Musical comic Dru Cripps will be bringing his Juicy Bits to Hoots Big Yurt where he plans to conjure laughter out of thin air. The comic, who won the Malcolm Hardee Cunning Stunt Award with his trick of fishing for punters, has also popped up on the KSI YouTube Make Us Laugh Channel. where his improvised song about Orphans got big laughs and earned him a prize of £2000.
He walks on stage wearing a loop station and no plan – then, faced with an audience, things start to happen.
Tell us about your show. Why should we come and see it?
You should come because it really shouldn’t work, yet somehow it does. It’s 60 minutes of chaos on a knifes edge where the audience provides the ideas, I build the beats, and together we create something that’s never existed before. It’s picked up comedy awards, sold out runs, and even some critics seem to like it, giving it five stars and shizz. And who doesn’t trust a critic?
What is your favourite thing about your show?
I don’t have to bring any props, I don’t have to learn any lines, I don’t have to worry about whether people will get it, I don’t have to think about my show being thematically similar to anyone else’s. Show up, plug in, find the funnies, collect the monies. Wow – I love the fringe.
Do you have a Fringe idol?
My uncle Rob Duncan is pretty cool idol, he’s very tall – I’m hoping to grow up like him. Maybe my mentor Dan Lees, Paul Currie is rock and roll too but none of these figures are safe role models, so I shouldn’t idolise any of them. I idolise the fringe as its own cosmic entity. Oh! Gavin Grant is a nice man that lets me stay at his house, one day I hope to be as cool and charitable as Gavin.
What three words best describe your performance style – and why?
I’d say the three words that describe my performance style are: “Yeah? Good! Yeah!” Because I seem to say these words a lot when watching clips back… otherwise: “Clown, Improv, Music” is surely acceptable.
Who are you looking forward to seeing in Edinburgh?
I’m looking forward to seeing ALL MY MATES, wow. Its so nice to see everyone from everywhere, the uk, the Australian ones, the ones from LA – all the performers, sure, but also me mate Fayaz in the mosque kitchen who needed WAY more than three words to decide my show probably wasn’t for him. Or Alexi and his family at the bistro diner who ply me with full Scottish.
What do you hope to achieve in Edinburgh – what are your hopes and dreams?
What do I wish to achieve? its bad: but to make more money. The fringe can be lucrative (I know ill be shot for saying that, but it’s true.) I’m doing 54 paid gigs, Ive got a show that people are happy to come back too or send their mates to watch and I’ve worked very hard to make the fringe as cheap as possible. I want to continue to work with the amazing team at Hoots Potterow to continue to restore it beyond its former glory… I’m growing up, I’m becoming business minded, oooh business business business, partnerships! Investment, ooh!
What are the biggest obstacles you face as a performer at the Fringe?
My largest obstacle at the Fringe is striking the balance between: having an absolute mad one but not pissing anyone off. sometimes its easy to take things too far at the fringe whilst on the hunt for mischief and excitement, especially when folks are stressed about their shows that they’ve actually worked hard on and care about… I’m growing up! But ill be sneaking into venues I don’t have tickets for, stealing more tshirts, hanging off more bridges, appearing in more peoples shows, getting more naked and getting reviews from weird papers like the church times. You know, that sort of thing. Its what the Fringe is all about.
What do you hope the audience will take away after an hour in your company?
I hope this year the audience do take something away from this hour, can I do that? Can I push for a bit of emotional vulnerability with people, can I be a bit more comfortable in the silence? I got this idea to do a couple shows without words – just to fill the gap in the market for Silent Musical Comedians. Who knows, lets find out.
How do you plan to relax and recharge when not on stage?
When I’m not on stage I’m the king of the nap. Last year I was sent about 12 different photos from friends who had caught me napping in thrones, on Arthurs Seat or wrapped in a “Pbh Free Fringe” black back drop which are all over the place if you need a quick and unspoiled by light – nap.
What is your idea of a perfect Fringe day?
My perfect Fringe day: cycle in to town, sunny, wind in my hair, get a full Scottish using some of the money from last nights gigs, maybe see a friend from my regular window seat, invite them in for some beans, rush to a gig, open myself to the possibility of something fun occurring, sniffing the air for hijinks before darting off to another gig, and another gig, take a nap, do my show, eat a curry, stay so busy that I don’t get into too much trouble. Get home, sleep.
Dru Cripps: Jucy Bits, 22.10, Hoots Big Yurt, Potterow Underpass, August 7 – 31
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/dru-cripps-juicy-bits
