“I also moved to Edinburgh (cos I couldn’t get enough of that place) in 2012 and lived there for 4 years. So if you need recommendations for bars and restaurants – I’m your girl.”
WHO: Juliette Burton: writer/performer/creator/comedian/edfringe addict
WHAT: “Award-winning comedian Juliette is full of contradictions: pessimistic optimist? Introverted extrovert? Successful failure? Masculine or feminine? Happy or sad? Mentally ill or healthy? Why must we choose one or the other? After a year of huge change, Juliette had to redefine her life, labels and herself. Everything she thought was steadfast has vanished. Can she be everything at once? Or must we choose how we are defined? Sold out 2015/16/17/18. ‘Burton drips with charm – joyous’ (Times). ‘Burton shows the world it’s cool to be kind’ ***** (Sunday Mail). ***** (Daily Mirror). ***** (EdFestMag.com).”
WHERE: Gilded Balloon Teviot – Sportsmans (Venue 149)
WHEN: 17:30 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
Hahaha! Oh Lord no… My first Edinburgh Fringe VISIT was in 2005 and I fell head over heels for the city and the festival and never looked back. Started performing in other people’s shows in 2006, then in a co-written show in 2011/12, then my first ever solo show was in 2013. I’ve performed solo shows every year since 2013 and sold out my runs in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. I also moved to Edinburgh (cos I couldn’t get enough of that place) in 2012 and lived there for 4 years. So if you need recommendations for bars and restaurants – I’m your girl.
What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?
Ooh, let’s think… Professionally: I embarked on my first national tour of my award-winning sell out Edfringe show ‘Butterfly Effect’ and had a total blast. I think I’m in love with touring now. Personally: fun story – my fiancé and I broke up, he moved out, I moved out, I downsized and relocated and started to question how I defined myself now I was no longer “engaged”… It’s all in my show this year – questioning the boxes we force ourselves into and the labels we use to find our tribes. So come join me in my show ‘Defined’.
Tell us about your show.
‘Juliette Burton: Defined’ is about how we define ourselves; the labels we use, the boxes we tick, the either/or choices we make. Optimist or pessimist? Introvert or extrovert? Happy or sad? Is life a series of either/or choices? Or can we be everything all at once?
It’s a true comedy about what happened during a year of huge change for me, when everything I thought was steadfast vanished and I was forced to redefine who I am and how I label myself. It’s the funniest show I’ve ever created and the one I’ve had the MOST fun performing. I’m so excited to see how audiences respond because so far I’ve been having the best time previewing it.
I came up with the idea in 2018, actually following seeing SpongeBob Squarepants The Musical in New York and watching a TED Talk by the creator about an episode called Idiot Box. Search for it online and watch – it’s brilliant and she’s brilliant. I started writing the show partially whilst on tour in autumn 2018, then a lot over December 2018, then bringing it all together in March and April, tearing it apart in May, rewriting it in June, and refining it constantly throughout July.
I’m hoping to take this show on another tour in Spring 2020 but for now the only place you can see it for certain is Edinburgh Fringe 2019 and since we sold out in Edinburgh for the last 4 years in a row it’s worth booking tickets now…
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
As many shows as you can. I’d personally recommend Bec Hill – whose show I saw last year and it’s the best she’s ever done. If it doesn’t win awards I’ll be shocked. Georgie Morrell is a phenomenal stand up and her sass will blow you away. Sooz Kempner is ridiculously talented, going to be huge and is on at a free fringe venue. Also Tarot (aka Geins Family Giftshop) is highly recommended, Austentatious is always a sure-fire hit, the immensely talented Kiri Pritchard Mclean has a work in progress show for a short run, and Laura Lexx will without a doubt delight you for her hour.
Take a chance and see stuff you’d not normally see. I mean, I love watching circus acts at the Fringe because I can just sit back relax and enjoy knowing that I’d never be able to master that craft. I can switch off my comedian’s mind for a while!
But beyond shows, see Edinburgh. See the city. It’s the most amazing place with incredible architecture and history and landscapes and folklore and bars and people… I adore it so make the most of the whole of Edinburgh as well as the festival
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