Lucy Farrett: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019
Who? Lucy Farrett
What? LOIS
Where? Underbelly Cowgate – Belly Laugh (Venue 61)
When? 17:00
What are your feelings as you enter into this year’s Edinburgh Fringe season?
Oh you know, the usual sense of trepidation and dread sugar-coated with a wild excitement! Like a knickerbocker glory sundae that overfloweth with wondrous treats, but also makes you feel slightly sick..! Honesty is the best policy… right?!
What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?
LOIS, my second character comedy show, was born out of me imagining my life if I had been called Lois (which Mummy Farrett wanted to call me but Daddy Farrett said no!). Lois is my alter-ego action hero that I take on a wild and very stupid journey to fight a baddie and I learn a little about how I feel about my own identity along the way. Lois’ sidekick is a crow named Colin – I reckon that’s reason enough to come right there!
What is the biggest obstacle you face(d) while putting this show together?
I started to write the show not about an action hero, but about my perfect self. The character had a perfect face, a perfect body, a perfect brain. A little piece of advice: writing a show about your perfect self is one-way-ticket to feeling like absolute crap. I started to feel pretty sad and bad about myself, so I completely reworked the premise of the show in a short space of time earlier this year. So essentially, I self-therapised using this show and the result makes me feel like I’m putting a much more positive piece of fun into the world. Phew!
Has your attitude towards the Fringe changed at all in recent years?
The Fringe has grown at an alarming rate since I started coming with Belt Up Theatre back in 2008, which is wonderful, but can feel overwhelming wowee because there are more venues and performers working their butts off than ever before. My attitude has sort of remained the same in all these years though – enjoy the ride, cause it will be both thrilling and bumpy baby!
Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?
TOO MANY! Werewolf: Live!, Holly Morgan: Is a Witch, Get Her!, The Wild Unfeeling World, Ryan Lane Will Be There Now in a Minute, Bobby & Amy, Georgie Morrell: Eyecon, Bryony Kimmings, Oh Yes Oh No from Louise Orwin, Paul Foxcroft, John-Luke Roberts, Faulty Towers Dining Experience, Confetti & Chaos, Pamela’s Palace, Mr. Thing and literally any other solo character comics cause we’re fun and reckless! More probably – call me!
Where would you like to be in a year’s time?
Uhhh… the moon?? We haven’t there in a while. Maybe I could help with that. Ambitious enough for ya?!