“The great thing about the Festival is seeing the inside of so many heads.”
WHO: Kathleen Hughes
WHAT: “Kathleen isn’t sure of anything anymore. She’s not even sure she exists. Cryptid is the dark and hilarious debut hour from Glasgow comic Kathleen Hughes – a show about identity, imperfection and the mortifying ordeal of allowing yourself to be seen. Sort of. ‘A ridiculously talented comic’ (Billy Kirkwood). One of the fastest-rising comedy stars’ (Jay Lafferty).”
WHERE: Gilded Balloon Patter House – Snug (Venue 24)
WHEN: 16:20 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
Nope! This is my third Fringe as a performer, but as I grew up in Glasgow I’ve been going across to the Fringe for a day or two since I was young. I’d like to say it’s a different experience as an adult comedian compared to a wee mini punter, but I’ve never really aged out of it being overwhelming and wildly exciting, or moaning that I’m tired and my feet hurt.
The great thing about the Festival is seeing the inside of so many heads – it’s a whirlwind experience of hearing so many stories and experiences in mad, creative ways.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
The biggest thing I’ve learned since 2023 is that collaboration is key. For stand-up especially, there’s always one name, one person on the poster, so it’s easy to assume that it’s all a one-person show, or that it doesn’t ‘count’ if you don’t do everything by yourself. This year I’ve had loads of help from people who’ve done a full run at the Fringe before, giving advice and sharing resources, I’ve had friends and other comics watch WIPs and give feedback, and I’ve reached out to creatives with different skills (like multimedia comedy) to ask for their input.
When you’re creating stuff that’s supposed to be relatable, accessible and inviting, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to create in a vacuum.
Tell us about your show.
Cryptid! is a show about the feeling of hiding yourself and constantly shapeshifting to be what you think people want to see, instead of just letting people see you are you are. As a kid I loved anything paranormal – like aliens, Nessie, Bigfoot – so I tied my fascination for weird spooky nonsense into the chat about identity and self-exploration. Probably an interesting comparison to bring up in therapy.
I love hearing about cryptids from different places, so post-Fringe it would be nice to take the show around the UK and hear about local legends. Maybe I’ll take it to Inverness and have a special guest appearance from Nessie herself (she’s a pure hog for stage time).
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
I’m really proud to have learned how to do stand up in Scotland and I love the scene here. There are so many amazing Scottish circuit acts to see at the Fringe this summer. Watching Kate Hammer perform is like blasting an energy drink, and I’m dead excited to see Jade Kelly and Amanda Dwyer, too. If you’re a film fan, Chris Thorburn’s Cineman is a must. Everything Ruth Hunter says bewilders and delights me in equal measure. Derek Mitchell’s Double Dutch and Sam Lake’s Esmeralda are both brilliant, especially if you feel split between two cultures sometimes.
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