How To Date Death his girlfriend Janet from Accounts Payable.

You have a really solid premise for the show – what was the inspiration behind it?

Thank you! The inspiration for the show was actually a brainstorming session I had with my then producer from my first film Custom Love. After the success of Custom Love I had written a short film script called My Ex-Girlfriend Is A Mermaid, for which I’d been speaking to Susan Harrison about playing one of the leads.

My producer and I were discussing different ways of raising money for this new project, and she suggested we produce a teaser for a Kickstarter campaign. That’s when it hit me that it could be really fun to release a bunch of episodes giving humans advice on how to date magical creatures. In fact, I loved that idea so much I put the short film on hold and focused on what has now become How To Date A Magical Creature.

How fun is it assigning a voice and a personality to imaginary creatures such as zombies and Santa Claus?

It was absolutely hilarious, and all credit needs to go to the brilliant performers. They all had uniquely fantastic takes on how they wanted their characters to be, and when the camera rolled, I just let them improvise to see where we got.

For instance, the fact that Satan turns out to the ‘good brother’ versus Santa who is the horribly rude brother enslaving thousands of elves in the north pole, all came from Jonah Fazel, Dan Starkey and Alex Holland improvising the dialogue as they went along, finding a great game and just having fun. The hardest part of the shoot was for the crew not to laugh out loud and ruin the takes!

What do your viewers have to look forward to later in the series?

Later in the series you can expect to see Toby Vanilla in the interviewer’s chair trying to find out more about the dating lives of Medusa, The Creepy Twins from The Shining (yes it’s really them!) and Death and his girlfriend Janet from Accounts Payable.

CATCH UP ON ALL EPISODES OF HOW TO DATE A MAGICAL CREATURE HERE

Interview: Alex Kealy, Rationale

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© Ed Moore

Alex Kealy is set to tour his latest show across the UK this Spring. In honour of this, Alex fills MoodyComedy in on the rationale behind Rationale.

Hi Alex, how has the first month of the new decade been for you?

I managed to maintain a dry-ish January, went for some runs, gigged a lot, recorded my show for the comedy streaming service NextUp and saw a number of great dogs, so a pretty good month.

What initial thoughts sparked the origin of your show Rationale?

Lofty answer: I’ve always been interested in the non-rational motivators that compel us to think and do certain things. I thought a show focusing on that would be a nice antidote to political shows written explicitly on a Brexit axis. The best book I read in preparation was William Davies’ fantastic Nervous States.

Cynical answer: Topical shows are an absolute ball-ache because a) they can divide audiences and b) you spend six months writing them, lose thousands of pounds going to the Fringe and then they’re immediately redundant come September and impossible to tour (‘What’s the deal with Theresa May, amirite?’ etc.).

So I was keen to write something that would be like a fine/moderate communion wine (ages well, everyone’s happy) and not a banana (ages in 72 hours, reminds people of contentious reasons to leave the European Union).

How did the show develop during last year’s Edinburgh Fringe?

I had a break-up two days before the Fringe so that, er, influenced things a bit. I quite quickly wrote a chunk of material about that and it ended up making a lot of sense to put that in the middle of the show marking a Side A/Side B break in the hour.

How has your writing style developed since writing your first comedy hour?

A bit less wordplay and more jokes that are based on concepts and emotions. I think my use of analogies has gotten really strong but also hopefully I use them slightly less, as once I had a tendency to over-rely on them as my primary comedic tool. I guess what I’m trying to say is that my presence on stage inspires an overpowering mixture of fear and love in all who feast their eyes upon me.

What is your favourite comedy project that you have been involved in?

I’m proud of my comedy night The Comedy Grotto. It’s been going for approaching seven years and we’ve had some of the best comedians in the country trying out new material to fun audiences in a dank basement in North London.

What are you most excited about and what are you most afraid of as you embark on this UK tour?

I’m excited to perform the show another ten times! I’m terrified that nobody will come!

Why should people buy a ticket to see Rationale on tour?

To soothe my fear expressed in the last question should be enough for your wonderful, empathetic readers, but if you need to, I don’t know, make a decision based on more than just assuaging my insecurities, it’s a really good show with a very high gag count. I also got in The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph’s Top 10 Jokes of the Fringe so clearly my gag-writing has the capacity to unite this politically fractured nation.

Rationale starts on 15th February at the Vault festival and runs until 1 April – more details here

Interview: Darrell Martin (Just the Tonic)

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Just the Tonic is launching a new comedy night at the Assembly in Leamington Spa this Saturday (8th February 2020). In anticipation of the launch, MoodyComedy had a chat with Just the Tonic owner Darrell Martin about this exciting new venture.

Hi Darrell, can you give us a brief overview of how Just the Tonic was born and how it has developed over the years?

It started because I loved comedy and there was none of it in Nottingham where I lived at the time. I had worked in a nightclub called Venue and had seen how people put things on. I had also run a few things myself before. So, it seemed like a normal thing to do. The reaction from most people I knew would tell me it wasn’t, but it was a recession, I was unemployable, and had nothing to lose.

Why is Leamington Spa your latest place of choice to launch a Just the Tonic venue?

Andy, who has reopened the venue, knew of Just the Tonic from Nottingham. He approached me and told of this spectacular venue. I looked into it and realised that I could probably put on a pretty strong monthly event that could afford to pay some pretty good comedians to appear there.

What are your plans for the opening of your Leamington Spa venue?

I plan to put on a brilliant line up (which we have managed to do) and I plan to fill it up with laughing people (it is getting to be pretty full already… just got to make them laugh now!).

What is the ethos of Just the Tonic? What values do you hold close?

I try to put on quality comedy nights, with the best of the established acts plus the best of the newer acts. We try to keep the price as reasonable as possible for the audience and we try to put on events that are as much of a joy for the comedians as they are for the audiences.

How has your own experience working in/performing comedy helped with your work as a comedy club owner?

I can walk into a room and pretty much out work out whether it would be suitable and how to best use it. Just like when you meet a hairdresser, they will be looking at your head, or a plumber will be looking at the pipework in your house; when I go into a pub or a potential venue I am thinking ‘good sight-lines, sound desk there, toilets are over there, where’s the fire exits, too many pillars…’ Quite dull really. Also, working in comedy, I know most of the comedians so can ring them up and gently cajole them into a gig every now and then. Hence Leamington Spa, a splendid line-up of comedy for the next 6 months with much more to come.

Does each of the Just the Tonic venues have a different feel, or is the vibe pretty consistent?

We try and keep the vibe consistent. Similar pre-show music, same start-up and intro tracks. We try and treat audiences fairly maturely at each place, and we also filter out the troublemakers (drunken people who seem to forget the whole night is not about them). We really do just try and make it a pleasant and fun night out. Our choice of compere is quite important. We use the ones that really engage with the room.

What are your hopes for this newest Just the Tonic venue?

I hope that it is full every month with people laughing at us. What more could a comedy promoter ask?

Tickets are now on sale for Just the Tonic’s Leamington Spa launch night, featuring performances from Reginald D. Hunter, Guz Khan, Andrew O’Neill and Matt Richardson. For more information, visit Just the Tonic’s website.

Interview: Robin Morgan, What A Man, What A Man, What A Man, What A Mighty Good Man (Say It Again Now)

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© Matt Stronge

MoodyComedy speaks to Robin Morgan about his plans to tour his latest show, What A Man, What A Man, What A Man, What A Mighty Good Man (Say It Again Now), across the UK.

Hi Robin, how is 2020 treating you so far?

Well, thank you! I’m not doing dry January so having a wonderful time.

How did the arc of your new show, What A Man, emerge?

I wanted to write a show about my Dad and my son, and about masculinity in general. When my wife’s maternity leave finished, I took over looking after my son during the days, and found it hilarious how much praise I got for that fact, compared to how much my wife did. The double standards are mad and a real theme of the show.

How did you find the reception of the show at 2019’s Edinburgh Fringe?

I had lovely shows. I work really hard up there to make sure the room was full, and luckily that happened in 2019. The subject matter seemed to resonate too – my favourite moment was a real group of laddy lads who said they liked it. It’s those kind of people I thought would hate it, so that was a nice moment.

How do you feel about touring the country with this new show?

I’m excited to do the show again but shitting myself that it won’t be busy. I don’t have a huge amount of profile so I’m relying mainly on word-of-mouth and people’s lack of plans that evening. I’m so proud of the show – it’s the best thing I’ve written, and fingers crossed for some full rooms.

What motivates you as a performer?

It used to be just the bug to perform, to have fun on stage. But then a few years ago I really think I found my voice (WHAT A WANKY THING TO SAY) and I started talking about subjects that I care about. And this show is a perfect example of that.

Do you prefer to write before getting on stage, or work stuff through in front of a live audience?

Nowadays I like working stuff through with an audience. I’ll have bullet points and ideas but I wrote a lot of this show whilst on stage in preview form. I’m getting better at writing on stage, and already working up a new show for the one after What A Man.

Why should people buy a ticket to see What A Man, What A Man, What A Man, What A Mighty Good Man (Say It Again Now) on tour?

It’s got the most jokes I’ve ever put into a show. It’s about a topic that I think is important to talk about. And a lovely emotional ending. I had people crying at the end of the show (happy tears, don’t worry). Plus it’s got one of the muckiest jokes I’ve ever written. What’s not to like?

BOOK TICKETS FOR ROBIN MORGAN’S TOUR HERE

The Latebloomers: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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Who? The Latebloomers
What? Scotland!
Where? Assembly Rooms – Bijou (Venue)
When? 16:00

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

We are all very excited to hit the stage! The size of the fringe is quite intimidating however we feel ready and have some solid support going into the Fringe.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

Our show is called Scotland! The premise is three silly men take their audience on a wild ride through the ancient lands of Scotland. We have taken the world’s view of all things Scottish and mashed them together as a celebration of this great nation.

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

What was the best short bread and whisky to use for the show. Very important. Oh and putting together a self-devised comedy without a director or clear storyline is a challenge. But we got there in the end!

© The Latebloomers

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

This is our first time performing together at the Edinburgh Fringe so it’s all new for us. We know how big it is and how it’s hard to stand out, however it’s a wonderful platform for new artists to showcase their work and talents.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Oh yes! Sir David and His Animals by Clownfish Theatre, Chameleon by Britt Plumber, The Establishment: Le Bureau de Strange, Serena Flynn in Baubo: Goddess of Filth, Claire Parry: Intolerable Side Effects, On The Run: The Re-Birth of Meadow Rain.

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

Touring our show Scotland! in France, Russia, Finland and China. Also playing our upcoming, untitled new show. The shows must go on!

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THE LATEBLOOMERS: ‘SCOTLAND!’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Helen Wood: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Steve Ullathorne
Who? Helen Wood
What? The National Trust Fan Club
Where? Gilded Balloon at the Museum – Auditorium (Venue 64)
When? 15:00

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

I’m excited to be in the Edinburgh bubble for four weeks away from the realities of real life – a non-stop round of performing shows, seeing shows and socialising – but also knowing I really have to pace myself to last the course.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

It’s my year-long attempt to go to loads of National Trust sites and properties, avoiding eye contact with the room volunteers, coping with the winter opening hours and eating lots of scones!

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

There was more than one obstacle. Would I manage to get to the number of properties I’d set myself before my year long membership ran out? Would the dog have to stay in the back of the car at each National Trust site visited? Should I put jam on first or cream on first?

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

I’ve been coming to the Fringe for several years both as a punter and a performer and I’m delighted that the average age of the audiences has increased. There is now a huge number of Fringe visitors over 50 and many are looking for shows that they can relate too. I’m hoping that my show fits the bill.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

I love improv shows and always enjoy the Maydays: Happily Never After and although Honest Amy has a tough subject matter it is delivered by a highly engaging, enthusiastic and funny performer.

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

Back in Edinburgh please – it’s crazy but addictive and I’d like to be selling out a 200 seater every night.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR HELEN WOOD: ‘THE NATIONAL TRUST FAN CLUB’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Fionn Foley: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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Who? Fionn Foley
What? Brendan Galileo For Europe
Where? Assembly George Square Studios – Five (Venue 17)
When? 13:30

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

I am very excited to bring the show to the festival. We’ve toured it around Ireland and had an overwhelmingly positive response. My feeling is that the show will feel more at home in Edinburgh than anywhere else. It’s a somewhat hybridic blend of comedy, music and theatre which I think audiences here have a real appreciation for.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

The show follows a young politician Brendan Galileo as he attempts to save his granny’s music school from destruction at the hands of the local political establishment. In an attempt to bolster his public profile, he enters the greatest political catfight in Europe, the Eurovision. It’s a fast-paced satirical comedy full that asks pertinent questions about contemporary politics, through an energetic and music-infused hour of fun.

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

The show has an incredible team behind so no challenge has proved too much so far. And it does have it’s fair share of tricky challenges. The show has over 200 sound queues, which are incredibly sharp and snappy. With satire there is always the worry that what you write may not have the same relevance even a few months later. Fortunately, issues like Brexit are still in as purgatorial a state as ever and the show seems to resonate strongly with audiences.

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

It’s my first time bringing a show to Fringe, so in that sense, I view it differently this year. Not necessarily with any less enthusiasm or joy, but I definitely look at it as an opportunity to bring my work to an international platform. So this year brings a quiet determination with it.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Of course. Comedy-wise, I’m looking forward to Josh Glanc’s new show- he was hysterical last year. Dreamgun’s Film Reads are always an absolute blast and I’m a massive Tommy Tiernan fan. Theatre-wise, Sarah Jane Scott’s Appropriate in Summerhall is a real gem.

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

I think everyone involved in the show would love to see it travel further afield. Luckily (or unluckily, depending on how you look at it) the subject of disharmony and cultural identity within a changing Europe is as pertinent and is has ever been. As long as audiences are able to laugh at the absurdity of it all, I think the show will have a great lifespan. So naturally, I’d like to be reclining on a deckchair somewhere south of the equator signing a TV deal and drinking Fanta from the skulls of my enemies.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR FIONN FOLEY: ‘BRENDAN GALILEO FOR EUROPE’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Robyn Paterson: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© The South Afreakins
Who? Robyn Paterson
What? The South Afreakins
Where? theSpace on the Mile – Space 2 (Venue 39)
When? 15:05

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

I’m a bundle of nerves bringing up two solo shows. The first show, The South Afreakins, did so well in 2016, I feel myself putting pressure on in order to help the second show The South Afreakins: The Afreakin Family, be as successful.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

The South Afreakins (Show #1): Gordon and Helene are stuck in South Africa and in their rut. One longs to get out and experience everything retirement has to offer while the other won’t leave his milk tart. When they finally immigrate to New Zealand, the result is hilariously heart breaking as they discover ‘home’ is hard to find.

The South Afreakins: The Afreakin Family (#2): Set in the present day, parents Gordon and Helene are joined by sisters Rachel and Kelly on the day when the family reunite to celebrate Gordon’s 70th birthday. The South Afreakins: The Afreakin Family offers audiences a witty yet achingly raw look at real family life. Old tensions, misunderstandings, regrets, jealousies, longing, choices made, fairness and unfairness are all up for debate as emotions erupt not unlike Helene’s extravagant chocolate lava birthday cake.

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

Juggling the responsibility of giving both shows equal attention and making sure that The Afreakin Family matches the energy, pace and emotive energy of the first successful show. I found the new show really took a lot of my energy and focus and it was hard not to let the creative input fall to the wayside while also producing both shows.

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

Nope! I’m as excited for it as I’ve always been!

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

The Hiccup Project – Lovely Girls; Hitting Head Productions – The Struggling Life of an Artist; Sone of Dyke.

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

Touring the world with The South Afreakins and The South Afreakins: The Afreakin Family.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR ‘THE SOUTH AFREAKINS’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019