“I am very fortunate because I have experienced the two sides of Edinburgh: both as the world capital of comedy and theatre during August and the cozy big city it is the rest of the year.”
WHO: Ana Falcon
WHAT: “Have you ever dreamed of being #1? Ana Falcon’s high-energy, late-night stand-up dives into her journey of becoming the #1 Mexican in Estonia. Because if you can make it in Eastern Europe, you can make it anywhere! This show premiered to rave reviews at the 2024 Tallinn Fringe: ‘A powerful feat of storytelling and stand-up’ (SourCreamAndDill.com). Ana Falcon, crowned the 2024 Comedy Roast Champion, is a Mexican comedian based in Estonia. She is part of Pussy Jam Comedy, a collective which creates safe spaces where LGBTQ+ people and their friends can enjoy stand-up in English.”
WHERE: Las Vegas at Laughing Horse @ City Cafe (Venue 85)
WHEN: 23:45 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
As a comedian, yes. As a muggle, no.
I spent a semester studying my MA at Edinburgh back in 2017, and even as a hungry and broke student, I loved the vibes! It reminded me of my Mexican hometown, in the sense that here people work hard, play hard, and laugh even harder.
I came back in 2023 as an EdFringe punter and I was impressed at how different the city is during the festival. It is a Princess Fiona-level of transformation. I am very fortunate because I have experienced the two sides of Edinburgh: both as the world capital of comedy and theatre during August and the cozy big city it is the rest of the year.
What makes EdFringe special is that, in the time and age where everything happens on a screen, it is quite human. You see thousands of people performing at the beat of their own drum, telling their own stories. It is like summer camp for adults. You get to play like a kid again, not to win, but just for the fun of it.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2024 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
Never order 4-alarm fire hot wings on an empty stomach.
Last year I could not come to Edinburgh, so I did a few shows at the Tallinn Fringe instead. On a particularly busy day, I skipped lunch and met my husband for dinner at a TexMex restaurant. I was craving hot wings, but the only option they had was the 4-alarm fire ones.
I thought I could handle them because I’m Mex-I-can, but I learned a valuable lesson later that night: You might get them in, but getting them out will make you see in technicolor.
I am taking protein bars to the EdFringe this summer to avoid this situation.
Tell us about your show.
‘#1 Mexican in Estonia’ is my first solo stand-up and is all about the human yet impossible aspiration to be number one at something. That goal can easily carry you away, and in my case, it took me all the way to Estonia, a tiny nation sandwiched between Finland (yay!) and Russia (oh no!). In Estonia, sometimes I do feel like the last Mexican on Earth. Especially in mid-December, when temperatures drop to below -10 and the night lasts 16 hours.
I wrote this comedy show last year, and premiered it at the 2024 Tallinn Fringe. The audience’s reaction inspired me to take it abroad, and so far this year I have presented it at FinFringe in Finland and now I look forward to perform it at the EdFringe.
I might take a break after the craziness that is the EdFringe, but I’d love to take this show around the world, including the Fringe festivals in Adelaide and Edmonton
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
If you like showcases, ‘100% C*ntinental’ by Mari Volar and Sharon VS always has the best female performers!
You should definitely see Aleksandr Popov, an Estonian comedian that finds humor in the darkest of places. His ‘Why I stayed’ show is a great example of the twisted quirks of Estonian comedy.
Also, Phil Ellis steals my breath away, literally. Because I had a mild asthma attack after watching him dressed in a catsuit back in 2023 (thanks Fringe flu!).
And I’ve already got my tickets to see Emmanuel Sonubi’s ‘Life After Near Death’ because game recognises game.
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