“I’ve called my show Post Coital because I wanted something about the sort of thoughts you have when you’ve had sex and you’re falling asleep and you have creative thoughts about the world,” says Tiff Stevenson.
“It’s about everything that goes through your mind.
“That’s when the United Nations should meet – when everyone’s had a good shag.”
This is the sort of imaginative tangential thinking that makes Stevenson such a refreshing comedic voice. She’s never afraid to mix everyday reality with grand philosophical concepts – and she’s always looking for ways to make this a better world.
Feminism in space is one of the notions she’s been pondering – as well as the role of the ‘umarell’ – an Italian word which describes retired men who spend their time admiring construction sites.
She’s also been wondering about the difference between exploitation and empowerment. As a step mother of a teenage boy she’s alarmed by the way the young feel the need to monetize their hobbies – rather than having the time and space to mess around for a bit.
Stevenson, who looks as fresh as a daisy in her forties, has also been pondering the alarming sexiness of women in their fifties and sixties. “You’ve got people like Demi Moore and Nicole Kidman looking amazing. I wonder how long we are supposed to be sexy.”
She’s bursting with life, energy and ideas and she can’t wait to share them with the Edinburgh audience.
“I’m going to push back against the idea that it’s all downhill from now on. The best is yet to come. All the coolest things that have happened to me have happened in my forties.”
“I think as you get older your shows get better. You have more life experience. The Fringe veterans are coming back with interesting things to say and new ways to say it.”
There’s always a political angle to her comedy and Stevenson has her own unique take on politics, AI and the state of the world.
“Twitter had already melted the brains of all the left-wing people – then Elon took over and it melted the brains of the right-wing people as well. Social media and being online drives people crazy.
“And then you have AI – we’re bringing in this technology. If you said to AI what should we do about climate change it would just tell you to kill all human beings.”
As the host of Old Rope, the regular London comedy night where top comics perform new material, Stevenson she also has her finger on the pulse of the current comedy zeitgeist.
Like a lot of people she is concerned that Edinburgh Festival Fringe is in danger of pricing itself out of business.
“I’m performing at the Monkey Barrel and staying with people I know. It’s the only way to do the Fringe. Unless you’re doing 4-500 seat venues you can’t make it pay.
“I love it so much and I want it to survive – but it’s got to change.
“Edinburgh is such a beautiful city but it is becoming impossible for performers.
“I think it should be like the Olympics. Do two or three years and then it moves somewhere else.”
Nonetheless she’s delighted to be back. And like many comics she feels that the unique atmosphere of Edinburgh helps people find their best work.
“A Fringe is a Fringe. You go up with an idea of what you think the show can be but it can change. It allows people to take certain risks.”
