EdFringe Talk: Not My Audience! The Interactive Panel Show You Control with an App!

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2023 by

“Ultimately, it is that dialogue and feedback loop between artists and the audience that I believe creates such strong art coming out of the festival each year.”

WHO: Stephen Case

WHAT: “The Fringe’s cult-hit stand-up comedy panel show that you influence in real time is back. Three top comics answer the daft questions you pick on our exclusive app, you vote on which answers you liked the best, and choose who will take on our fiendish stand-up challenges! Never the same show twice, a must for comedy fans who want to see some of the sharpest comedy minds at the festival be put through their paces. No need to reserve, just rock up with a charged smartphone!”

WHERE: Laughing Horse @ 32 Below – Main Cellar (Venue 442) 

WHEN: 15:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I am now in my fifth Fringe. Really, the special thing about the Fringe for me is the ability to experiment and try new things. I come from a video and board game design background where fast iteration on designs and ideas are incredibly important. I don’t think there is a better place in the world to be testing and trying out new comedy formats and ideas the Edinburgh in August. Acts are willing to try new things, people are willing to take a chance. Ultimately, it is that dialogue and feedback loop between artists and the audience that I believe creates such strong art coming out of the festival each year.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Obviously the shows we put on in 2022 were the product of three years of ideas and we wanted all those ideas to get showcased. Honestly, that was probably too much. In game design we often talk about is the game doing one thing well. This is also true of shows. There is a very natural tendency to want to show off absolutely everything you can do when you get the platform to do something. However, you only need one thing to resonate to make a connection and to have a good show. You will get other opportunities to put other ideas front and centre. There is more than one boat, so keep a focus on doing one thing well for this ride.

Tell us about your show.

Not My Audience is a panel show where the audience decides what stand-up challenges the panelists do. Ollie Horn, comedian and host of the show, knowing my design background, had the brilliant idea for me to have an idea for the show. I was keen on exploring the idea of how audiences want to feel part of shows but do not necessarily want to be the focus of them. So we designed the show ground up with these ideas in mind to create an experience where audiences could have a direct effect on the show but from the comfort of their own phone! The show flirts with the anarchy of this daily. I personally love the fact that despite having done the show hundreds of times all over the world I still just do not know what the audience have in store for the comedians. Comedians love it because they have permission to be a bit wild, after all, they can blame the audience – they told them to do it!

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

My favourite question! The show I go see again and again is The Dark Room by John Robertson. It’s an interactive video game and a show like no other. There is a kids version too! I will always get a ticket to Josh Glanc – stand-up comedy at its most joyous and silly. Tom Little and Adele Cliff are two comedians who always smash it on our shows. Go see them! Police Cops pack so many laughs and moments into their plays I always try and get a repeat viewing. Grubby Little Mitts was great last year, perfect sketch comedy, will see again.

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