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David McIver

David McIver: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

July 24, 2019 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment
© Adrian Tauss
Who? David McIver
What? Teleport
Where? PBH’s Free Fringe @ Banshee Labyrinth – Cinema Room (Venue 156)
When? 12:20

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

I am very excited not to go to work for a month! I work with kids and they make me very tired and spit on me quite a lot. The other day a little boy smacked me in the face with a spade. As long as that doesn’t happen in Edinburgh I think I will have a comparatively fun time.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

It’s a character comedy show in which I recreate an online roleplaying game. I’ve invented my own World of Warcraft-style game, and I enlist the audience as players in a quest to gain a magical spell book that will teach me how to teleport. On the way we meet an oracle, an enchanted amulet and a bunch of other fantasy characters. I was obsessed with these games as a teenager and this is an attempt to get some value out of playing World of Warcraft for five hours a day for a significant portion of my youth.

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

The show makes some reference to a fairly heavy autobiographical story, but in the early previews this was a huge part of the show and it was incredibly depressing and not fun to do. Fine-tuning the perfect amount of emotional heft has been, and with a month to go until the Fringe, still is, the biggest challenge. Also I use a big hula hoop as a prop, and when I’m walking to gigs sometimes men on public transport will shout things like ‘hula hoop!’ at me, which is pretty hurtful.

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

It kind of used to be an excuse to get drunk with my friends every night, but now I think I have to be more sensible. I’m a lot healthier now and I’m gonna go climbing twice a week and eat lots of fish. Maybe I’ll go for a swim at the beach – I’m an ice junkie now and live for the cold thrill of the ocean.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Will Rowland is one of my favourite stand-ups and he’s doing his debut hour this year, called Cocoon. He’s very thoughtful and sensitive, and his show will be more rich and considered than some fringe shows from acts that have been going for a decade.

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

Back at the Edinburgh Fringe 2020 doing another hour of financially unviable alternative comedy in some sort of hot basement.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR DAVID MCIVER: ‘TELEPORT’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Posted in: Comedians, Edinburgh, Interviews Tagged: David McIver, Edinburgh Festival, Teleport, The Edinburgh Interviews, The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

David McIver: The Edinburgh Interviews 2018

July 26, 2018 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

© Sam Nicoresti

Who? David McIver
What? David McIver Is A Nice Little Man
Where? Opium, Upstairs (venue 96)
When? 14:30

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

I think so! I am trying to spend the preceding weeks exercising regularly, and eating lots of fruit and vegetables, that way I am starting at a position of strength, in order to counteract my body’s inevitable decay. 

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

Every day the audience throw me a surprise birthday party, and, through the medium of silly character comedy, I play a few of the different guests that arrive. I’ve realised in the making of the show that all of the guests are flawed male authority figures, so I think it’s about a shy little man trying to find his place in a world dominated by confident masculinity. But it’s fun!

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

I did a run of shows at the Prague Fringe, and I was staying in this AirBnB that turned out to be a kind of hippy commune. While the idea of this was lovely, my room was being used as a yoga studio most of the time and there weren’t any curtains on the windows, so I was getting back at 3am and waking up with the sunlight every day. I’m all for thriftiness when it comes to decoration, but a man needs his 8 hours. I still gave them a 5 star review out of politeness though, which is an important lesson for all reviewers. 

Who would most enjoy your show?

My target demographic tends to be nerdy millennial losers, like me. The show this year is about masculinity and shyness, so I’m really aiming for that ‘hates the patriarchy, has social anxiety and enjoys stupid absurdist comedy’ Venn diagram intersection. 

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Crizards are great, they do low-energy deadpan sketch comedy. I also love Loose Brie, who do big, fun and silly sketch comedy. Two good double acts who are unlike anyone else. 

What is your favourite thing about Edinburgh as a city?

I love being able to travel the entirety of the city on foot. Every time I get back to London after Edinburgh, I remember how depressing it is to spend large portions of time shooting through an underground tunnel without any natural sunlight. 

What are your plans for after the festival?

I feel like I’ve been working so hard on my show that I haven’t read any books, or seen any movies or TV shows, for about six months. What are all the good TV shows now? I don’t even know. I’ve got nothing to talk about anymore. When I get back I’m going to spend a few months trying to consume some popular culture, so I’ve got a few good conversation starters on dates.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR ‘DAVID MCIVER IS A NICE LITTLE MAN’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2018

Posted in: Comedians, Edinburgh, Interviews Tagged: David McIver, David McIver Is A Nice Little Man, Edinburgh Festival, The Edinburgh Interviews, The Edinburgh Interviews 2018

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