Loyiso Gola is increasingly gaining in popularity, having appeared on Mock The Week in 2016 and being nominated for various awards over recent years. Loyiso will be performing his latest show Unlearning at the Gilded Balloon Teviot throughout August.
1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?
I like the fact that I get to do so much stand up comedy, I get to do 28 odd hours of comedy in a month. That’s the best way to get better at stand up comedy. After the festival my show will be water tight. It’s a gruelling 28 but I will never miss it again.
2) What is your first Edinburgh show about?
This particular show is me sharing a journey of growth and self evaluation. I have learnt so much in my 34 years on planet earth. Both good and bad sometimes direct but mostly indirectly. The show unpacks my personal and society’s learning and teachings.
3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?
No not all and unintentionally so. My subject matter resonates across the board. Well actually the millennials tend to back off a bit when you dive into race issues. They really like to mollycoddled through jokes of gender and race dynamics. That annoys me.
4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?
I have always had great accommodation experiences in Edinburgh. I really can’t relate. Jeeeez I sound like a millennial.
5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?
What I appreciate the most about my comedy career is the fact that I travel to and have experienced so many places. I have been to Lagos, Estonia, Melbourne, NYC, Montreal… all from telling jokes.
6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?
I don’t really watch much stand up comedy at all. I find that if I like an act I tend to subconsciously try to emulate them. I will watch the first ten minutes of some stand up on Netflix just to get a feel of the act.
7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?
A killer show that I take to the world. I am also looking forward to the summer sun of Scotland. My highlight is seeing comedians I have not seen in years and catching up.
8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?
It will be about why America still has not had a woman president and Arsenal FC is the best football club in the world.
BOOK TICKETS FOR LOYISO GOLA: UNLEARNING, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL
