© Rebecca Need-Menear
Who? Jake Howie
What? Read My Lips
Where? Just The Tonic at The Caves (venue 88)
When? 21:30
Are you prepared for what this year’s Edinburgh Fringe has in store for you?
No! And that’s what makes it fun. Anything worth doing in life provides an element of the unknown that you can really learn from, like travel or deep spiritual retreats or summertime dogging.
What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?
I’m just a happy-go-lucky Kiwi boy trying to make sense of a world where everyone seems to be talking smack. I want people to talk truth and to speak up against the chorus of voices telling us what to think, so Read My Lips is my quest to decipher what’s going on in our culture and what it really means. There are also a variety of jokes involving bums and my mum (unrelated, FYI).
What was the biggest obstacle you face(d) while putting this show together?
All those nights knocking back Malbec and the unproductive days that follow. Come to think of it, those nights are also my biggest inspiration…
Who would most enjoy your show?
Anyone who is afraid our generation will be defined by clean eating Instagram “influencers” who overuse filters. And anyone who loves sordid sex stories. And queer people. And women. And most men. And nanas! (Except mine… she still thinks I’m straight).
Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?
Are there even any other relevant comedians going up? JK JK! There are too many to name. But Jenny Collier’s A Few Good Jen is a killer show, and I can’t wait to see Angry Emoji Face, which is a split hour of comedy featuring Ryan Dalton and Esther Manito.
What is your favourite thing about Edinburgh as a city?
How you can enjoy a glass of wine and carbs before midday without judgement. And the nature – I see myself going for runs up that big hill/rock thingy in lyrca as I mediate over the spectacular skyline. But let’s be real – I’ll be in a Malbec coma mainlining deep fried goods. But hey – no one will be judging me!
What are your plans for after the festival?
I will be going to Portugal or Italy or somewhere where no one recognises me (OK, that could be absolutely anywhere on earth including my parents’ house) to drink more wine and eat more carbs. Then I’ll be gigging more. So follow me on Instagram @JakeHowieComedy!