Darrell Martin is the founder of Just the Tonic. He writes for Entertainment Now about the highs and lows of twenty years of running a venue at Edinburgh Fringe.
I bloody love Edfringe. I have since the first time 1995, working for a large promotion company handing out flyers and teching for Sean Lock and the Comedy Zone. I couldn’t believe all this stuff was going on. I had always been a hedonist, but I couldn’t believe the size and duration of this new playground I had found.
One night, I was at Late ‘N’ Live when I ran into Jo Brand and asked if she’d like to do a gig at a shitty comedy club in Nottingham. She said yes. We sold out and she would only take the same money as everyone else. It was a great act of generosity which I always remember. My first insight into the often generous nature of the comedy world.
At the time I was trying to make it as a stand up. I was promoting up again in 97, but was also a finalist in the 1997 Open Mic Awards. Didn’t win. Curses, Paul Foot, curses!
In 2000 I was selected by the wonderful Pete Harris (now produces Mervyn Stutter’s shows) to compere Big Value Comedy Shows. I’d just supported Johnny Vegas on tour and was lined up to do the same for Ed Byrne in the Autumn. I felt like I was making it!
Two years later, Pete Harris jacked it all in and I was asked to produce Big Value Comedy in Edinburgh. I asked loads of comedians I knew were funny, put myself on again and can now say with pride that I took Jim Jeffries to Edinburgh for his first show.
Two years later I took over the running of the Café Royal venue. Just the Tonic Edinburgh was born. No plan, no scheme. Just happened! That was the year Wil Hodgson won Best Newcomer. That show wasn’t at our venue – but I loved it, little vignettes, weird storytelling, straight out of small-town alternative youth culture. Out of sheer love of his show, and the joy of watching people enjoy it, I offered to promote it. A total underdog story, an example of how Edfringe can sprinkle its magic on the lives of people. Total imposter syndrome as myself and Wil Hodgson were hanging backstage with Christian Slater. After that Wil asked me to manage him – and so did Josie Long. I was now a promoter, a comedian and a manager!
We’ve kept Big Value going over the years and we have had people that have gone on to be huge, such as Jon Richardson, Kerry Godliman, Sarah Millican, Romesh Ranganathan, Rob Beckett… so many more.
2007 was a difficult year. We lost the Café Royal and took over C Soca – and put up a couple of marquees in the space where the original Gilded Balloon had burnt down. We had sound problems (who would have thought there might be sound bleed?) Plus it seemed like it rained every day and you had to walk between the venues on planks in the mud. It was grim! But we produced Pappy’s Fun Club, nominated for the Comedy Award… they waltzed off to a big agent to share the success elsewhere.
In 2009 Just the Tonic took over The Caves, in South Niddry Street and the fun really began. We brought Dr Brown to Edinburgh, we put on Phil Ellis’ Funz And Gamez. We have produced so many shows over the years, some going off to great success.
In August 2015 my brother Lee died when his bike was hit by a transit van whose twat of a driver was texting on his mobile. I juggled between family tragedy in England and work commitments in Edinburgh. One day I bumped into a very understanding and uplifting Daniel Kitson. During our chat he encouraged me to go and see Spencer Jones. I watched his show and for an hour experienced a true escape. Such a joyous clown. I will always remember that hour. As I write this I am getting goose pimples at the memory. I had completely lost myself and came out feeling elated. I also knew my brother would have loved it. Bittersweet! What an example of what a great performer can achieve and provide.
Now a full-time resident of this beautiful city, having moved here in 2019 (just in time for the pandemic… which is another tale)
Twenty years on, we have grown and now house 17 spaces across six venues with over 200 shows. We still run Big Value, we also run Comedy in the Dark. We’ve got some other regular shows such as Improvised Sherlock, Tales of the Sea and AAA Batteries. We’ve o got established acts, like Lucy Porter, Andrew Maxwell, Craig Hill, Adam Bloom. Last year Connor Burns totally sold out his 110 capacity room. This year he returns, triumphantly, to our 300 capacity room in Nucleus. So good to see!
We’ve got two great late-night shows, one each night: 23:00 Live at the Big Cave, followed by The Big Gay After Party. Plus, Altitude Comedy Festival: The Late Show. We are hoping we can create some of the mayhem and chaos that helped start my love affair with this place all those years ago. It’s been a long and varied journey, but I have to say, yes… still… I bloody love Edfringe.
