“For an aspiring professional, the Fringe is also a challenging experience. It’s not necessarily always easy, and it pushes you out of your comfort zone. The more you put in when you’re up there, the more returns and momentum you generate for the rest of the year.”
WHO: Vlad Ilich
WHAT: “In the summer of ’99, six-year-old Vlad played a game of chess that changed his life forever. In Vladislav, Baby Don’t Hurt Me, the multi award-winning stand-up explores his obsession with the game and how it lead him to leave North Macedonia for the bright lights of the UK comedy scene, via Maltese celebrities, performing for the prince of Oman and a desire to rebuild the Ottoman empire.”
WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Attic (Venue 33)
WHEN: 20:30 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
This is my first time bringing an hour long show at the Fringe. I’ve visited a couple of times before performing short sets. The Fringe is great for many reasons: Reaching new creative heights, expanding your network and even finding love! (I met my girlfriend there).
For an aspiring professional, the Fringe is also a challenging experience. It’s not necessarily always easy, and it pushes you out of your comfort zone. The more you put in when you’re up there, the more returns and momentum you generate for the rest of the year.
It puts things into perspective and zooms in on that “Make it or break it” moment but in a subtle way. Not that the Fringe will ever be a decider whether you have a career in comedy or not, but it certainly makes you question your life choices after a show with only two people in.
For me, personally, what I always wanted to get out of the Fringe is to find my angle in comedy, and then improve on ways in which I can market that to the Fringe audience. It’s not an overnight thing, it’s a step-by-step process that takes years.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
Plenty. I was very lucky to be selected for the Pleasance Comedy Reserve last year, I put a lot of work in my set, and it paid off. I watched a lot of debuts and spoke to performers about the dynamics of their show, and the changes one performer must undertake in taking a show from fifteen, to thirty and then sixty minutes. I learned a lot about many aspects of storytelling including how to be disciplined, how to tell a story with conviction, how to deliver a joke the right way and many others. I’d write more, but I’m still absorbing the discipline lesson.
Tell us about your show.
This show is about my journey in learning about the beautiful game of chess and how a game I played as a child with my dad made us closer as a family.
I’ve written and produced the show myself and have had the wonderful pleasure of collaborating with Dom Stephens who’s been in charge of directing. We have a great working chemistry and a different set of skills that match up well together.
I am in talks with a production company to get the show filmed as a stand-up special after the Fringe and we are exploring alleyways with the director to adapt the show on the West End later this year.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
I’m glad you asked. Go and see Joshua Bethania’s “Coming Home” at the Gilded Balloon. Not only is he a good friend and very funny off-stage too, but he’s also won a good number of awards and for good reason. He’s naturally funny.
“Abby Wambaugh’s: The first 3 minutes of 17 shows” is another show I’d highly recommend. Abby is such a goofy, charismatic performer that you can’t help but fall in love with her warmth and kindness. Her appearance alone is funny.
I’m really excited to see a couple of up and coming shows on the Free Fringe too, one that stands out is “2 Muslim 2 Furious: Mecca Drift” at Dragonfly, a split hour by Hasan al Habib and Aisha Amanduri. Such a refreshing duo, and one that will win awards in the future.
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