“In my imagination EdFringe is like theatre camp on steroids, with all its energy and excitement and need for extra helpings of deodorant.”
WHO: Emily Markoe
WHAT: “Emily Markoe wrote a totally normal comedy show. Her show is not about vomit – how could it be? She has emetophobia, the extreme and debilitating fear of throwing up. So she would never write a show about vomit… Watch Emily perform her show without any interruptions from anxiety-producing characters, obsessive-compulsive rituals or recovered memories getting in the way. And there definitely won’t be a visit from her childhood therapist, Dr. My Little Pony. Emily stopped seeing her years ago! Everything’s fine here. Please note: vomiting at this show is strictly forbidden.”
WHERE: Greenside @ Riddles Court – Clover Studio (Venue 16)
WHEN: 17:10 (50 min)
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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
Yes! This is my first time at the Edinburgh Fringe, both as a performer and audience member (or should I say “punter”? Is that right?). In my imagination it’s like theatre camp on steroids, with all its energy and excitement and need for extra helpings of deodorant. Plus at this one, the audience isn’t just your mom and a few bored counselors. The sheer size of Edinburgh Fringe is mind-blowing – and despite my best efforts, I’m never surrounded by theatre and comedy all day every day at home. I can’t wait.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
I always knew there was beauty in specificity, but writing a show about something I’d kept so close to my chest (phobia/OCD) was a real eye-opener. I had no idea it would resonate with so many people, regardless of their personal relationship to mental health. That was a huge lesson for me: get deeply, vulnerably specific. Tell people about how you spell the word “crow” on street signs to avoid vomiting. Tell them about the complicated decision matrix you keep in your brain every time you try a new restaurant. Tell them about how if you step on a crack you have to step on a second one because two negatives make a positive. Even if they don’t “get it”, they’ll get it.
Tell us about your show.
My Little Phobia is a dark comedy about emetophobia, the extreme fear of vomit*. Yes, you read that right. I wrote, produced, and perform the show, which has a mix of characters, storytelling, and existential dread. And no vomit, obviously.
The show was directed by Julie Pearson, a supremely talented director and writer known for The Girls on the Bus (HBO) and The Boxcar Adults (Roku). We met through See What Sticks, a 6-week workshop in Los Angeles geared toward new works of all kinds. Julie was working on a pilot and I was planting the seeds for this show. In June 2024, My Little Phobia premiered in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, where we ended up selling out the full-run (plus added performances) and received a nomination for the Adelaide Exchange Award.
*Where’s the best place to mention that My Little Phobia doesn’t have vomit? What I’m trying to say is that the show IS about vomit but vomiting is strictly forbidden. Sorry, what I’m trying to say is: you’re not allowed to vomit before, during, or anytime after my show.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
Where do I start?! I’m so excited to see so many shows like Kenny Gray’s wild character ride Kenny Goes to Sleep (in the slot right before mine at Greenside’s Clover Studio), clowns like Veronica Osorio’s Medicine Woman and Natasha Mercado’s #1 Son. Kelly Reilly’s The Dolphin I Loved, Young & Wise Theatre’s The Kids Might Die, Sarah Alice Shull’s Something to Believe In, Devon Drew’s Pop Star, multilinguart’s Baby Rock, Ben Kassoy’s The Funny Thing About a Panic Attack. Is that too many? Tell me when to stop…
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