“I should emphasise it’s mostly nowhere near as serious as that sounds – and a lot of it has ended up being about having a baby (my daughter is 15 months old).”
WHO: Matt Hutchinson
WHAT: “Matt is an NHS doctor – what a hero! Also a fast-rising comedian, finalist in the Leicester Square New Comedian and Hackney Empire New Act competition. The son of Jamaican and English parents, in this highly anticipated debut Hutchinson asks: how hostile is the environment in Britain? Who is welcome here? What does it mean to ‘integrate’? Against all odds, he finds hilarious answers. As heard on BBC Radio 4, as seen on BBC Three and NextUp. ‘An assured presence’ (Chortle.co.uk). ‘Safe hands’ (Chortle.co.uk… and some patients).”
WHERE: Assembly George Square Studios – Studio Four (Venue 17)
WHEN: 14:30 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
I have done split bill shows several times in the past – but this is my first time doing a full solo hour. It’s quite a different experience doing a show that’s just me – as there’s no one else to hide behind!
The Fringe is great, as it is the chance to stretch yourself and try things you wouldn’t get to do with your club set (i.e. be much more self-indulgent and pretentious). There’s the opportunity to make the whole thing tie together, and also incorporate visual and musical elements (if that’s your sort of thing).
Having said that, thinking back to when I was coming as an audience member, I’m not sure all of that effort gets noticed by everyone – I’m pretty sure I was going to comedy mainly to see something funny, rather than someone’s magnum opus.
I also love being somewhere where there’s a massive range of things to go and see right there on your doorstep for a month – although, I’m actually pretty bad at going to see shows while I’m up there.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
I only came up for a few days in 2022, but put on a couple of one off shows, including “Comedians Wine Tasting” – it was a reminder that regardless of how good an idea/show you think you have, you still have to market it like crazy.
Over the longer term, I’d say I’ve learned to try not to get pulled too much into watching how everyone else’s fringe is going – as you’ll just make yourself feel bad. I’m not sure I have managed to stick to this however!
There’s then the sensible grow up advice to pace yourself – you’re in a city surrounded by loads of friends (or for the more sociopathic comedians friendly rivals) – and there is the temptation to go out every night and drink. You’ll quickly learn however, that trying to do that will mean your show and your wallet both suffer pretty quickly. Trying to whip up a matinee audience of arms folded, stone-faced retirees on a hangover is never fun.
Tell us about your show.
Hostile is an autobiographical show – that discusses my life, although against the backdrop of Windrush/other issues relating to Black life in Britain (my dad is originally from Jamaica). I should emphasise it’s mostly nowhere near as serious as that sounds – and a lot of it has ended up being about having a baby (my daughter is 15 months old). This is largely because that’s mostly what I could think of jokes about while sleep deprived and changing nappies.
This is a solo stand up show – so it’s just me performing, and I wrote it myself. I have worked with a director however, and this has been very useful in terms of editing and thinking of new directions to take sections in. I have also been working with Mark Watson’s production company Impatient – which has been great in terms of support and guidance.
Hopefully there will be the opportunity to take the show to some other UK festivals post Edinburgh – and I’ll almost certainly do a couple of shows in London, perhaps to film it.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
Fellow doctor comedians Benji Waterstones & Ed Patrick – as well as being funny, they are also both clearly NHS heroes…
Also Darran Griffiths, Fatiha el Ghorri, Josh Weller, Alex Haddow – all very funny people doing their debut shows, so this is an opportunity to get in on the ground floor and see them before they’re famous.
Lastly Tarot, Darren Harriott, Ali Woods – returning acts who never fail to make me laugh, so in a crowded marketplace, you can be sure your money won’t be wasted if you take a chance on them.
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