Tell us about your show. Why should we go and see it?
It’s a super interesting, super funny show. An illustrated 3000 year history and censorship of everyone’s favourite c-word… comedy. Sorry that should say C*nt! and a helluva lot of work has gone into it… Haha.
That isn’t why you should go and see a show, quite the opposite. You want to see something that looks like it’s been deftly and effortlessly thrown together like a photogenic picnic salad.
I’ve spent about a year making it look like I just chucked it together.
Also it’s funny and informative and gives you nice feels and most importantly I’m in it. And even if you don’t want to you might learn something you might. You have been warned.
Are you flying solo or are you part of a team?
Every last pause, illustrated slide and ad libbed aside are mine! All mine!!
I made everything in the show. I directed it. I came up with the concept.
I’m an artist. I don’t have a ‘creative team’. I’m not sure I agree with the concept of a team for solo shows, it’s a solo show, you’re meant to make it yourself. That’s what older generations of comics did and that’s one of the reasons why the work was more interesting. It wasn’t done by committee. It’s meant to be an exciting, edgy comedy show where anything can happen. Not a sculpture for a shopping centre carpark in Skegness.
There’s all this well- intentioned stuff about inclusivity in comedy (and the arts)… that we need more people of colour, we need more working class people. I’m like we need more authentic creative who produce interesting innovative work regardless of their sexual orientation or shoe size.
And another thing! There’s also that nonsense saying “good artists steal’ They don’t. They make art from their minds. Con artists steal… and quite often from me and other lesser known performers’ or their “creative team’ does.
So, come see what’s in my show before you see it somewhere else… Now excuse me whilst I go back to my Youtube instructional video on how to grind an axe.
What are your hopes and dreams for the Fringe?
I want people to love my show
What makes you laugh?
Most things. My sense of humour spans a broad spectrum from very light to super dark. I keep the stuff in the show mainly down the funny cat video end of the spectrum but in a weirder, slightly more cerebral way.
What is it that made you a performer?
I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth, more a silver cane in my hand and a top hat on my head. I was born to perform, baby.
How will your audience think/feel differently after an hour in your company?
I hope everyone leaves with a nice oxycontin buzz and excited that they saw a super fun, funny show that gave them interesting stuff to talk about in the pub.
Whose show – apart from your own – are you looking forward to seeing at the Edinburgh Fringe?
I’ve been so busy making my show and paying rent in London I haven’t had a chance to check out what anyone else is up to.
What’s the most useful piece of advice you’ve been given?
Do your thing. 110%
Do you have a favorite Fringe memory?
Turning Enlightenment philosopher David Hume’s tomb into a lap-dancing cubicle. There’s a story about it in the show.
Who is your showbiz/Fringe idol and why.
I’m a history geek and I love old stuff. I love the old 1980s alternative comics. Tony Allen, for one. He’s an idol par excellence. He used to compare at the comedy store in 1979 and has a cameo in the Young Ones. Those are just a few of the super interesting ticks on his bucket list.
He was never into being famous, so he wasn’t but it’s a different time now and because of the internet everyone is sort of famous. That famous for 15 minutes saying is past its sell by date. Now the real flex is being anonymous for 15 minutes, but clearly not if you’re a performer.
Anyway, Tony was my mentor when I first started doing comedy and he was the first comic to bring a stand up show to Edinburgh, a two hander with Alexei Sayle in 1981.
As Alexei said, all the other comedians doing Edinburgh today owe him and Tony a percentage of their earnings, someone should tell the Fringe Society to deduct it from its cut.
C*nt!, 20.30, PBH Free Fringe@ Globe Bar
