EDINBURGH 2016: BWW Q&A - Harriet Dyer

BWW speaks to comedian Harriet Dyer about the two shows she is bringing to this year's Edinburgh Fringe.

You're bringing two solo comedy shows this year? Is that not a bit ambitious?!

I'm only doing one solo show this year, the other show is a showcase show that I MC where the comedians on the bill all tell stories / do material about mental health in a small bid to try and raise awareness / break the stigma that still surrounds it. Different line-up every day. Thus far confirmed we have the likes of Carl Donnelly, Felicity Ward, Arthur Smith, HarDeep Singh Kohli and much much more. It should be a right treat, plus a percentage of what's donated each day will be going to Scottish mental health charities.

What made you decide to bring Barking Tales back to the Fringe?

Barking Tales is the showcase show I just mentioned, Barking at Aeroplanes was the solo show I brought to Edinburgh in 2014 that you came to see... I like to make things really easy for myself by giving different shows really similar names. It's because my showcase show came from that solo show.

What can you tell us about We'd Prefer Someone A Bit More Mainstream?

"We'd Prefer Someone A Bit More Mainstream" is a show about 90's music, being alone (but not in the "ooh woe is me I don't have a boyfriend kind of way," in an OFF THE GRID kind of way) and it's also about the comedy industry (but not in a cliquey wanky in joke kind of way.) People seem to think I'm a bit different, even though I'm literally just how I am so this is a show of me just embracing that, doing what I want and taking anyone that fancies it off on a little adventure.

How have the preview gigs been going?

The previews have been going good thanks, during the last one I felt like something really clicked and I feel I'm on a groovy road to something great... If I may say so myself. The last show I did was no where near this fun to do so I assume that's a good sign?!

Any tips for anyone performing at the Edinburgh festival for the first
time?

It's work, not a party, don't get sucked up in drink, drugs, and vacuous nonsense.

Timing information for We'd Prefer Someone A Bit More Mainstream and Barking Tales are available on the edfringe website.

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