“As with many great monuments, EdFringe is definitely sometimes a little overcrowded and overpriced. But nonetheless, it’s an extraordinary feat of humanity.”
WHO: Alice Fraser
WHAT: “One of the Telegraph’s 50 Best Comedians of the 21st Century. She’s decided she actually quite likes men and wants to help. There are a lot of men telling men how to be, and how to optimise life, business and testosterone. Alice has been thinking about it ever since a near-near-death experience with some masculinity and has some stuff to say. Featuring a sentient Roomba and some Ancient Greek philosophy. ‘Alice Fraser is a powerhouse’ ***** (EdinburghGuide.com). ***** (BroadwayBaby.com).”
WHERE: O’Neill’s (The Tron) at Monkey Barrel Comedy (O’Neill’s, The Tron) (Venue 51)
WHEN: 20:40 (60 min)
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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
I think this is coming up on my ninth year! I am so romantic about Edinburgh – I genuinely think it’s one of the great monuments of civilisation that we’ve built a month where people come from all over the world to do art as hard as they can. What an incredible feat. For all the stresses and awful things, it’s still pretty amazing. A lot needs to be going right in the world for that space to exist. As with many great monuments, it’s definitely sometimes a little overcrowded and overpriced. But nonetheless, it’s an extraordinary feat of humanity.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
I have become increasingly repulsed by the process of having my attention or preference guided by algorithms. I try not to reach for my phone. It really is a zero sum game when I wake up in the morning; either I get to decide what my first thought is, or they do.
I’ve decided I’m going to hand-write my important emails, just for the thrill. I’ve done five or six. Write them, take a photo, send them. Probably need more legible or beautiful handwriting for it to be truly impactful as a choice.
Tell us about your show.
I wrote it and Gag Reflex are producing it in Edinburgh. I brought the brilliant Joz Norris on board to help me make sure I prioritise silliness and chaos. I’m constantly fighting the urge to go “hmm, interesting” and push my glasses up my nose. Joz is great for reminding me to balance it with my joy in the ridiculousness.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
Oh my goodness! Go see Tom Neenan, Felicity Ward, Eleanor Morton, Alison Spittle, Joz Norris and John Luke Roberts’ WIPs, which are already better than most polished shows.
Also just go take a chance on an act you’ve never heard of! Open the program at a random page, close your eyes and point! I loathe people who need everything to be consensus group think five stars guaranteed. Go have a two star experience! Get flyered into something by someone with a desperate look in their eye! Screw algorithms promising you a frictionlessly pleasant everything. Take a bloody chance.
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