Laurence Clark talks about his new comedy show, Independence.
Tell us about your Fringe show
Everybody seems to want their independence right now – but be very careful what you wish for! In my fringe show I spin tales of adolescence, love and Harry Potter. What would you do if you suddenly discovered that Daniel Radcliffe was stealing your act? Along the way I discover that I don’t have to be Superman and do everything myself. But life throws up unexpected challenges when you depend on others to fasten your jeans for you!
Best thing about the Fringe?
I love coming to the fringe. On the whole Edinburgh has been good to me over the years, as it’s enabled me to make a name for myself without playing lots of comedy clubs which are mostly inaccessible to comedians who use wheelchairs. Edinburgh punters are fantastic as you get a discerning comedy audience who are not afraid to try new things.
Worst thing about the Fringe?
The worst thing is definitely leaving my wife and kids for four weeks, but at least this year they are coming up to stay for a week. The fringe seems to be a much friendlier place for kids nowadays, with more shows aimed at them and a number of play areas. I can still vividly remember getting stuck outside in the pouring rain eight years ago at the Pleasance Courtyard in the middle of the day because children back then were not allowed inside the bar area.
My kids actually prefer going to see shows with me at the fringe because, due to the temporary nature of the venues, the spaces for wheelchair users are usually on the front row so we get great seats. When we go to the theatre at home we’re usually stuck miles away from the action on the back row, where it’s difficult for a restless 5 year old to engage with what’s going on.
How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?
This will be my tenth Fringe. God that makes me feel old!
Favourite Fringe venue?
I loved being in the big yurt in St Andrew’s Square last year (Stand in the Square). I was performing with Abnormally Funny People which is a group of disabled and non-disabled comedians. In every show we would always have one token non-disabled comedian, just to give them a chance. What was great was, being on at 9.30 every evening, we would attract a big, sometimes rowdy crowd who weren’t averse to the odd heckle.
Best Fringe memory?
Definitely when my mate Jess Thom came to watch my show. Jess is a performer with Tourette’s syndrome and, frankly one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. The majority of her tics make her say words like ‘biscuit’, ‘hedgehog’ and ‘Alan’ a lot, but every so often she will come up with the kind of surreal juxtaposition of two completely unrelated concepts that comedy writers like myself spend hours scratching our heads over. At the top of the show I introduced Jess to the audience. Then as I got into the show I found it quite easy to ignore the constant biscuits, hedgehogs and Alans. But every so often when I paused for breath, Jess would finish my sentences in surreally funny ways that other stand-up comedians could only dream of. For example, “I guess all I’ve ever wanted is what anyone wants in life, namely… dancing cats!” And then there was my personal favourite: “If you start to think about your moments of instant regret, one defining incident will probably leap out… like kicking a duck in the fanny!
Best heckle?
On the whole I haven’t had many hecklers. I had someone in my show at Leicester Comedy Festival who just kept shouting “Timmy” (from South Park) at me. At first I tried to engage him but he just carried on so eventually I ignored him. As heckles go, it was a bit of a comedy dead-end!
Craziest on stage experience?
I was once in the finals of the Amused Moose Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Because the stage wasn’t wheelchair accessible, it was agreed that I would get lifted onto it before the audience came in and would then simply hide behind the back curtain until it was my turn to go on. Unfortunately nobody told the compere that he had to let me out after introducing me, and because there was a large projector screen in front of the curtain I could let myself out without knocking it over. So after I was introduced there was an uncomfortable 30 seconds of silence before the technician realised what had happened and ran over to let me out.
What’s on your rider?
A pint of water and a straw. I don’t drink alcohol when I’m performing as my speech is slightly slurred anyway from my cerebral palsy, so I don’t want to make myself any less discernible! Plus alcohol and straws do not mix well.
How do you wind down after a show?
Watching box-sets on my iPad - I know, not exactly rock ‘n’ roll!
What do you love about Scotland?
That you had the common sense to not go with the flow and collectively vote to stay in the EU!
What do you like about Edinburgh?
I love Edinburgh! I’ve already spent a lot of time up there this year as I was both rehearsing and performing a piece of physical dance theatre called Purposeless Movements by Birds of Paradise Theatre Company between January and March. Now there’s something I never thought I'd say! Physical dance theatre wasn't on the list my careers advisor gave me at school. Come to that, neither was stand-up comedy. It was a pretty short list as I recall - only thing on it was "work in IT" which for people like me is like the basket-weaving of jobs! Anyway I was so excited to land this role I called my mum to tell her I was working in dance theatre. She said "who's Dan?"
What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?
Arm-wrestling a Scot for the poster for Purposeless Movements. I particularly enjoyed seeing posters of myself looking uncharacteristically hard all over Glasgow, the city that practically invented looking hard!
What kind of jokes do a Scottish crowd seem to respond to?
Oddly enough, I’ve found jokes about the Scottish seem to go down well. I guess all audiences to an extent like to laugh at themselves. On the other hand, these may prove to be famous last words!
Favourite joke?
The whole EU referendum was just a UK Government ruse to brainwash us because, however you voted you were agreeing with a Tory!
Favourite Scottish food/drink?
A Greggs’ sausage roll.
Laurence Clark new comedy show ‘Independence’ will be at the Assembly George Square Gardens at The Box for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
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