Tort e Morte talk about their new show, Songs of Cake or Death.
1 Tell us about your Fringe show
Torte e Mort: Songs of Cake and Death is an all original cabaret show featuring Marie Antoinette, the Grim Reaper, and a feisty she-devil. It's about decadence, indulgence and consequence. It is absurd, visually extravagant, hilarious, and with a glorious soundtrack that will bend your ears sideways and get the catchiest and strangest musical numbers caught in your head until the end of time.
2 How does it feel to be playing the Fringe for the first time?
Such a thrill! What an amazing festival. I love the fear and excitement of jumping into such a big pond. I honed my craft creating new shows for the Adelaide Fringe year after year, and it has not been until this year and this show that I felt truly ready to strut my stuff here in Edinburgh Fringe. I had been duly warned that it is a beast of an undertaking, (half a world from home) but I feel fantastically confident in this show, and ready to tackle this adventure head-on.
3 Live act most looking forward to seeing at Fringe?
Now I'm really looking forward to seeing Counting Sheep, and Derevo - Once.
4 If you were not a performer/comedian what would you be doing?
I'd still be a writer and a thinker.
5 How do you combat pre-gig nerves?
Breathing, stretching, meditating on the knowledge that we'll all be dead one day.
6 Worst on stage experience?
I put my stiletto through my ukulele once. That was pretty emotionally harrowing.
7 How do you recover from a hefty heckle? Do you have a set of stock replies?
I surprise myself. I never thought of myself as being particularly strong on the improv but the characters I play take over, and it's different how each one deals with hecklers. You sure as hell don't want to heckle Death.
8 What do you love about Scotland?
Accents and landscape and traditional tunes. I grew up learning the fiddle, it was my instrument of choice until I was 19 and discovered my voice.
9 What do you like about Edinburgh?
I've found everyone to be so very friendly and welcoming, it's amazing.
10 What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?
I performed the sailors hornpipe dance.
11 Favourite Scottish food/drink?
I have been thoroughly enjoying the process of increasing my knowledge and appreciation of whisky.
Tort e Morte's Songs of Cake and Death will run at the Assembly George Square Theatre until August 29.
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