“Think big but be prepared to pivot…”
WHO: Dolly Diamond
WHAT: “An hour of sharp-tongued humour, risqué songs and jaw-dropping physical feats. It’s camp comedy, lip-syncing and burlesque at its best. Dolly Diamond ‘will make you laugh so hard your ribs hurt’ (BroadwayWorld.com). High on last year’s sell-out run, this UK-born Australian legend will be joined by Fringe icons and rising stars for a very limited run. ‘Dolly has superb comic skills and whisky-soaked vocal talents’ (WeekendNotes.com). Dolly Diamond is ‘Lorraine Kelly on Crystal meth’ (Julian Clary).”
WHERE: Just the Tonic at The Caves – Just Up the Road (Venue 88)
WHEN: 18:40 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
It’s my third time and I’m still wide eyed and full of excitement and nerves. I tend to thrive on that though. I was here in 2019 with Dolly Diamond’s Blankety Blanks and absolutely loved it. I’ve done a lot of Fringe Festivals, mainly in Australia and they’re pretty cool but Ed Fringe is a whole new kettle of fish. The entire city is engulfed in festival fever and there’s a willingness to really try and do and see as much as you can. A great festival for me has variety (pun not intended for a change). The choice of theatre, cabaret, comedy, mime and circus is second to absolutely nowhere.
Cheap tickets and accessibility are also fundamental and I know that the festival keeps an eye on that to make sure everyone gets a chance to enjoy what’s on offer.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
Think big but be prepared to pivot…
I’m exactly the same In my love life. I’ve been performing for a long time but you should never stop learning more about your craft. I’m really enjoying working with other artists in the show as well. Stand up and touring can be a lonely old life and getting a team of people together for a variety show makes sharing the festival a lot more fun….well until they all start to gang up on me (hasn’t happened yet).
Tell us about your show.
It started in Melbourne and then went onto London and now we’re here in sunny Edinburgh. I’m working with a guy called Cimeon, he owns a venue in London called Social Connection and it’s really keen to help artists create and thrive in the comedy and cabaret world.
I’m not reinventing the wheel, I’m just making it spin faster. You can’t really write a show like this but it’s important it has great acts in it and that I’m there to guide the audience through the fast paced hour. I absolutely love getting into the audience and chatting with them, I thrive on improv and I’ve learnt how to pick on the audience but not destroy them (well not all of them).
I love the variety show format as it gives a whole range of acts the opportunity to shine..
Including me obviously.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
I’m a big Reuben Kaye fan and I was at House of Oz last year and they have some great shows on again this year.
Also Myra Dubois is as funny as fark, so go and see her before she retires. I think it’s great when people choose some of the lesser known acts and just risk it. The tickets are cheap enough to have a lucky dip approach to choosing some shows.
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