Darren McGarvey, aka Loki, has made a name for himself with thought provoking Fringe shows about class, politics and life in contemporary Scotland. The author of Poverty Safari, The Social Distance Between Us and Trauma Industrial Complex, he has also made tv programmes dealing with poverty, addiction and social exclusion. His new show Performative Male focuses on the tricky subject of masculinity.
Tell us about your show. Why should we go and see it?
Performative Male is an in-conversation event series that explores the well-worn topic of masculinity through a fresh lens: performance. That’s the thread that connects all men whether good, bad, or indifferent. We slip into familiar roles. The provider. The tough guy. The public ally. The family man. In recent years, with the justified focus on male wrongdoing since the Me Too movement, I think a lot of men, me included, are often confused about what being a good man involves – beyond the obvious requirement to not abuse women. Media would have us believe we are engaged in a profound conversation about manhood, but ordinary guys who are not monsters are rarely part of that dialogue. Still, behind the ordinary man performance often lurks fear, shame, and confusion, and I’d like to explore these topics in a safe, sensitive and inclusive way.
What is your favourite thing about your show?
The show places great value on male vulnerability. I am a far from perfect man. I do not portray myself as an example to follow nor as someone who hasn’t made mistakes. I think that kind of openness will interest men in a way the moral grandstanding we often see from male public figures doesn’t.
Do you have a Fringe idol?
Idol is a strong word, but the recent passing of Paul Sneddon made me reflect on artistic integrity and longevity – qualities Paul embodied. Every year since I debuted at the Fringe, I’d encounter Paul in a corridor or a stairway or on the street, and that’s when I’d get that warm, assured sense that I was at the proper Fringe. We only spoke once, but in those moments I felt I was in the presence of an artistic elder statesman. I regret not sharing that with him now.
What three words best describe your performance style – and why?
Not. Gary. Stevenson.
Who are you looking forward to seeing in Edinburgh?
Tamsyn Kelly. Tattoo Dave. David McIntosh.
What do you hope to achieve in Edinburgh – what are your hopes and dreams?
These events will form part of the research for a new book, hopefully, working title: Confessions of a Performative Male. And I’ll develop that into a new hour for next year, too, hopefully. To come away from a decent run (for me about 900 bums on seats across 12 days) and the raw materials for another spin in the publishing tumble-dryer would be great.
What are the biggest obstacles you face as a performer at the Fringe?
I don’t perceive obstacles. All I see are opportunities to learn, grow and be thoroughly humbled. Nah that’s bullshit. Corporate monopolies, an overabundance of privately educated artists parachuting in, backed by big promotional firms. These aren’t barriers to me, personally, but they suck so much oxygen out of the room for up and coming working class artists.
What do you hope the audience will take away after an hour in your company?
I hope they leave with a renewed sense of optimism that most men are good. Most men want to be better, be more emotionally open and take accountability when they get it wrong. A lot of them just haven’t been given the tools, or the necessary space to embark on what can be a messy journey of introspection.
How do you plan to relax and recharge when not on stage?
Relax? I don’t understand the question.
What is your idea of a perfect Fringe day?
Catch a couple of shows with my wife, some dinner, maybe some burlesque. Late drinks – orange juice for me, cocktails for her. A night in the Scotsman hotel overlooking the city. If that’s not on offer, the shortest day possible will suffice.
Darren McGarvey: Performative Male, 14.35,, Stand 1, August
https://www.thestand.co.uk/fringe/2912/darren-mcgarvey-performative-male
