The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

Kate Lucas: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Steve Ullathorne
Who? Kate Lucas
What? Is Selling Herself
Where? Just The Tonic at The Tron (Venue 51)
When? 18:20

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

Fear of so many things – hills, liver damage etc. but I’m looking forward to it. The Fringe feels like exam time for comics. We all have to hand in our work and get marked but it’s so much fun to spend all that time with your peers and be in the centre of what you love. I really love the city, I think it’s beautiful and the atmosphere is great. In terms of feelings it’s like a year’s worth of gigs squashed into one month so all the highs and lows are magnified and it’s a rollercoaster. I cry every year at least once. But that makes sense, if you think about it it’s an insane thing to do. Imagine going to Glastonbury for a month. You’d go nuts and we all do every year!

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

I’m always told I’m bad at ‘selling myself’ and that I need to think of myself as a ‘brand’ so I decided to take that advice very seriously and auction off all my body parts to the audience. It’s just silly and it’s my way of questioning the influence marketing has on us all. I don’t know how I fit into the age of YouTube and social media but I feel like the lines have become very blurred. Advertising has crept into everything and I’m very suspicious of that. I read an amazing Banksy quote: ‘Any advert in a public space that gives you no choice whether you see it or not is yours. It’s yours to take, re-arrange and re-use. You can do whatever you like with it. Asking for permission is like asking to keep a rock someone just threw at your head.’ It’s way longer than that but it perfectly articulates everything I feel about advertising and how kind of rude it is. It’s rude to shove yourself in someone’s way and say ‘Do you look old? This supermodel doesn’t. How embarrassing for you. You’d better buy this cream’. It’s kind of about that.

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

This show’s a bit riskier than my last show because there’s more audience interaction so it makes it a bit unpredictable. I mock a particular advert in the show and it just so happened that the man who wrote that ad was in the audience at one of my previews. The odds of that have to be slim but I don’t think I have a fan in that man at all. He does not like me. It’s also tricky doing a musical show and trying to weave in themes because the songs are sort of like self-contained stories in themselves. It’s been challenging but fun to write a show about something I’m quite opinionated about and trying to figure out how to make it silly and not too preachy.

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

Ha ha I had a bit of a tragic/funny moment in the Pleasance Dome last year where I was chatting to a friend saying ‘Is it me or is the Fringe much quieter this year? I feel like there’s less partying and buzz.’ and as I said that a table full of 20 year olds to the left of us burst out laughing at something and it dawned on us both that we’re just old now. I’m more familiar with the Fringe and in some ways that makes it less daunting but even though I’ve been up there a lot, this is only my second solo show so that will add some butterflies for sure.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Oh dear. I hate this question. Unfortunately for me there is a massive abundance of talent at the Fringe. There are so many people I love and I’m bad at choosing. Go and see Alfie Brown, Lou Sanders, Heidi Regan, Bobby Mair, Jonny Pelham. ALL OF THEM. NOW. And then go and get truffle mac and cheese in George Square. I have been mourning that sweet junk food for 10 long months and if the mac and cheese stand isn’t there this year, well, I won’t be held responsible for my actions.

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

Driving in my car! I’m 30 and I don’t even have a provisional license but I’m going on an intensive course after Edinburgh. It’d be great to be driving myself around to tour my show. I’ve also got some scripted projects in development and I’d like to be moving forward with those.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR KATE LUCAS: ‘IS SELLING HERSELF’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Tony Law: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Storm Davison
Who? Tony Law
What? Identifies
Where? Monkey Barrel 3 (Venue 515)
When? 12:15

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

Trepidation then at turns blank coldness. Like life really. Intensely nervous but pretending I’m old and cool.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

This will be my 16th show. For 15 I did funny from beginning to end trying to be original. Not worked getting me on TV. So this year no jokes. Just talking with a nice hat on. 2 songs. That’s it. Oddly this is the one I’ve written the most for. Maybe over 100000 words. And threw it all out. Well it’s still there. But I don’t like it. So. No more mister funny. However I’m not doing a structure either. It’s like cheating. University students using their essay skills in Edinburgh. Can’t compete. So just talking and moving. And pretending. Play. 

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

Erm. My tour of my last show went rather late. Also I’m a moron and I find it hard to write. But I got given an old laptop. My first since 2013. So I just wrote 8 hours a day minimum for months. But it’s all Shit. So. See above. 

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

No. I’ve always known it’s a middle class bubble of progressive like minded people. I like that though. I get along very well with the middle classes and many of my interests align with them. The locals rip you off. Upper class men own the venues and make all the money. The posh eating themselves. I try rebel by being as crap at stand up as possible whilst still getting laughs. It is what it is. My friends come see me there. It’s like farming. Edinburgh is my spring seeding and the rest of the year I tour what the festival helped grow.  

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

 Phil Nichol. 

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

 On a holiday. Been years n years.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR TONY LAW: ‘IDENTIFIES’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Any Suggestions, Doctor?: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Steve Ullathorne
Who/What? Any Suggestions, Doctor? The Improvised Doctor Who Parody
Where? Pleasance Dome – KingDome (Venue 23)
When? 19:00

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

MANIA. TOTAL MANIA. As ever, we’re all absolutely hopped-up, pepped-up, gassed-up and supercharged for the most exciting month of the year. Indeed, we’ll all be living in a slum, working 22 hours of the day and existing only on beige food, but we have an undying love affair with Edinburgh (as most performers seem to). She can spurn us all she likes with rain, insomnia, and expensive beers, but the sheer thrill of performing daily to audiences made up of passionate creatives and lovers of life will keep us coming back again and again.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

It’s an improvised episode of Doctor Who. We’ll take an audience suggestion for both a setting and an episode title, we’ll fire up the on-stage TARDIS, reboot K9, make sure the set’s not too wobbly, take you wherever you like in Time and Space, and have you home in time for tea. We’re joined, as ever, by our live radiophonic workshop, but beyond that… it’s up to you! We’ve been to the Sauce Mines of Heinz 57, an Inter-dimensional Woolworths, and even… Slough. We’ve seen Teletubbies take over planets, The Silence terrorise The Gorbals, and Daleks with a hangover so powerful that it could punch a hole in the universe. We can’t wait to see where you’ll whisk us off to this year.

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

We’ve put everything into the show for 2019. That means having sets built, props made, music written, tech ordered, and, logistically, all of that can be tough. However, we all love doing the show so much (and more often than not end rehearsals rolling about on the floor laughing) that any administrative bits and bobs are always completely worth it.

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

It’s a source of comfort that the Fringe is always there. Every August. One glorious month. It’s a constant, a lone bastion for silliness, joie de vivre and creativity whilst everything else in the world seems to be pulling in the opposite direction. Our attitude to the Fringe hasn’t changed, but perhaps we need this wonderful festival now more than ever. Come one, come all to the Edinburgh Fringe! A wonderful tonic! Forget the worries of Brexit and house prices and climate change and ease your mind with some comedy, or be inspired by some new writing to go out and change the path we’re on. And, most importantly, come to the Pleasance Dome every night at 7pm – it’s just what The Doctor ordered.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

I’ve asked every member of the company to recommend one show for 2019. (I regret this, the resulting debate and therefore response time was painful). Here’s our list:

Tom Taylor: Is the Indie Feel-Good Hit of the Summer
Baby Wants Candy: The Completely Improvised Full Band Musical
Diane Chorley: Modern Love
Tom Elwes and Ali Woods
The Silliad: Improvised Myths and Legends

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

Exploding out of Jodie Whittaker’s face in a burst of golden light. Although that would mean no more Dr Jodie, and we love her. We’ll happily be a companion. Or get inside a Dalek.

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THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Njambi McGrath: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Steve Ullathorne
Who? Njambi McGrath
What? Accidental Coconut
Where? Just The Tonic at Marlin’s Wynd – Just The Wyndy Room (Venue 296)
When? 16:05

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

It’s always exciting when I hear the thud at the door and the directory lands on my welcome mat because that signals that Edinburgh is nigh. This is my annual ritual. I wait for a sunny day because there is nothing I love more than sitting in my garden with a cup of tea looking through all the shows. It’s always the same every year as I get halfway slowly panic sets in, that my show needs polishing, and that I need more previews. This year is no exception. I am excited, and nervous at the same time.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

My show is about identity hence the title Accidental Coconut. It bothered me that someone took the trouble to find a racial slur that describes a brown person who thinks white and my show questions the notion whether a black person can truly be of independent mind given the hijacking of the black narrative from slavery and colonialism. This is in juxtaposition with Brexit as the British people wrestle with identity and how our two worlds collide having being born in an ex-colony. 

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

Getting enough previews to do the whole show is always problematic.

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

The issues still remain the same, every year for rentals get even more expensive and every year affordability becomes even more questionable. I guess this is still my view.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

I do. There are a few Africans at the Fringe this year so go see Daliso Chaponda and Loyiso Gola.

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

Doing a Netflix special.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR NJAMBI MCGRATH: ‘ACCIDENTAL COCONUT’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Patrick Monahan: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Steve Ullathorne
Who? Patrick Monahan
What? Started From The Bottom, Now I’m Here
Where? Gilded Balloon Teviot – Nightclub (Venue 14)
When? 20:00

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

Excitement, hunger, sleeplessness, and tiredness. But this is all because we’re moving house just before the 2019 festival. Which is probably one of the maddest things you can do at this time of year. Normally a couple of months before Edinburgh Festival I’d be travelling around doing previews, and getting myself rested up ready for a month long marathon in Scotland. Instead i’m moving around boxes of notes and comedy ideas for my new show from one house to another. It’s actually a great way to distract yourself from worrying too much too.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

It’s a very personal show this year. Each year I always try to reveal a bit more of my upbringing and life, flashing back to my immigrant roots and comparing it to today’s world. This show looks at how we not only were immigrants, as outsiders, we were also poor immigrants coming from the Middle East as kids, growing up in a small working class town in the north of England, living in a caravan for most of my teenage years. I could probably make about 10 separate one hour Edinburgh shows out of just this part of my life. 

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

When you start to open up and reveal more of yourself to the audience you have got to be careful that you don’t scare or alienate them. But I think we’re so lucky in the UK that we have the best comedy savvy audience that they love to hear about every aspect of life. Also, it’s important when you’re doing a show like this at the festival that you get the balance right between observational comedy and personal routines. 

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

No, the Fringe does a great job, in that it allows performers to bring a new show and let it live and breath and take shape amongst one of the greatest audiences in the western hemisphere.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

See as many shows as you can. Theres no point spending hours on a train, and £100’s on hotels and food and only see one show. But don’t try and see more than 5 shows a day or you’ll be heading to the festival on a train and leaving in an ambulance.

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

I’d love to be settled in my new house, with all my new notes of my new show neatly organised in folders in my filing cabinet instead of in crates and shoe boxes in the back of a truck or warehouse, which is where they are today.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR PATRICK MONAHAN: ‘STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM, NOW I’M HERE’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Mr Twonkey: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Steve Ullathorne
Who? Mr Twonkey
What? Twonkey’s Ten Year Twitch
Where? Just The Tonic at The Caves – Just the Wee One (Venue 88)
When? 16:10

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

Climate change seems to the big issue that everyone is focusing on this year it seems. I am covering that but in my own way. I think what’s coming around the corner for the whole world is really going to hurt but let’s have fun before the devil takes the wheel, in fact he’s already at the wheel so lets hide in the hold together and make merry.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

Its kind of a piss take on conspiracy theories, its about the idea of fake weather being produced by a sinister cake decorating shop in the Dordogne. At the same time its just framework for me to hang my loons and larks with puppets and props and diddlysquats. I use a fair number of wigs this year.

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

I’m ten years into doing this so sometimes the hardest person to please is myself. Often I get bored with myself, which can be a nightmare, as you can’t really escape yourself but wearing a wig helps. Sometimes a long fast run around the docks helps clear the air. A guy four doors down has an old chow chow (like really super fat bear but in dog form) that always needs walking so I sometimes take that for sniff about and I’m dyslexic which means a get on well with dogs and it takes my mind off the Twonkeyverse.

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

Yes it seems to get more and more fierce and cutthroat but you can’t really let that into your mind. You just need to get on with your small corner and make sure your show and yourself are in the best place possible to make the most of it all. I still get joy from it and I’m always finding new ways of sucking huge amounts of nectar from the giant Fringe flower.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Enjoyed these two shows at the Prague Fringe this year: Isa Bonachera: The Great Emptiness; An Audience with Yasmine Day

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

Crystal Caves would be lovely, it’s a cave in the British overseas territory of Bermuda. It is located in Hamilton Parish, close to Castle Harbour. The cave is approximately 500m long, and 62m deep. The lower 19-20m of the cave are below water level. That would be wonderful, I could have a wee rest down there.

When and where can people see your show? Twonkey’s Ten Year Twitch, Just the Tonic at the Caves – Just the Wee One. 16:10 August 1-11,13-25.

http://twonkey.blogspot.com
https://www.instagram.com/twonkeyverse/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/twonkeys

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THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Jayne Edwards: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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Who? Jayne Edwards
What? Jayne Edwards Is Top Bodybuilder Brian
Where? Heroes @ Dragonfly – Room (Venue 414)
When? 22:00

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

Well, as it’s my first solo show, I’m really excited. I know nothing of the psyche crushing intensity of it all yet, so I’m feeling pretty great. I have a really great show so I am looking forward to get it out there. And obviously I’m self-flagellating about saving money right now.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

My Edinburgh show is about an ex-top bodybuilder called Brian. Brian is based on guys from my home town of Rhyl, where he lives in a caravan and tries to crack the recipe to Lucozade in his spare time. The show is going back through his life to find out where it all went so right. Brian is essentially a satire, but at times physical and ridiculous. As well as stand up, the show is a bit of everything. Dance, song, animation, video. Many comedians warned me not to mix other mediums with stand-up. It releases evil spirits that can only be cleansed by an old school comedian telling you to write a joke, love. But I told them I wasn’t afraid. And now I’ve made a really fun show! And the evil spirits just add to the vibe!

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

Putting the show together was overall pretty fun. I find writing for Brian natural and the idea of my very own show freeing. I wish I had a big dramatic story about finding a huge personal obstacle in making this show but I’m don’t. So I will just say “9/11”.

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

I used to see it as kind of closed off. I applied and didn’t get a venue despite being relatively established on the Northern circuit for years. I’ve always lived in the North and I felt left out. This got compounded because I’m naturally shy. I was a humble bumpkin. And, not to be crude, but the cost of Edinburgh is terrifying. Coming from a working class background, it’s hard to personally justify the expense and the time off my day job. It’s a personal fight to force myself to invest financially in my talent and years of hard work, in a way that isn’t just on needed train tickets or a new bald cap. Especially as a “weird act”, getting any sort of footing is hard if you don’t get your elbows out and start digging. But recently, I have had people reaching out and helping me organise stuff, giving me bigger opportunities and putting me in touch with people I didn’t know how to approach. And now? I’m a complete fucking monster. God, I can’t wait to get up there, put on a tiara and shove flyerers into puddles because they look at me the wrong way.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Foxdog Studios: Tomorrow’s Office – 17.00 – Heroes @ the Hive

Sean Morely: Soon I will be dead and my bones will be free to wreak havoc upon the earth once more – 15.20 – Heroes @ the Hive

The Delightful Sausage: Ginster’s Paradise – 12.00 – Monkey Barrel

Andy Barr: The Ruby – 20.15 – Heroes@ Black Medicine

Adam Larter: Good Morning Croissant – 19.20 – Heroes @ The Hive

Consignia – 11th-17th – 1.45am – Banshee Labyrinth

The Glang Show – 7th and 14th – 21.00 – Heroes @ The Hive.

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

Ideally I would like more comedy writing work. I like writing. I’ll do stand-up till I die but I sometimes feel old already so the idea of just writing and not drawing on myself and throwing my body about a stage is starting to become very appealing. And Edinburgh is a good chance to be seen by a wider range of people. I was one of those acts who became obsessed with becoming some kind of DIY punk cult comedian after getting one rejection email from a big name club. So broadening my group of loyal fans to three, possibly four people would be great!

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THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Nick Elleray: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© James Deacon
Who? Nick Elleray
What? Big Nick Energy
Where? Laughing Horse @ The Counting House – The Attic (Venue 170)
When? 12:45

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

I have a vague sense of optimism, which is a new flavour for me. I’m not sure how I feel about it yet.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

It’s the human condition to desire to be something we’re not and to desire to not be something we are. We pine for change but find ourselves incapable of it. For example, about five minutes into this show, I drop the c-bomb. It’s out-of-character for me and I should probably change it, but find myself incapable of doing so. So, yeah, it’s generally operating on that level of philosophical enquiry.

I also trash-talk the Rolling Stones for not releasing a decent album in nearly 40 years.

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

Wrestling with my own genius.

Just kidding! I didn’t wrestle with my genius, we just pushed each other in the chest for a while, playground-style. He won, unfortunately, so he’s at my place now, eating my biscuits. And fair play to him.

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

I’ve given up booze, so I now have much more fun onstage to make up for my miserable, temperate existence offstage. So I still look forward to the general fun-and-games of the festival, but I’m way more into the idea of making and performing a really good show.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

I’m sure your readership are already hip to these cats but here we go: I’ve loved every show The Delightful Sausage have done. They clash with me, so I’ll be seeing them on my day off. I recently saw sketch group Moon and they made me laugh constantly.

I saw a preview of Alasdair Beckett-King’s new show and it’s chock-full of great jokes and silliness.

Helen Duff and Pat Cahill are always doing exciting and funny stuff. Helen Bauer is doing her first full show and it will be a real cracker.

I’m also looking forward to seeing the new stuff from Heidi Regan, Micky Overman and the dead-eyed monster that is Sunil Patel.

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

Lounging on a sofa, eating a white chocolate Magnum, smiling as I think about how well-attended my 2019 Edinburgh show was.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR NICK ELLERAY: ‘BIG NICK ENERGY’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Darius Davies: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Steve Ullathorne
Who? Darius Davies
What? Persian of Interest
Where? Just The Tonic at The Tron (Venue 51)
When? 14:20

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

I’m feeling a combination of nervousness and excitement. This is my first year not doing a show on the Free Fringe and having an earlier start time than usual. Also unlike most years I have previewed the show already – as opposed to writing it the night before!

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

My show touches on my heritage but really it deals with the way our lives are being more and more dictated by our online presence. I talk about the weaponisation of social media, the spread of fake news, and more importantly I demonstrate how easy it is to manipulate the news in 2019. I believe my show has a very important and FUNNY message.

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

Getting the narrative arc to flow properly – which I believe I have managed and ensuring that I have enough “jokes” so my show doesn’t turn into a boring Ted Talk. It’s a comedy show first, and hopefully it will have a take away message too.

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

My attitude has changed so much as in previous years I was mainly bringing a show up for fun and to enjoy the festival. I still wanted to make money and do as well as I could, but perhaps I didn’t see the big picture of what Edinburgh could offer, in regards to opportunities and development as a performer.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Yes I do! You should come and see Hate N Live (JTT The Big Cave 10:30pm). This is a show I co-created and is now in it’s 6th year. It gets bigger and better every year. Audience write down things they hate, and the comedians have to hate on them. Simple.

UFC Unleashed for MMA fans with Justin Panks (4.30pm Free Sisters) will be great if you like combat sports, and of course I have to plug Leo Kearse Transgressive which knowing Leo will be amazingly funny.

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

This time next year – I would like to be more established within the industry and frantically trying to write a show to follow up Persian of Interest’s litany of 5 star reviews! I’d also like to get Hate N Live onto television in some form or other.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR DARIUS DAVIES: ‘PERSIAN OF INTEREST’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

Nigel Ng: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

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© Jiksaw
Who? Nigel Ng
What? Culture Shocked
Where? Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker Two (Venue 33)
When? 18:45

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

Nervous. Excited.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

It’s about my life in the UK as a Malaysian immigrant. And the tragic ways of how Westerners prepare rice.

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

Constantly battling the fears that what I do is not the kind of critically acclaimed, artsy, narrative, thematic comedy the Fringe loves. And having to be OK with that. I know it’s a funny show, and I need to be comfortable doing things my way.

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

I’ve always loved it! I love how the Fringe it showcases art from all genres (where else can you see a magic show, music, and standup all in the same university classroom?)

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Loyiso Gola! That guy is a monster on stage and super smart. Ivo Graham, Rosie Jones, Jake Lambert are all amazing! For non-comedy stuff: I love watching circus and acrobatic shows up there. I’m drawn by their sheer physical prowess, the precision of movement, and how they defy death every day. And not a show, but an Edinburgh experience for me: the noodle bar known as Noodles and Dumplings on South Clerk St. Noodles in warm broth is the best antidote for shit weather.

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

Continue building and finding my audience. Be a better comic than I am today.

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THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019