Ben Fogg’s debut stand up show
‘How I Won Best Newcomer 2017’ will be at the Pleasance Courtyard – Below for
the month of August for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
What was the
inspiration for this performance?
When I was 19 years old I changed the face of light
entertainment. I was the youngest ever associate producer in US television
history. I had an assistant, an apartment in New York and a six-figure salary
and yet I gave it all up to become a comic. My show is about why that decision
was 140% correct.
Is performance
still a good space for the public discussion of ideas?
In comedy, tone and intention are everything. When
jokes appear written down, meaning often gets mangled. Conversely, in a live performance,
I can say or do ridiculous things which an audience will read as deliberately comic.
My show this year deals with contemporary notions of success, adulthood and why
I’m better than everyone else. You should come.
How did you become
interested in making performance?
The first time I made a joke I was six years old. My
parents had friends over for dinner and I dropped a razor-sharp riff about
Arthur Scargill using an ice cream cone as a microphone. I noticed that adults suddenly
treated me with an admiration and respect that had been sorely lacking
beforehand. That was the first metaphorical step on my journey to the becoming
the comic genius I am today. That cone should be found, framed and sold to a
museum.
Is there any
particular approach to the making of the show?
As soon
as I thought up the title I knew I wanted to smash through conventional joke
telling to a place where the truth becomes ridiculous. I come from film, so I
use a bit of video on stage but even more in the writing process. I’m
constantly recording and editing the thing together as I go keeping only the
moments that feel funny and true. Essentially my debut album is a ‘Greatest
Hits’. By the time the festival starts I estimate I’ll have seen over 38 hours
of my own face. It’s been a delightful time.
Does the show fit
with your usual productions?
I’m not
just a skilled stand-up. I trained in long form improv at the IO theatre in
Chicago. As a result, previous shows have been carefully crafted chaos-trains
that didn’t even begin on the rails. My publicist has made it abundantly clear
that no one respects that kind of maverick improvising, so this year I’ve
actually done a lot of writing.
What do you hope
that the audience will experience?
Epiphany
upon epiphany until they’re crying out for less self-knowledge. This show is an
autobiography, a sermon and a pool party rolled into one. Prepare to lean about
me (and yourselves) while soaking wet.
What strategies did
you consider towards shaping this audience experience?
I’m
allowing myself one wanky answer. I want to create a dissonance between the
‘live’ stand-up element of the show and the filmed/projected content. The
screen acts as a window into my life that I would never normally allow open. The
information divulged on film runs as a commentary on the live action, forcing
the audience to evaluate performer and performance on terms other than those
that I apparently intend. Basically, the videos make me look a prat and it’s
funny.
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