Caitlin Cook: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019
Who? Caitlin Cook
What? Death Wish
Where? Just the Tonic at The Grassmarket Centre – Just The Meeting Room (Venue 27)
When? 17:50
What are your feelings as you enter into this year’s Edinburgh Fringe season?
Nervous excitement. I’m proud of where my show is at, I’m excited to see how it will grow throughout the month, and I’m nervous to see how it will be received.
What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?
Since I was seventeen, I’ve lived by a code: if something scares me, I have to do it. Join me for a raucous hour of music, comedy, and bathroom stall graffiti art to find out why.
What is the biggest obstacle you face(d) while putting this show together?
The biggest technical obstacle: I have a song in which all the lyrics are pieces of graffiti from bathroom stalls all around the world, and I display photos of this graffiti via projector as the song progresses. So, I’m controlling a foot pedal that switches the photos, as I sing and play guitar. It’s a lot like patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time.
The biggest emotional obstacle: my show could potentially be categorized as a comedy show that stems from trauma, and I have to relive that trauma every time I do the show. It’s been exhausting and a major challenge for me but also hugely cathartic.
Has your attitude towards the Fringe changed at all in recent years?
When I first visited the Fringe two years ago, I thought, ‘This. This is exactly where I should be. This is where I belong.’ It’s taken me those two years to get my ducks in a row, but I can’t wait to be back.
Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?
Sean Patton’s Contradickhead is going to blow people’s minds.
Where would you like to be in a year’s time?
I’d love to be relaxing on some beautiful beach, eating mango, and sitting pretty because this show got filmed as a special, went viral, and got adapted for a hit TV show. Hey, a girl can dream!