“I’m only 36 but I feel like an old veteran of the Fringe now.”
WHO: Ian Smith
WHAT: “Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Ian Smith (co-host of the Northern News podcast) returns with a new show about stress, love and buying a magic spell off Amazon. As seen on Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You and The Stand Up Sketch Show – and heard on The News Quiz, The Unbelievable Truth, Just A Minute and his own Radio 4 series, Ian Smith Is Stressed. ‘Effortlessly brilliant’ **** (Scotsman). ‘There are few Fringe shows as purely funny as this’ **** (Guardian). ‘An outstanding and stressed-out hour of stand-up’ **** (Fest).”
WHERE: Monkey Barrel 1 at Monkey Barrel Comedy (Venue 515)
WHEN: 12:30 (60 min)
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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
No, this will be my 8th solo show! I’m only 36 but I feel like an old veteran of the Fringe now. I know all the best placesto go to the toilet when you’re rushing around. I realise that makes me sound even more like an old man. But seriously, please feel free to approach me and ask for a full run down of Edinburgh’s toilets.
I really love Edinburgh – as a comedian its a month where you get to perform to the best comedy fans, but its also just one of the most beautiful cities in the UK. It can be a stressful month performing multiple times a day, but there’s beaches nearby, great food, lots of green spaces and some excellent toilets. It’s the perfect place for an intense month-long arts festival.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2024 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
My last show in 2023 was all about how stressed I was and some of the bizarre attempts to relax I tried (largely tank based – a floatation tank and driving over a car in a tank with my hairdresser in Slovakia (a tale as old as time))…
I don’t seem to have learnt how to relax yet because in the build up to this years show I visited the most haunted house in the UK (again with Dom, my hairdresser – who got briefly possessed) and I entered a competitive jigsaw tournament with my girlfriend (no practice, no major interest in jigsaws). Maybe this will be the show where I finally learn the key to de-stressing! You’ll have to come and see to find out.
Tell us about your show.
The show is written and performed by me – it’s a solo stand-up show about thinking my life was heading in a relaxing direction but it actually becoming far more stressful. Lots of things happened in the build up to the Fringe and it’s changed what the shows about. It’s shouty, stressed out, but also just very silly.
It’s produced by Strip Light and the Fringe will bt the show’s premiere. After the Fringe I’ll be taking it to Soho Theatre in November and then a UK tour in Feb/March.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
I love Pierre Novellie – he always creates very funny and brilliant structured shows and I’ve seen bits of this year’s already. Also, I’m excited to see John Kearns do his work in progress. He’s one of my favourite comics is always a Fringe highlight.
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