EdFringe Talk: Chanel Ali: Break Up With Your Dad

Posted in *EdFestivals 2024, *Written Interviews by

“I’ve learned to lean into the weird things about me. I took a deep dive into the trauma, the pain, the reality of life and found intense humility on the other side.”

WHO: Chanel Ali

WHAT: “If you can break up with your dad, you can break up with anyone. Star of the NYC comedy scene teaches you how to fight everyone – and win. You might recognise Chanel from her two Comedy Central specials, and the hit Netflix series Dash and Lily. Catch her at the Fringe as your silly and hilarious relationship expert who’ll make you feel fantastic about living your best life. Don’t miss this, your chance to catch one of the USA’s hottest comedy exports for a limited run this Fringe.”

WHERE: Just the Tonic at The Mash House – Just the Snifter Room (Venue 288) 

WHEN: 19:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my second time at Fringe, my first time with a concept show. This festival is comedy magic to me. There’s a spirit that overtakes the city and I felt immense growth performing in front of Fringe audiences last year. The audiences give you space to try your most outlandish ideas, outrageous crowdwork, to simply burst into a funny song. Being a comedian from the states, the Scottish accent was hard to decipher at first but I firmly believe that if you can get an old Scottish man to GET YOU, you can win anyone over.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

I learned that the world has not conditioned us to be the best artist we can be. Everything from our jobs, to school, to our families has constantly downplayed what makes us an individual and therefore what makes us an artist. I’ve learned to lean into the weird things about me. I took a deep dive into the trauma, the pain, the reality of life and found intense humility on the other side. I feel confident that I’ve done the best writing of my career in these last few months and I’m so excited to be ready to share it with the Fringe audiences to hopefully invite them to match my stride.

Tell us about your show.

My one woman show entitled Break Up With Your Dad is a true story about how I booked a tv commercial via Kevin Hart’s production company in 2023 that tested my DNA and told me that I had a brother whom I had never heard of. When I confront my police officer father with the news, and the DNA results, he denied it. A cop, denying DNA evidence? Well, that became funny to me. I didn’t just write this show, I vomited it. I’ve premiered it in the states a few times and I hope after Edinburgh I can take it to more theaters. An Emmy nominated director just signed on to the project and I believe this work of art will heal so many. If you’ve ever been lied to, gaslit, manipulated, I’m here to tell you my silly story and invite you to find the silly in yours too.

What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?

PG Hits is a kid friendly comedy show that packs a punch. I performed on this showcase at my first Fringe run and I credit it with some of the funniest moments in my comedy career. Kids remind us why we need to play. Why we should pick up a rock and pretend it’s anything other than a rock. Get back to your younger, braver, more honest self by laughing with these kids, their parents, their friends, and comedians who are ready to keep it PG.

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