“The sheer volume and diversity of performances creates an elaborate and electric atmosphere that is utterly intoxicating, and honestly addictive.”
WHO: Yozi Mensch
WHAT: “Solo Edinburgh debutante, Aussie Yozi, has been called many things – ‘Dynamite’ ****½ (Advertiser), ‘Fearless’ **** (Age) – but never ‘rule breaker’, and for good reason. This by-the-book bad binch holds one rule above all others: every baby must get out of the sauna right now! Witness this multi award-winning creature perform absurd-sketch-clown-comedy-theatre like you almost definitely have never ever ever seen before. The House of Oz Purse Prize Winner, Adelaide Fringe. Spirit of the Fringe Award Winner, Melbourne Fringe. Winner of SACBA Bilby Award, South Australian Community Broadcasters Association.”
WHERE: Assembly George Square Studios – Studio Four (Venue 17)
WHEN: 20:00 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
This will be my third time experiencing Edinburgh Fringe as a performer – but my first solo venture. The sheer volume and diversity of performances creates an elaborate and electric atmosphere that is utterly intoxicating, and honestly addictive. The magic of creating work spills out from the wings, off the stage, across the crowds and into the streets – allowing audiences to absorb this magic also – they are, and more importantly FEEL that they are apart of the process, the current cultural cycle, observing the zeitgeist at it’s core and taking whatever flashes they can recall back to their homes and sharing these memories with their loved ones, confident some will never be relieved, but hopeful some can.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
Since 2023 I have learnt to be unapologetic about my stage presence, for who I am as a performer, and for the deliciously dumb things I find funny. I have learnt that embracing all my silly little quirks and qualms on stage is not only more personally fulfilling, but much more enjoyable for audiences. This intrinsically, for me at least, was tied to the fear of judgment – being seen as childish or other or difficult. Shedding this fear, which I think is still an ongoing process, has allowed for a deeper embrace of myself and my art.
And this is gonna sound obvious, or tacky even , but I’ve really learnt in the past year that the only person that you can rely on to 100% champion YOUR dream is yourself – others can and will help you, absolutely – but unless you’re putting everything you have into what you want and where you want to go, why would anyone else jump on that wagon and help you get there? No one else can engineer motivation for you. The only one who can jumpstart a clockwork furnace is for whom that engine ticks! Just in the last month of following my dream to be a “silly goose storyteller; creator of the dumb yet mysterious” has led me to quit my job, go to clown school in France and travel from Land’s End to John O’Groats with my 78 yr old Grandfather – this is not everyone’s path but it’s mine, and I don’t think 2023 me was ready to walk it.
Tell us about your show.
My show is called NO BABIES IN THE SAUNA – inspired by the adage “every sign has a story”; a rule with, quite literally, noteworthy origins. The titular rule however is pointedly vague – for whom and for why does this rule exist – who benefits from this being enforced – what did that baby do?
I wrote my show, and with every performance it evolves a little bit – new jokes find their way from “the moment” into the script in my head and they stay forever, or until usurped by a new “the moment” and so on.
I’ve just taken this show to Prague Fringe, where I played in a 600 year old cellar at the western end of Charles Bridge; a truly incredible atmosphere for a magnificently silly show. I picked up a 5 Star review and the Prague Fringe “Brian’s Life” Comedy Award – so I think it went down pretty well. Earlier in the year I took this show to both Perth and Adelaide Fringes – where I had minimal to maximal success, respectively. I would love to keep taking this show around the world, to be honest at this stage it feels like the show is taking me.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
Michaela Burger’s new work The State of Grace is based on the moving true story of Australia’s best known sex-worker, activist and maverick Pippa O’Sullivan aka Grace Bellavue – an important new work based on the life of a truly incredible person who was determined to decriminalise the sex industry.
Messy Friends is a frenetic fraggle rock fever dream that will leave you buzzing and bouncing for more. Jaw dropping costumes, clever choreography and wildly talented performers! Gendermess Productions are ones to watch!!
The Ceremony at Summerhall is a show you will want to see again and again – an absolute whirlwind of theatre, improv and clown, Ben Volchok knits the show together from audience prompt and gentle guidance to create a serene yet hilariously moving ceremony for us all to partake in – or at least that was what I experienced, as this show is different every single night!!
LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!
INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!
Get Your Coats On 