“I’ve learnt that a frog can jump seventeen times their height, even if they’re short and unfit.”
WHO: Stuart Laws
WHAT: “Last year Stuart started telling the truth on stage and was diagnosed autistic: he got the best reviews he’s ever got and his show was a must-see. He’s back baby! And has to lean into it further. It’s funny, it’s real, it’s immaculately structured and it’s a chance to see a comedian at the top of his game. As heard on Off Menu and seen on BBC, Prime and 800 Pound Gorilla. **** ½ (Chortle.co.uk). **** (List). ‘You’ll struggle to find a comedian with a better jokes-per-minute rate’ **** (Fest).”
WHERE: Monkey Barrel Comedy (The Hive) – Hive 2 (Venue 313)
WHEN: 16:45 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
NO WAY! I been doing it for years, have seen so many FringexOlympics years hit hard – the class of 2012 battling to get an audience when the judo is on, the struggles when you knew you were up against dressage or the men’s 20km walking race. I tell you what makes a great festival? Sports not happening. Can we, for just four long, long weeks – not have any sports so that the general public can focus on their real passion: fringe theatre and comedy
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
I learnt this: I am autistic. That’s a genuine learning since the start of last year’s fringe. However, if you want a more whimsical answer: I’ve learnt that a frog can jump seventeen times their height, even if they’re short and unfit. So would absolutely dominate any sort of high jump or long jump event if they were scaled up to human height. I’ve also learnt you can say any fact about a frog and most people will just believe it: the stakes aren’t high enough to check.
Tell us about your show.
I wrote my show, ain’t no one else got any piece of this pie. I’m a genius and unaffected by the work of others. So tough being a tortured genius like myself. Especially when extremely talented people offer me their thoughts or jokes or directing advice and it would actively enhance my show. Because I have to look them in the eyes and tell them they’re wrong and toxic to contribute and I’ll never take their advice.
Also: a beautiful team of people in production and PR and helping to write a stand up comedy show about relationships by someone who has just found out that he is autistic and everything he thought he knew about himself isn’t really true – so what does that mean for relationships with himself, friends, romance and ultimately the audience?
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
I love stand up comedy and I love finding out about a new comedian who I didn’t know anything about before the fringe. Going to dungeons and backrooms and theatres across Edinburgh and spending an hour in someone else’s world is such a treat – especially when it’s brilliant comedians like Chloe Radcliffe, Alex Kealy, Pierre Novellie, Harriet Kemsley, Ruby Carr or Jin Hao Li. Those last two are doing their debut shows this year and I’ve been lucky enough to see early versions and loved both, even more luckily I’m directing Ruby’s and it keeps getting better.
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