Alex Kealy’s debut Edinburgh show is an introspective look at the effects of leaving the EU on 21st century Brits, with Kealy examining issues surrounding Brexit and also aspects of his personal life, with his trademark calm, downbeat delivery. Alex will be performing The Art of the Keal at Just the Tonic at The Caves throughout August.
© Ed Moore
1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?
Getting to perform multiples times a day – I might be onstage 100 times in August when it would be more like 20 in a usual month.
Should I have said “other people’s shows”? Sure, but it’s all about me, really.
2) What was/is your first Edinburgh show about?
Being single and Brexit. “I’m so lonely… like my country, amirite?!!?”
3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?
Want to get those smug liberal audience members in. Preaching to the choir? Nah, I want to preach to bishops and above, please.
4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?
I remember one year a friend very kindly had me to stay for a week and his flatmate had taken up quite a lot of living room space with an intricate home-brewing appliance. I wasn’t there long enough to taste the beer, was there long enough to be weirded out by yeast and hops.
5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?
Smashing sold out Saturday night show for my debut hour last year; afterwards, some of the audience came up to me to get a selfie, which was very sweet.
In the interests of balance, I can tell you other stories of me dying horrifically at gigs are available.
6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?
Joseph Morpurgo’s new one. I’ve seen half of it in preview earlier in the year and it was brilliant: he’s consistently the most inventive comic out there.
7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?
I’d like my audiences to really enjoy my show and minimal amounts of debt would be pretty sweeeeeet too.
8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?
“The year is 2042 and Alex Kealy’s show is 50% comedy and 50% a plea to the All Seeing Ones to spare my family from The Sickness that has ravaged the planet.”
BOOK TICKETS FOR ALEX KEALY: THE ART OF THE KEAL, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL