Tania Edwards: The Edinburgh Interviews 2018
© Avalon Entertainment
Who? Tania Edwards
What? Not My Dog
Where? Just the Tonic at The Mash House (venue 288)
When? 15:15
Are you prepared for what this year’s Edinburgh Fringe has in store for you?
No one knows what the Fringe has in store, which is why it’s interesting. I’m just packing my best jokes and an umbrella, and hoping for the best.
What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?
I’m interested in how we (mis)represent ourselves, the space between the truth and its telling, the abyss between desire and possibility. Mostly I’m trying to find out how, if you’re anecdote-prone like myself, you can look for happiness and a decent story in the same place.
What was the biggest obstacle you face(d) while putting this show together?
Writing it – obstacles materialise with every deadline. But writing is also the fun and the challenge of putting a show together. Stand up is great if, like me, you want instant feedback. I remember reading bits of my novel to a housemate. Every time I wrote a line I was pleased with, I wanted everyone to have a glass of wine to celebrate. She told me to write the whole book or I wouldn’t finish it; that I couldn’t have a clap at the end of every sentence. But that’s exactly what I’m after. So I abandoned the book and now I’m a stand up.
Who would most enjoy your show?
I would say anyone looking for comedy, but in these competitive times let’s keep it broad – anyone who wants to escape the rain for an hour.
Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?
YES. Ivo Graham, Danny Ward, Katherine Ryan, Luke McQueen, Lou Sanders, Dana Alexander, Reg D. Hunter, Lazy Susan. If you’re moping about not being in Edinburgh: Tiff Stevenson and Sara Pascoe. And Blanche Gardin.
What is your favourite thing about Edinburgh as a city?
I love knowing Edinburgh as a Festival City, I see the highs and lows etched in its cobblestones. And excellent pasta, at Ecco Vino on Cockburn Street.
What are your plans for after the festival?
To write my show for next year’s Festival. It’s addictive. We’re all Mother Courage.