EdFringe Talk: Gerry Carroll: Young

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I can, on a good day, get a laugh just from my face.”

WHO: Gerry Carroll

WHAT: “An Ordinary Man. A Hero of the Land of the Young. A solo show written and performed by Gerry Carroll (age 73.) Long ago, the warrior-poet Oisín rode off with the golden-haired Niamh to the Land of the Young. Three years later he returned… and became old instantly. Gerry discovers clown and comedy, and explores what it’s like when you get old slowly. He mixes the legend of Oisín with his own life story – and song, dance, clowning, shot glasses and buckets of laughter. Book now – seats are going faster than Oisín’s youth!”

WHERE: Just The Attic at Just The Tonic at The Mash House (Venue 288) 

WHEN: 14:40 (55 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I found out how big Edfringe is when I moved to London in August 2013 to do comedy and found that the place was empty- everyone was in Edinburgh. I went up in 2014, and I’ve been every year since, apart from 2020 and 2021.

I’ve done a full run of an hour-long show since 2016. I’ve been at Zoo, Paradise Green, and Just the Tonic (three times).

I live in Bournemouth now and it’s great to spend a month in a world city, once a year.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

I’ve learned that my imagination is bigger than I thought. I can link my life to the life of a hero of ancient times, and I can show people that their lives are no less heroic than the lives of superheroes.

I can, on a good day, get a laugh just from my face.

There are depths in comedy, if you look.

Making a show of myself is not a terrible thing, as my poor old Mummy used to believe.

Tell us about your show.

I created my show, basing it on things in my own life, as well as the ancient legend of the Land of the Young. The old heroes were not the only ones who lived in the Land of the Young. We were all there once. Why did we leave? I left to join the civil service. What an exchange! Ah well, I can sing about it now. What’s it like to get old gradually, til one day someone offers you a seat on a bus. Would it be better if it happened instantly the way it does to the hero in the legend?

There’s also a bit of stand-up, in between clownesque behaviour.

There’s a shot-glasses gag that I love, and so do the audience.

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

Improvised Movie Fun by the One Eyed Scouts, a very funny improv troupe. At 1.25 pm at Brewdog Lothian Road, a PBH Free Fringe venue, 15th to 23rd August..

And the Bob Ross Effect, a great show, funny, touching and it will awaken your creative energies. By Sarah Louise Young, doing a full run at 4.05 pm at Assembly George Square Gardens – Piccolo Tent. I saw a preview of this show, and it’s great.

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