Today we have an interview with Chris Cox, a mind reader who lacks the ability to do just that. The Guardian recently(ish) cited Chris as: ‘one of the most exciting entertainers in Britain’, and with his clever schtick, acerbic wit and likeable charm, it would be hard not to agree. Here we talk about how Chris made the decision to become comedian initially, his writing process and various of things of interest.
Carey Marx is a comedian whose dark humour has graced comedy festivals worldwide. Combining boundary-transcending jokes with impeccable delivery, Carey Marx is something of a comedian’s comedian and a club favourite, regularly playing Jongleurs, Komedia and The Comedy Store, and annually compering Reading, Leeds and Glastonbury Festivals. The guy’s busy! Photo credit: Steve Ullathorn.
Sammy J (real name Samuel McMillan) is a musical comedian and writer whose shows have gained a reputation for innovative uses of media and music. After abandoning a law career (cliche!), he started performing comedy and in stage productions, and in 2008 began a long-lasting collaboration with puppeteer Heath McIvor, leading to a series of critically-acclaimed festival shows. As well as this, he’s also performed in a live sitcom, Ricketts Lane, and has done a ton of solo shows. Check him out!
Kitty Cointreau is a comedian/burlesque performer and writer whose career was partly inspired by her grandmother’s breasts during the war (she was a burlesque performer!). Drawing acclaim from such varied publications as Erotic Review, Fringe Review, and Leicester Mercury, she has reinvigorated both burlesque and comedy, and also gained public notice when protesting the attempt to censor/slander burlesque at last year’s festival. This year she’s back, and her new show, BraHaHa is on tonight at the Caves, so get cracking!
H: Why did you want to get into stand up initially? Was it something you’ve always wanted to do?
KC: I drunkenly stumbled into comedy in 2005 just after I’d moved to Manchester. I got up at the Gong Show at The Comedy Store and finished in second place, and it all grew from there. I got to know all the acts very quickly, the venues, the bookers. I’d been running live events for a few years and turned my hand to running comedy shows. I felt a bit too ‘naked’ when performing comedy, and took a break from the stage in favour of writing my first novel and producing events instead. Then in 2007 I found an amazing burlesque show in Birmingham that really inspired me and I turned my hand to that instead. I’ve been a burlesque artiste for a number of years now, performing across the UK and Europe, and I set up my touring vaudeville revue show, Kitty Cointreau’s BraHaHa back in 2009.
H: How would you describe the stand-up in your show to those who haven’t heard of you?
KC: The guest acts that perform as part of BraHaHa vary tremendously from TV faces and Perrier winners, to incredible cabaret crossover comedy acts like Piff the Magic Dragon, acts with circus backgrounds like Martin ‘Bigpig’ Mor, legendary storytellers such as the amazing Wil Hodgson, and musical acts like the wonderful Duncan Oakley and Frank Sanazi. The fringe is a hotbed of great international talent for BraHaHa and this year will be bigger and better than ever. My act is pure burlesque; cheeky, witty, vaudevillian, classic glamour and stripteasery.
H: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned since you got started in comedy?
KC: I’ve learned the importance of trying out new material, which still applies to burlesque. Developing a new act is just like honing a new set. You start with the initial idea, try it out, develop and improve it, hone it and perfect it. Viola! I’ve also learned the importance of listening to really experienced acts of all disciplines, taking their advice and finding what works for me.
H: Who would you say your influences are? Do you ever see echoes of their work in yours?
KC: My grandmother was a burlesque act and ENSA entertainer during World War II. She did all the kinds of acts that I perform now, but was also a contortionist and performed as ‘the girl in the goldfish bowl’ and did all kinds of sideshow. She was a great inspiration to me. She told me all of her stories when I was a youngster and the imagery really stuck with me when I was growing up, so I was really clued up about it. She is sadly no longer with us and passed a few years ago from cancer, but her passing inspired the very first BraHaHa show in Manchester. Since then, the show has just grown and grown, and I wouldn’t have known as much about burlesque, nor done any of this without her. I also really admire classic Hollywood stars like Ava Gardner, Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood and Judy Garland. In terms of comedy, I grew up loving the comedy that my folks had tremendous respect for – Dave Allen, Jasper Carrott, Ben Elton, Smith & Jones, and I’ve always loved Jack Dee, Dylan Moran and Harry Hill.
H: Even the greatest comedians have had nights where they’ve really bombed- how hard is it to come back after one of these shows?
KC: I haven’t really suffered the same kind of fate since performing burlesque. There are times when corsets malfunction and won’t open, or a tassel falls off or a stage manager forgets to set up something that you need, but you just have to perform through it, be upset after the show in private and analyse it for the rest of that evening, then dust yourself off and start again. I think it’s important to look at why something might not have gone as well as you’d hoped, see if things need editing or changing, then working through it. Get straight back on the horse.
H: I see that you’re playing Edinburgh this year, could you tell us more about your show?
KC: Kitty Cointreau’s BraHaHa is back at the Edinburgh Fringe for the second year. BraHaHa is a critically acclaimed UK sell-out revue and is vibrant, fun and uplifting, bringing together the glamour and decadence of burlesque with the wit and charm of stand-up comedy, revisiting the roots of vaudeville entertainment. Rare in its approach of mixing comedy and burlesque in equal measure, it is theatrical, elegant and exhilarating entertainment. Each BraHaHa includes a special guest compere, guest comedians including award-winners and TV faces, and international burlesque, neo-burlesque, breathtaking circus and cabaret artistes, all under one roof and one ticket price. The list of acts that will be performing as part of the show is quite amazing and there’ll be lots of surprises! Keep those eyes peeled for more info! This really is THE fringe spectacle to see this year. There’s tease, tassels and titters guaranteed! Sponsored by Vivien of Holloway, 1950s Dresses from Vivien of Holloway, www.vivienofholloway.com It’s in Just the Big Room @ Just the Tonic at the Caves from 4th-28th August (not 17th) at 22.45-23.45.
‘A winning formula…fun, cheeky, sexy and vibrant’ (FringeReview.com). ‘This show is hard to beat’ (Australian Comedy Review). ‘These tassels are well worth the hassle’ (Latest 7) ‘A splendid late night addition to the cabaret scene’ **** (The Skinny)
H: Where does the inspiration come from? What is your creative process like?
KC: I’m inspired by everything from cinema, to paintings, to music from of all genres, great lyrics, and historical figures. I can sit down and build the picture in my head as I listen to the music and visualise the movement, the lights, the effects, the costume and the props. From the elegant and classic, to cheeky cheesecake, to bump n’ grind, some acts are harder to perfect, but some can just easily fall into place. My signature acts include ‘Acceptable in the 80s,’ which features my famous show-stopping giant Rubik’s cube, and my glittery ‘Victorian Va Va Voom.’ I dance with fans, powder puffs, bubbles, balloons, snow, glitter, poi, you name it.
H: Are there any ideas that you find yourself returning to when creating your material?
KC: I find myself returning to contemporary music, but traditional concepts of burlesque. Like with comedy, you find a style that suits you best and develop your work around it.
H: Do you think comedy is something that should be cerebral, that people should pick apart, or can it just be a bunch of silliness that people laugh at? What sort of comedy do you prefer?
KC: I think both. I don’t think comedy should be either/or. I think it’s important to have a range of different voices and ideas in comedy. I love Bill Hicks and Chris Addison’s work as much as I love one-liner merchants like Gary Delaney, but I also love some character acts like Neil Hamburger and musical comedy acts. I’m happy to listen to a well-crafted observational story, one-liner, topical piece or political point as long as it’s well written and performed to the best of the act’s ability.
H: Are there any upcoming projects that you’d like to promote/shed some light on?
KC: Do come and see BraHaHa at the fringe! There is a unique pressure that comes with the fringe, but the fringe is where it counts for me. It’s hard to return from the intensity of the fringe and not be a better performer, producer or person. It’s also hard to return from the fringe with a fiver in your pocket!
Kitty Cointreau’s BraHaHa
Just the Big Room @ Just the Tonic at the Caves
4th-28th August (not 17th)
22.45-23.45.
Venue number: 88
253 Cowgate
Tickets on sale NOW:
http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy/kitty-cointreau-s-brahaha
or call 0131 556 5375
Watch the promo video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQwHy32abGA
Today we have an interview with Tom Goodliffe; a comedian who is slowly, but surely (surely?) making a name for himself on the comedy circuit, what with his clever witticisms, endearing storytelling and love for a good spreadsheet (all former accountants love spreadsheets, right?). If you’re lucky enough to be at Edinburgh right now, you should definitely catch Tom Goodliffe: The Good Liffe ( every day at 3.45pm at Cabaret Voltaire – The Speakeasy). Interview below!
