The Edinburgh Interviews

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Paul Foot

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Paul Foot’s comedy is an energetic whirlwind from the offset. Extravagant but softly-spoken, brutal yet always endearing, this comedian’s latest show ‘Tis a Pity She’s a Piglet is one that you should make every effort not to miss. Foot will be performing at Underbelly Cowgate throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

The Edinburgh Festival is the most shows I ever perform in a consecutive run of days. At no other point in my year do I get to perform for 25 nights in a row. Worra lot of excitement that is. And I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Paul, every performer has to have a day off from performing their show in Edinburgh. It’s festival policy baybayy.” Well, true, but on my day off (which, this year, is the Moonday 14th Augustus) I fly down to London to perform a Secret Show for my Connoisseurs. I can’t let my 25 day streak be ruined by stupid Edinburgh Fridge Festival red tape. I’m on a roll baybayyy!

2) What was your first Edinburgh show about?

My first ever Edinburgh Fridge Festival (so-called because it’s so friggin’ cold all the thyme) I did a show called ‘Simple Pleasures’. And it was about simple pleasures, like making your own compost, or watching Nicky Clegg lose his seat, or eating a peach. One must find joy in the small things in life you see, because the big things are all such a friggin’ mess.

© Paul Foot

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

I wouldn’t say so. All sorts of people come to watch my comedy. People of all ages, from the age of approximately 7 all the way up until total decomposition. All the ages are welcome. And all the races, and all the genders. Also, all the various states of consciousnesses are welcome. Once a sleeping man attended. But he was very welcome because sometimes the sleeping mind is at its most imaginative and creative, and imaginative and creative people are often attracted to my comedy, so we can’t blame him really.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

Once I shared a tiny little 3-bedroom flat with 7 other comedians. It was a shambles. I slept in a cupboard like a vampire and there were strange women and men coming and going all times of the day and night. Imagine the queue for the bog in the morning. And imagine the state of the bogbrush!

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

I remember some years ago I was doing a show in Edinburgh, and I came out on stage and the atmosphere was terrible. A real shocker. People looked miserable and no one even applauded at the start and I’m pretty sure there was a man sleeping. The first ten minutes of the show was really difficult, but slowly I managed to build some atmosphere and start to win people round, and by the end of the show it had turned into one of the best shows ever! Everyone had become hysterical. That was a very special show.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

I love Brian Gittins. He is a top quality comedian and I would very much like to see his show. Malcolm Head too. He does strange poetry and unusual humour.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

I hope to eat at least 14 pies. And also I’ll be writing my new show for next year, which will premier at the Edinburgh Festival 2018. I am very excited about the new humour.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

I couldn’t possibly say. One cannot predict the future. Or maybe it will be about Judy Murray OBE. She is absolutely hilarious and will probably live for ever.

BOOK TICKETS FOR PAUL FOOT: ‘TIS A PITY SHE’S A PIGLET, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Ross & Josh

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Ross Brierley and Josh Sadler make up the comic duo Ross & Josh, who are bringing their cheeky, alternative spin on the late night chat show format, The Not So Late Show, to this year’s Edinburgh festival. Ross & Josh will be performing at the Pleasance Dome throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

Being amongst it. Being in it, around it, tasting it, watching it, going mad because of it. The creativity, the excitement, the despair, the buzz, the desperation, the joy, the utter size and scope of it.

2) What is your first Edinburgh show about?

It’s a spoof late night chat show where we interview weird pop culture icons and play stupid games and show silly adverts and ideas we’ve had and try and package them into an hour of high octane nonsense.

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

I don’t think so. I think it appeals to all age groups, though a lot of the references are from the 90’s/early 00’s. But we get all sorts of people enjoying it as long as your willing to suspend your disbelief and get behind it all.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

Haven’t had one yet, so god knows what this year is going to be like. Aside from staying with some friends who were sharing 4 bedrooms between 8 of them and wondering whether I would ever be able to get the smell of everyone else out of my nostrils. But that was only for a weekend.

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

Live, the first time we did our hour long show at Leicester Comedy Festival and lots of people came and it was almighty fun. But the impact that our video, UK Garage Horse Racing, has had has been the highlight. People have genuinely told us it’s the sketch they’ve watched the most out of anything ever which is weird.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

Joseph Morpurgo as he’s been hyped for years and I’ve never seen him. Tony Law because he’s a wonderful experience. And The Delightful Sausage because we feel like we’re in similar boats careering off course and I want to compare notes of the shipwreck.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

Experience, exposure and an idea of what direction to take. We’ve been beavering away on our own terms for a while now so it’s about time we released this baby into the wild. Which is unwise for an actual baby but fine for a metaphorical one.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

Depending on who does it first, it will be about one of us murdering the other one and trying to get away with it.

BOOK TICKETS FOR THE NOT SO LATE SHOW WITH ROSS & JOSH AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Rachel Jackson

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© Steve Ullathorne

Rachel Jackson’s debut Edinburgh hour is described as ‘part biopic, part therapy,’ with the comic bringing her endearing openness along with hints of instability to effortlessly charm audiences. Jackson’s show, Bunny Boiler, will be at the Pleasance Courtyard, Bunker 1, throughout August.
1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

The fact the craziest and most ambitious people in the industry all gather in the best city in the world for three weeks and absolutely destroy themselves doing what they love. And the fact it’s my hometown is the cherry on an already very exciting cake.

2) What is your first Edinburgh show about?

This is my debut and is a longer and more refined version of my first Edinburgh show which was called ‘Memoirs of a Bunny Boiler’. It’s about my outrageous love life and is me playing an extremely heightened version of myself. It’s like a mixture of comedy and theatre so hoping it will attract fans of both genre. It’s just nuts!

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

Mental people! Just people who are really liberal and open minded are my best audience as my comedy is quite out there! But strangely relatable.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

Luckily for me I stay with my parents for the month of August as it’s where I grew up and they still live there! My worst nightmare would be having to share not just a room with someone but a bed. I’ve heard true Edinburgh Fringe horror stories and think some companies treat their talent disgracefully. I know people are trying to save money and keep to a budget but surely people would be happier each having an air bed/sleeping bag than having to literally share a bed with strangers! Like come on! It’s 2017!

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

Having my own mini series with BBC Three. The coolest thing is they spotted me when my show was only 30 minutes and on at the Free Fringe. What a confidence boost that was I can tell you – especially in developing it into a full hour. It’s just cool to say you’ve been the lead in your own creation! I’ve also been nominated for a couple of best newcomer awards this year which has been great! 

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

There’s a few such as Susan Riddell, Joanne McNally, Tiff Stevenson, Abi Roberts and Michael Redmond.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

A best newcomer nomination would be nice! Think folk are lying if they say it wouldn’t be an amazing feeling knowing people liked your work. But really and truly coming out not totally bankrupt is more important. I owe a lot of people money and it’s getting outrageous.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

Come on what kind of depressing question is that to ask a comedy newcomer with their whole career ahead of them??! If I die during this Fringe I’m holding you personally responsible. 

BOOK TICKETS FOR RACHEL JACKSON: BUNNY BOILER, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: James Adomian

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James Adomian is a highly acclaimed American stand up comedian and impressionist whose new show, Lacking In Character, explores the implications of being a gay man in Hollywood. Adomian will be performing at the Gilded Balloon throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

The castles and the tents and the parades of jesters from far and near! And I think there was a food truck that I will try to find again.

2) What is your first Edinburgh show about?

Well I did a short set over a long weekend a couple of years ago, so I guess this year will be my true Edinburgh debut. It’s called Lacking in Character and it’s a look at being gay in Hollywood, and also several other things that don’t fit the theme but I think are funny.

© Luke Fontana

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

Winners. Upward focused winners who might be gay or have a gay brother or something, but odds are they’re some variety of straight (going on raw numbers). Also leftists. If I were Jeremy Corbyn I’d come to the show and probably get a solid chuckle out of it, even though I didn’t necessarily “get” every single American reference in the act.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

All I remember from my brief weekend run was the more or less constant sound of shattering bottles of booze on the cobblestones outside.

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

The late legendary Don Rickles was backstage when I had my first TV gig on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson some years back. I was very, very nervous and as I walked off the set and there was Don Rickles who came up and hugged me and said I was terrific. Then he said I had a terrible name for showbiz and slapped me in the face, which in hindsight seems about right.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

I’m in some thick company! Definitely love Aditi Mittal, Sean Patton, Andy Daly, and maybe most of all Red Bastard!

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

Short term, personal economic advantage.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

Something about the universe and Alan Watts.

BOOK TICKETS FOR JAMES ADOMIAN: LACKING IN CHARACTER, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Tom Skelton

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© John Cairns

Character comic Tom Skelton’s latest show, Blind Man’s Bluff, is an energetic whistle-stop tour of the most famous visually impaired people in history, coming from a man with partial sight himself. Skelton will be performing this show at the Underbelly Med Quad throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

The intensity and the proximity: so many great shows and things to see and do within such a confined space. I feel so alive at the Fringe. And at a certain point, half-dead.

2) What was your first Edinburgh show about?

My first solo venture was Foolball, the history of the greatest football club that never existed – Red Star Belgravia, a communist club founded by Karl Marx when he lived in London. It was more a silly history of Britain since about 1860 through the lens of football, in which I played all the characters and struggled to change costume. An aspect of my comedy I have retained two years on.

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

My Mum and Dad say they like it…! Apart from that, I can’t be too accurate about demographics because I am partially sighted and can never see them too well, but each does have a theme, which attracted football-lovers to Foolball in 2015, political dystopians to the Orwellian 1984 homage 2061 in 2016, and hopefully blind people to 2017’s Blind Man’s Bluff.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

The worst was either the whole month sharing with five other sweaty alcohol-fuelled students, in which the thick air grew generally rancid, or perhaps the three nights when the room I was staying in for the month with two other souls squeezed in three more on the floor or in the gap between the bed and the wall (including one person’s girlfriend – now wife, somehow after that weekend’s intensely fetid stench). It was not ideal.

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

I kept thinking that an audience member was laughing like Henning Wehn, and then as he was leaving my partially sighted eyes thought ‘it could be’ and I said ‘are you Henning Wehn?’ He said, ‘yes’. I said, ‘you are really, really funny’ and he replied, ‘you are funny too’! That sent me over the moon.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

Hammerhead by Joseph Morpurgo. I have loved all of his previous shows, and I think he is just very funny and good.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

A daily rush of endorphins of an audience laughing at me and my sillier jokes. That is all I want!

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

Ooh, I would hope to still be doing this for a long time. So maybe it would be a character comedy parody of William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying. But that might be a bit sad, so maybe I should say this year’s one, Blind Man’s Bluff, so that more people might come to see my last ever show…!

BOOK TICKETS FOR TOM SKELTON: BLIND MAN’S BLUFF, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Dave Bibby

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Stand up Dave Bibby is performing his debut show Nobody Puts Bibby in the Corner at this year’s Edinburgh Festival. The show is a showcase of sketches, improvisation and storytelling, with a variety of comedy characters and accents to delight audiences. Dave will be performing at Underbelly, Cowgate throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

There is still that little spark about the place every year where someone comes out of nowhere to get people excited. I mean, for every one of these there’s 50 people who have paid their life savings to a PR ‘guru’ who has never seen them perform, but like the scene of a tragic event look beyond the hype headlines and you’ll start to see good people on the fringes.

2) What is your first Edinburgh show about?

Nobody Puts Bibby in the Corner is my first solo venture north of the wall. It’s comedy tapas – a mix of storytelling, stand up, sketch, songs and even a little gameshow element as well.

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

Drunks. Lots of drunks. Though my show is packed with audience interaction where the audience become the stars – the joke is always on me. So my audiences are fun and increasingly confident. But mainly drunk.

© Fraser Davidson

 

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

One year we threw a massive house party and my flatmate forgot to mention there was a viewing the following morning as the landlord was selling. An estate agent turned up with a startled young couple and climbed over piles of Edinburgh Festival’s most despicable (and unprofessional) sleeping comedians. 

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

Getting trolled. We (my sketch group Lead Pencil) performed live from the prestigious BBC Festival stage for Radio 4 and got our first Twitter troll. I have a section in my show where I put some abuse on the screen from 10 years of #showbiz. But there’s nothing like your first random troll to make you feel like you are making it – nobody trolls nobodies.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

Spencer Jones does The Herbert in ‘The Audition’. He’s my fave dickhead. Also some amazing one woman shows to look out for – ‘Victim’ at The Pleasance and a little known show called ‘Fleabag’ at Underbelly.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

Weight.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

It will be called ‘Hasta La Vista Bibby’ and will be a one-man retelling of ‘Labyrinth’ with a finale where I reach out and touch David Bowie in Heaven like The Creation of Adam… except I die at the end. Every day for a month.

BOOK TICKETS FOR NOBODY PUTS BIBBY IN THE CORNER AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Enterprise’s Christopher Carley

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Christopher Carley is a stand up comedian and actor, who is performing in a play entitled Enterprise during the festival this year. This surrealist play is written by Brian Parks, and is about four businessmen scrabbling to save their financial stability for the future. Enterprise will be at Assembly George Square throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

I’ve wanted to work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe since I was a college student. And now I’m a married adult, with two children and a dog who never stops barking. Sure, it’s exciting to perform in a play and do stand-up at the same time, but just the opportunity to get away from these people is enough. If it were a prison sentence with a 100% haggis diet, I’d still be going.

2) What was is your first Edinburgh show about?

The play is titled Enterprise. When I asked the production team what it was about, they said “With their corporation on the brink of collapse, four panicking businessmen have one desperate night to save their futures. Emergency proposals, email hacking, animal sacrifice – will any of it work?” I thought it would be more powerful if it was one panicking businessman, but the other actors keep saying “their” lines and the director doesn’t seem to have the balls to do anything about it. As far as stand-up, I try to cover the entirety of my life experience: working w/ Clint Eastwood, parenthood, anxiety, being the son of a NYPD homicide detective. And of course the many, many, many, many, many, many times I’ve shit my pants. Many, many times.    

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

People in the midst of a panic attack, self-medicators, habitual cringers, leprechauns, and lonely swim suit models.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

Windows in our flat. I’m not meant for daylight.  

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

Following Greer Barnes, just like one of my other comedy icons, Bill Burr: “I Can’t Follow Greer Barnes” – Splitsider 

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

I know a bunch of people involved in the production of Mary Go Nowhere, so I’ll definitely see that, just to see if it goes anywhere.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

I want to win dammit!! And when I do, I’m not gonna’ share. I’m gonna’ eat it all by myself and not tell anyone.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

My first professional job was on Broadway in Martin McDonagh’s Beauty Queen of Leenane directed by Gary Hynes. My last role will be the title role in Darby O’Gill & The Little People. It’s hard to remake a classic, but I’m not afraid.

BOOK TICKETS FOR ENTERPRISE AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Kae Kurd

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© Steve Ullathorne

Kae Kurd’s debut show centres around the comic’s personal history, being part of a family of political refugees who fled Saddam Hussein’s brutal regime and settled in the UK. The show, entitled Kurd Your Enthusiasm, will be at the Pleasance Courtyard throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

The prospect of hoards of people coming to see me in their droves. White, Black, Asian, Muslim, Jew, Christian, all in their various different shades and beliefs coming and paying good cold hard cash in order to make sure I succeed and become the next best thing. On a serious note, the fact that you stay up so late and things are still open, I love the fact you can go to Palmyra on Nicolson Square at 3am and get a Pizza.

2) What is your first Edinburgh show about?

My Edinburgh show explores my life as a refugee and immigrant and my upbringing in South London all amongst the backdrop of current affairs and themes. It’s my truth and my life with a lot of opinions and theories. Come and laugh and take away something as well. 

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

People that aren’t easily offended I think – so in essence really cool people. I hate when people get offended on others’ behalf, you might as well walk into A&E completely healthy and complain to the staff about waiting times. I think that’s the beauty of stand up comedy, it’s the one medium where opinions can be shared without censorship, but the moment the performers start to edit things out or they start to pander to audiences we’ll be going down a slippery slope. I like to think I get a young, intelligent audience that like my stuff. 

4) What would be your worst Edinburgh accommodation nightmare?

I think my worst accommodation nightmare would be what I’ve seen a few other comics do where they share rooms, some of them didn’t have a bed to stay on and were sleeping on a floor for the month. Meanwhile not everyone had a key so they’d have to leave the house in turns or together. Some people I’ve heard of have had mice staying with them and not paying rent. I’ve seen ceilings fall in in some people’s houses. I’ve been lucky with accommodation, I was staying at a hostel in a single bed, but even that was okay. 

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

Probably playing at the Hackney Empire. It’s just a great feeling hearing that wave of laughter come back at you.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

I’m going to see Dane Baptiste, Tez Ilyas, Alistair Williams – there’s a lot more, that’s just off the top of my head. I always end up seeing a lot of stuff just by luck when I’m up there as well or on word of mouth.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

I really just want to have a successful show that people come to an enjoy. I want to play to full rooms essentially, make me feel loved, people.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about? (If you dare imagine!)

Kae Kurd – The Last Word. 

It’ll be my retirement show – my last ever tour. It’ll finish with a massive show at the o2 arena, I’d have rappers, actors, everyone in the crowd. It’ll be an autobiographical show about how my life has panned out and become the way it is and my view on the world. The fact that we got rid of the royal family, Beckham is now prime minister, Ant and Dec have broken up and have rival chat shows on bbc1 and Itv1. In a completely unforeseeable turn of events Piers Morgan converted to Islam before he died and become really popular and how Changing Rooms had come back but it was just rival robots re-doing people’s houses with the frozen head of Handy Andy presenting the show. Reviewers gave it 4 and half stars as they said my performance had got lacklustre as I’d got older but my writing had remained sharp.

BOOK TICKETS FOR KAE KURD: KURD YOUR ENTHUSIASM, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Helen Duff

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© Matt Highton

Helen Duff is a comedian who specialises in clowning, and she has a lot of exciting things going on this year, from getting to the final of Amused Moose New Act Awards 2017 to starring in the film Holmes and Watson, due to be released next year. Helen will be performing her new show When The Going Gets Duff at Assembly Roxy throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

So much! I’m a one woman adrenaline sluice when it comes to the Fringe; my body’s on red alert as soon as I smell buttery hops on the air. This year I’m backing myself to take some big risks with free form movement, weaving it through my anecdotes to make my body a more explicit part of the conversation.

2) What was is your Edinburgh show about?

It’s a real tapestry of experiences, all tied together around the tantric shaman that I went to see at the beginning of this year and the ways in which that sparked my synapses. Also, I do a bit of swimming through slippery fish.

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

I really like the variety of my audiences. I get them involved because I think it’s a waste of a live performance to pretend they’re not present, and I’m not interested/confident/contained enough in myself to sustain a show without their occasional input.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

I once walked past a mattress abandoned next to some bins and felt it would be better than the student theatre flat I was living in with 6 to each room and a microwave that must have been a masochist.

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

I feel very lucky to get to do comedy, it’s helped me feel much happier in myself and I’ve met some really inspiring sorts – like the Weirdo’s comedy collective held together by the endlessly inventive Adam Larter, who has a show at Heroes of The Fringe, and Ben Target, also at Heroes, who makes my mind smile (as well as my face).

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

John Kearns is a master and I want to shake my legs to get the laughter out when I see his shows.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

I’m through to the Amused Moose New Act of the year competition on the 14th, and I have no idea how I got this far, so it already feels like I’ve made a massive leap. I would be happy to make a fool of myself in the final, just as long as it’s in a way that other people enjoy.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

My goodness! I would love to plunge my fists into two pots of paint in an entirely white room, with white walls, a white shag carpet and a white Dulux dog, throwing the paint about in artful arcs and wobbles, maybe there’s some music playing – I’m sure by then I’ll know a fiery classical track. Each audience member gets a thin paintbrush and a part of the wall, then they make the beautiful mess into a story with whatever they weave in between. I wonder if we could find a new space to paint for every show?

BOOK TICKETS FOR HELEN DUFF: WHEN THE GOING GETS DUFF, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Siblings (Maddy and Marina Bye)

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The sketch duo Siblings is made up of sisters Maddy and Marina Bye, and the pair are bringing their debut show to the Edinburgh Festival this year, described as ‘suitable for anyone who has or has seen a sister’, so it will probably be right up your street. They will be performing at the Gilded Balloon Teviot throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

Having absolutely no idea whats going to happen over the next month… We have quite a late show this year as well so we are slowly but surely preparing ourselves for the lack of sunlight we will experience for a month and the unknown feeling that we cant really prepare for is something that’s very sexy and exciting. Another thing we are excited for is the Scottish air… Scottish air beats all… so yeah, the Scottish air.

2) What was/is your first Edinburgh show about?

Siblings is about two real life sisters who let go of any flicker of dignity and attractiveness to make the most ridiculous character comedy show, plucked from their inner childhood minds. One drama school graduate and one clown school graduate, one short, one tall, one funny, one not, both absurd, performing characters from all over the globe. We want people to leave and disco HARD because they are so pumped and happy after seeing two fools bring destruction to the stage.

Siblings

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

Not really… So far our audiences have been amazing. We have had a half naked boy with an anarchist tattoo slapped across his thigh to an older guy with a ‘I heart tofu’ badge on and a fold up bike on stage with us, both enjoying the same moments just as much as the other. People who are up for entering into a completely absurd world tend to enjoy our show most, usually expecting your standard sketch show but leave a bit shaken and confused. There is nothing better than the “what the fuck is going on” laugh. 

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

Maddy – 2 weeks before performing for the month at the Edinburgh Fringe 2015 I had a break up with a fellow performer who I was not only sharing a house with… but also a show. Let’s just say it was an awkward month. 

Marina – My friend and I stayed in Edinburgh and shared a bath together, she was drunk and pissed in it. 

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

Finding out we were able to do comedy with a sister… Honestly never expected in our wildest dreams that this would ever happen, but we threw ourselves on stage at an open mic together and performed probably the worst piece of comedy at the Fringe. But! We realised we had something indestructible between us on stage and thus… Siblings was born.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

There are FAR too many to choose from, we have already got our highlighters out on that Fringe guide. If we had to choose one it would probably be Spencer Jones’ new show The Audition. We are his biggest fans. 

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

Bigger balls, failure, success, nail the Scottish accent… and some audience members would be nice. 

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

Marina – We will probably be in space and will be in space suits because Planet Earth collapsed. The comedy will be tricky because they won’t see our faces through to suits. so I imagine a lot more physicality from the both of us to emphasise emotions more clearly through a large suit and a lack of seeing the facial expressions…

Maddy – Yes.. That. 

BOOK TICKETS FOR SIBLINGS AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017