Big names at the Guildford Fringe Festival

The Guildford Fringe Festival returns for another year of amazing arts and culture. William Gadsby Peet talks to some of bigger names involved – from Andy Parsons to Viv Groskop

Andy Parsons

What got you in to stand up?

A compelling desire to avoid getting a proper job.

You were on Mock The Week for 14 seasons, what made you want to move on?

Ten years is a long time to be on any panel show, let alone one where "Unlikely Things to See in a Superhero Movie" has come round for a fourth time.

What do you see as the societal role of a stand-up comedian?

To be funny. Society is keen on that.

You studied law at Cambridge, what made you choose comedy over being a lawyer?

I refer you to the answer to question one.

Have we got a snowball’s chance in hell at the World Cup?

No. Which is a good thing, because we'll have less disappointment to contend with.

Andy Parsons headlines Gag House Comedy Superstars at G Live on the opening day of The Guildford Fringe, June 29. For more information and to book tickets (£22.50), visit: guildfordfringefestival.com

Robyn Perkins

You’re a biologist comedian, how does that work as a combo?

Every comedian thinks differently. I think, because I am inherently a researcher, I approach my stand-up in this way. When I come up with an idea for a joke, I will do the research behind the joke: what are the statistics, historical background, consequences, etc. The result is observational stories about my life, backed with informative research.

What science can we look forward to in 10,000 Decisions?

I have always struggled with making decisions. The show explains how, as humans, our brains makes decisions. This covers the parts of the brain involved, what their roles are, and how your life experience affects the way those parts of your brain function. It also briefly looks at, scientifically, what love is. It is factually accurate, but broken down so you do not need a science background to enjoy it.

Your website says you are also a landscape architect, cake designer, chef and graphic designer. Is there anything you can’t do?

I can't show up on time. I am chronically late. Don't worry, I will aim to be at my venue at least 4 hours early!

In all seriousness, I struggle in love. I think this is because its the one thing I cannot achieve with extensive research. It's very frustrating to me. Are you single?

Will there be cake at your show?

No... unless that will attract more people? I'm not above buying love with cake.

You’re American, what’s up with Trump?

I am an American doing a show (on the 4th of July) about making bad decisions. It is surprising my show isn't completely about Trump! But I wanted it to be an uplifting show. All I will say is that Trump is the most embarrassing and disappointing thing my country has done. But hopefully people now understand how important it is to research what you are voting for, and that everyone's vote matters. I'm not a political comedian, per say, but the President of the United States is not only a politician, but a role model for America (and to a certain extent, the world). Therefore, there is a responsibility to be someone who supports all human rights, and to be someone who works to make the world a better place, environmentally, socially and economically.

Robyn Perkins performs her new show 10,000 Decisions at the Star Inn on July 4. For more information and to book tickets (£8), visit: guildfordfringefestival.com

Juliette Burton

You’ve battled acute anxiety and social anxiety disorder, how hard is it to overcome that anxiety, stand up in front of strangers and make them laugh?

It's actually a completely different form of anxiety for me. Sure I get a rush of nerves and adrenalin before a show, but that's a rush I enjoy, I love it otherwise I wouldn't do it. Standing up in front of strangers and making them laugh is easier for me to do than facing real life. It's a way of drawing people closer but also keeping them at a safe distance. My anxiety disorder means I struggle with the parts of life I can't predict, whereas on stage I've constructed a whole hour where I kind of know what's going to happen. I feel more relaxed performing than I do when I'm not.

How far have we come as a society in dealing with mental health issues and how much further do we have to go?

Here in the UK, we've come a long way since I remember first being diagnosed in my early teens. But there's still so much stigma. When I was first diagnosed I was told I was attention-seeking. I still hear that. Thing is, my mental health conditions are illnesses, I don't have them for attention. I perform comedy for attention. People with mental health conditions don't hire venues and print posters with their faces on advertising it.

The number of people talking about mental health has risen but that doesn't seem to be changing stigma fast enough, for me. I still hear casual slurs like being called a "psycho" when I mention being sectioned at the age of 17, being asked "when did you get better?" when it's an ongoing illness for me, being told "you don't look ill" when I come off stage, or "I wish I had anorexia", or "I'm a very tidy person so I'm a bit OCD", or "Have you tried not being sad?" These are all things I hear regularly which remind me we have to get braver in talking about mental health and braver in asking questions about conditions we don't understand.

Like sexism, racism and disablism we will only move forward if we listen to other people's experiences and accept what they tell us as being real. We're all facing battles no one else knows anything about so why not be kind to each other?

Butterfly Effect explores kindness, what made you focus on that topic?

Last year I felt like the whole world had gone a bit bleak. And my own world wasn't that much better. I felt powerless over it all. So I decided to focus on the one power that I know I still had: how I treat other people. So, I did random acts of kindness every single day to see whether it could change the world, or at least other people's worlds, or maybe my own world just a little bit.

I quickly realised though that there's a lot of problems with being kind! You get to find out what problems I faced in the show and using hidden camera footage, animation, audio and visual projection, you get to see the japes and capers I got myself into.

Being kind is something I was always taught to do, but only thanks to writing this show have I realised the kind of power it can have. It really can save lives.

It enjoyed a sold out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, why do you think it resonated so well with people?

A lot of people feel like me; wondering whether they have any power in the world, wondering where all the hope has gone and what they can do to make a difference. This show, I hope, helps to answer some of that.

Edinburgh Fringe was wonderful last year. It was my third sold out run there in a row, with extra shows added due to demand. Good word of mouth counts for so much and that helped, for sure.

But the great reviews, the sold out shows all mean nothing without a lovely audience to join me at the next show. And I can't wait to come to Guildford Fringe again – the crowds there are always so receptive and up for it. I'm excited to return with a finished, polished show too.

What do you hope people will take away from the show?

I want audiences to feel empowered and entertained. And to follow me on social media! But most of all I want them to leave knowing they can do something positive to change things for the better. This show proactively invites audience members to #DareToBeKind. So come prepared with kind things we could all do, up for a fun night and above all, ready to laugh!

Juliette Burton performs Butterfly Effect at the Star Inn on July 7. For more information and to book tickets (£7), visit: guildfordfringefestival.com

Viv Groskop

You’re a bit of a Russian politics buff, what’s going on with all the scary Putin-led headlines?

Don’t believe the Putin hype! You’re only playing into his tiny power-obsessed hands! (Yes, he too has tiny Trump-like hands.) When it comes to Russia, my advice is this: read widely (especially read Masha Gessen) and avoid paranoia. The picture is not optimistic but it’s not as wildly pessimistic as it can sometimes be portrayed. Russia is a massive, complex country. Putin may have won 76% of the vote in the recent election. But that doesn’t mean 76% of people are passionately in love with him, despite his manly chest.

Your book The Anna Karenina Fix extracts life lessons from classic Russian literature, what’s your favourite?

Obviously it sounds weird to take life lessons from the world’s most miserable and depressive literature. (Spoiler alert) “Don’t cheat on your husband and then throw yourself under a train.” But in fact Russian classics are so clear-eyed and realistic that they’re far more inspiring than many other sappy books. My favourite lesson is from Chekhov’s Three Sisters: Don’t compare yourself to others. The grass is not greener. And you don’t need to go and live in Moscow, you’re fine where you are.

You are a journalist, writer, comedian, TV presenter and radio presenter, what do you enjoy the most?

I love the unpredictable chaos and randomness of stand-up comedy when you never know when your next heckle is coming. Latest loud interjection: “I love your eyeshadow. Where is it from?” I attract an excellent class of eccentric, style-obsessed heckler.

As a female comic, what did you make of western media’s reaction to Michelle Wolf’s White House Correspondence Dinner set?

Everyone went crazy over Michelle Wolf’s set without actually watching it. She made a very funny and well-aimed joke about another woman (Trump’s press secretary) bending the truth on a regular basis. Everyone who didn’t want to admit that this person bends the truth said, “How dare a woman attack another woman? We are living in terrible times!” But the terrible times we are living in have nothing to do with women attacking women and everything to do with not being able to call out lies. That is what comedy is for and Michelle Wolf did a great job. Plus, she herself has great eyeshadow and we all know that’s what matters most.

What can we look forward to from Vivalicious?

This is a show about becoming your “best self” in preparation for the coming age of President Oprah Winfrey. It’s an exploration of my own lifelong obsession with self-help, therapy and mindfulness and how it does not seem to have improved me that much. Is it all a waste of time? Am I just not trying hard enough? Or does there come a point in life when you should just accept you are a bit rubbish? There will be a lot of fun and silliness and hopefully some pointers on how not to live your life.

Viv Groskop performs Vivalicious at the Star Inn on July 17. For more information and to book tickets (£7), visit: guildfordfringefestival.com

Sleeping Trees

Who are the Sleeping Trees?

We are James, John and Joshua, a highly physical sketch comedy trio based in London. We’ve been writing and performing together for the past nine years and lived together got the last six!

How did the group come about?

We started the group at university for a bit of fun, we were encouraged by the university to take something we made to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2010 so we did! Here we are eight years later about to do our ninth Fringe with our ninth show!

What can we look forward to from the show?

Lots of silly sketches, surreal characters, fast-paced, physical humour and a tonne of outdated references. It’s more of a sketch show than our previous work but it will still have a central narrative running right the way through it.

What is it about sketch comedy that appealed to you over stand up?

I think we just really enjoyed being on stage with one another, playing these farcical characters whilst still keeping it loose and open to improvisations, as you do in stand up. Sketch comedy can become something truly wonderful when blended with narratives and concepts you typically wouldn’t associate with it.

Who would be the most likely out of the three of you to survive a Hunger Games style fight to the death?

Well I’m answering these (James), so I’m inclined to say me, however, I’ve never watched The Hunger Games and I usually just cower in fight to the death style situations. So in the interest of fairness I’ll say, still me.

The Sleeping Trees perform World Tour at the Star Inn on July 24. For more information and to book tickets (£8), visit: guildfordfringefestival.com/

Gyles Brandreth

[Editor's Note: The answers to these questions arrived all in capital letters. I'm not sure if Mr Brandreth accidentally hit the caps lock on his computer, or if he is hoping you read all of these answers as if they are being shouted by him. Either way, I have put them back in to normal typeface and left the decision up to you.]

What have you enjoyed more, your career as an MP or your career as an entertainer?

I am always happy doing whatever I am doing at the time. Being an MP and being an entertainer are quite similar. If they don’t like you as an MP, they can vote you out. If they don’t like you as an entertainer, they won’t book for your show. I never have an interval at my shows. I don’t dare give people the chance to leave halfway through.

What do you think of the current British political landscape, is Theresa May doing a good job?

Come to my show – it's a totally Brexit-free zone!

Funniest thing you saw during your time in office?

Well, I was the person who noticed the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square when I was an MP and I got something put on it. At the moment it’s a thumbs-up sign – not very funny, I agree, but I like seeing it there.

What did you think of the royal wedding?

Loved it. Loved them being so loved up.

If you were made supreme leader of the world tomorrow, what is the first thing you would change?

Two things: I’d abolish all passwords. I cannot face learning another password. I’m all passworded out. And 2: I’d make Guildford the capital of the world. Is there anywhere more civilised? I don’t think so.

Gyles Brandreth performs his Break A Leg! show twice at the Guildhall on July 25. For more information and to book tickets (£18), visit: guildfordfringefestival.com

Kirsty Mann & Jen Wakefield

What got you both in to comedy?

Kirsty: A dare. I was doing a singing gig with some friends in Australia and we got talking about our new years resolutions. Naturally, mine was to get better at Instagram. My friend suggested I change it to five minutes of stand up with her. So I agreed, we booked in a date at an open mic night, and she chickened out. But I did it alone, it went really well and I kept doing it!

Jen: I used to be a teacher and would do impressions of the funny, sweet and silly things that children, parents and others would say and I think I just enjoyed making people laugh. I left that job in 2015 to pursue all the things I wanted to do so I wouldn't die with any doubts. It’s been going really well since so I haven’t looked back!

What inspired the two of you to team up?

Kirsty: We met while writing at the Soho Theatre as part of their Young Company. I had the offer of an hour in Edinburgh by then and thought Jen was so brilliant so I pounced on her. Jen and I both have the same taste in silliness and musical comedy.

What can we look forward to from the show?

Jen: You can look forward to some excellent character comedy – we’ll introduce you to Pearl Harbour, London’s most unlucky-in-love wannabe IT girl – and some fantastic musical comedy. If you’ve ever stalked your ex, listened to Drake, declared your hatred for One Direction whilst somehow knowing all the lyrics, or joined a WhatsApp group, you’ll love our show.

Favourite female comedians?

Kirsty: Sue Perkins, Victoria Wood.

Jen: Luisa Omeilan, Rose Matafeo.

Who would win in a dance-off?

Kirsty: No contest: Jen. That girl got rhythm. She actually throws some mini shapes during her set – come along and you’ll see what I mean!

Kirsty Mann and Jen Wakefield perform at the The Keep Pub on July 16. For more information and to book tickets (£7), visit: guildfordfringefestival.com

Glen Moore

You’ve just finished up a stint on Absolute Radio, did you enjoy your time reading the sport there?

It's been amazing - I spent the first 6 years of my career being a deadly serious newsreader, and when I started doing comedy I wanted to combine the two, so this has been the first opportunity. Obviously, now that presenter Christian O'Connell has left the country like a selfish git, I'm delighted to be start on Absolute's new breakfast show.

Your bio on Absolute Radio says your proudest achievement is watching all of the Fast and the Furious franchise in one sitting, in a word, why?

I am both proud and ashamed. I lost a bet so me and a friend watched them in the space of 15 hours (a gruelling 13:00-04:00 shift). By the second film I was unhappy, by the fourth I was deeply upset, and by number six I was fully onboard with the franchise and I think frankly it's done only wonders for Hollywood.

What’s the best thing about being a stand up comedian?

You get an encyclopaedic knowledge of motorway service stations. Want a McDonald's AND a KFC? You want Beaconsfield, mate.

Worst experience you’ve ever had doing comedy?

Arrived too late at Beaconsfield and KFC was closed.

What can we look forward to from your show?

My last couple of shows have been me chatting complete nonsense and telling very long joke-filled stories that clearly aren't true. This year I've ditched that in favour of full, raw honesty, and truthful storytelling. It's about me being selected for the first civilian mission to Mars.

Glen Moore performs How Do You Like It, How Do You Like It? at the Star Inn on July 22. For more information and to book tickets (£7), visit: guildfordfringefestival.com

Masud Milas

You had an interesting upbringing moving about a lot, what was it like to have a childhood spread out across Hong Kong, New Zealand and Britain?

It can be a little confusing at times, especially if you live in countries that neither of your parents are from. It's something I talk a lot about in the show, especially if people have an idea of how you should act based on how you look. Which then gets thrown off if you dress like a 70s cop.

How did your parents meet?

I have no idea. This isn't me avoiding the question, I have asked them numerous times and neither of them will tell me. Its possible that they're Russian sleeper agents

Why do you dress like you’ve just stepped off the set of Shaft?

I just picked pieces of culture that I like and threw them together. Plus Leather jackets are always cool.

Can you please tell the Great British public where they can find a collection of jackets as badass as yours?

Retro in Newcastle – probably the best for jackets and big collar shirts.

What do you think you’d be doing if you weren’t performing stand up?

Probably be a sassy seaplane smuggler pilot. I don't have a pilots license or any real need to fly a plane. That just seems like it would be a lot of fun. That or I'd own a dog training school.

Masud Milas performs Masud Abides at the Star Inn on July 1 as part of the Free Fringe (though you will need to pay a refundable £5 deposit to book a place). For more info and to book your tickets, visit: guildfordfringefestival.com

Anthony Flaum

What got you in to opera?

It's quite a long answer! I remember loving listening to singers like Pavarotti and Mario Lanza and other greats when I was a child. I always had an appreciation of great singing, in whatever style of music – jazz, blues, classical, gospel, cantorial etc. So, I guess you could say that the writing was on the wall from a young age. However, I actually never considered a career in music – I did a "normal" business degree at University of Nottingham and went into banking and finance after graduating. It was only when I started doing some amateur dramatics that people came along and said to me that I should do something with my voice.

I was further encouraged by a Summer school I did right here in Guildford (at the GSA) as I auditioned for all the three major academies in London at the time and managed to get a place in all three. This, for me, was a sure sign that I should do something with this opportunity or regret it in later years. So, I gave up my job, moved back home and – to my parents bewilderment (and worry) – became a penniless student of singing! It was all to pay off though in later years when I started establishing myself as a performer.

Once I was in "the business", I gradually found that I wasn't suited the rocky/American style musicals that were casting at the time and I felt like I was slightly falling through a gap. Then, by total chance, I met someone at a wedding who knew someone who was involved in a start-up opera company in a rundown pub in Kilburn. He said I should contact them as they were casting. My wife said I should, but I didn't believe anything would come of it; after all I never liked (or at least, I thought I never liked!) opera. I thought it was way too stuffy, unrealistic, boring, elitist etc. Many of the usual stereotypes you hear nowadays.

I was invited along to audition, but for the bass-baritone role of Benoit in their production of La bohème. The director thought that that wasn't quite my voice and cast me as the tenor in the piece, Rodolfo. This was my baptism of fire into the world of opera. I had three weeks to learn the music and translation from scratch (bearing in mind that if you're in opera, you just KNOW La bohème – but I hadn't been "in" opera and had not a clue about a note of the piece!). On top of this, it was a completely different way of singing and being surrounded by people who knew what they were doing technically. So it really was a baptism of fire. I watched endless clips of Pavarotti on Youtube and learnt whilst on the job from my colleagues and my own discovery of what worked and what didn't with my voice (a lot, didn't!).

In the end the production went on to win an Olivier award. I then started to get some classical singing lessons and was spotted by the National Opera Studio as having potential... and the rest, as they say, is history! By this time, I'd decided I loved opera. I started to have much more success in this world than I ever did in musical theatre and I also broke down my pre-conceived ideas about the genre. I just knew that it was for me so I threw everything I had at it and even though I'm still in the early stages of my career, I'm getting some good principal roles with some major UK opera companies. So, I thank my lucky stars that I went to that wedding because otherwise, I'm not sure I would've found my true voice nor my way into this business!

Are you looking forward to serenading the Guildford public?

Very much so. I’m super proud of my friend Nick, who has done so amazingly well to get the festival to where it’s at, and to now be a part of it is a great honour. Performing with Katie is always a pleasure too so I hope the public enjoys it as much as we will!

Do you think the operatic community should be doing more to make opera accessible?

Actually, I think the opera community is doing a great deal of outreach work and schemes to make it more accessible. The "inaccessible" label I think stems from a number of things and I shall address the two main issues that I believe cause people to shy away from opera:

Language: People think that because it's in a foreign language, it's hard to understand or relate to. Firstly, I think this is untrue - some pieces in original language or original setting can still touch people's lives greatly and the messages remain relevant today. However, there are many companies (both small and large) that translate pieces into English and modernise them to make them more "accessible" to present day audiences. This is not always necessary – or successful, I might add – but there are many companies out there doing this to bring in new, younger audiences.
Expensive/elitist: There are cinema live screenings from big houses like the Royal Opera House and The Met, which don't cost the Earth to go and see. Sky Arts often also have programmes/screenings too. Indeed, BP have an open-air screening season this Summer, which is free in many great open air spaces around London. There are ticket schemes for younger people at some wonderful summer festivals such Grange Park Opera, Glyndebourne and Opera Holland Park. Many smaller companies also do not charge a lot for tickets – in fact, I recently had an experience of trying to book tickets for a musical in the West End, it cost me £160 for 3 tickets. I booked to see something at the Royal Opera House (in the balcony) and it cost me less than half that!

Favourite moment of your career so far?

Difficult to pin down one as I have been lucky to work on some wonderful productions (both small and large) and work with some fantastic people and companies. But if I had to choose, then it probably would be performing on the Royal Albert Hall stage during the BBC Proms in 2015. It was actually a musical (Fiddler on the Roof) and I was Motel the tailor, but it was produced by an opera company and had a major opera star in the main role – Bryn Terfel as Tevye. The sight of 6,500 people looking at you waving their flags combined with the knowledge that thousands more are listening on the radio, plus being in that iconic building, was electric and something I will never forget.

If you could fill a swimming pool with anything, what would it be?

My adult response would be – ‘full of money, half of which I’ve give to charity’. However, my 5-year-old daughter thought that if it was full of fairy dust, we could dive in and then fly like Peter Pan, which was a much better idea... and I totally agree with her!

Anthony Flaum is part of an all-star opera cast that will be performing on the balcony of the Guildhall as part of the Guildford Free Fringe. For more information, visit: guildfordfringefestival.com

Barricade Boys

[Editor's Note: Whatever Giles has is clearly contagious! In what I think was meant to be a clever marketing ploy, the answers all came back with THE BARRICADE BOYS capitalised. I have put them back in to normal typeface and once again leave the choice of whether to read the words normally or mentally scream them entirely up to our lovely readers.]

What are the Barricade Boys?

Do you hear the people sing? Yes! Fabulous harmonies, incredible vocals, dashing good looks and fantastic personalities The Barricade Boys showcase some of the world’s finest male voices from the West End, Broadway, International Tour and Hollywood movie of the world’s longest running musical - Les Misérables.

After sell out performances in London’s West End, an appearance at the St James Theatre on Broadway and many international dates, The Barricade Boys are quickly securing their place as theatre land’s newest and most exciting male vocal group!

Not only do they perform the world’s greatest show tunes but they also celebrate music from some of the most iconic names in the music industry, from powerful ballads and beautiful operatic arias to some of the best pop, rock and swing numbers of all time. The Barricade Boys are a spectacular group with incredible moments and deliver “an unmissable show with talent, flair and fun – West End Frame”

As well as appearing in the World’s greatest musical, Les Misèrables, and playing every major leading role in musical theatre The Barricade Boys have being guests on many primetime TV shows including, The Paul O’Grady Show, Sunday Night at the Palladium, Children In Need, Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and most recently Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris.

Each member of The Barricade Boys is a seasoned performer touring all over the world including New Zealand, South Africa, Rome, Venice, Korea, China, Norway, Australia and many more.

Why settle for just another vocal group when you can have the world’s leading musical super group!?

How did you come about?

Creators Scott Garnham and Simon Schofield wanted to create something unique, inventive and irreverent. Les Misèrables is the worlds longest running and arguably most successful musical so taking a well known brand, like Les Mis, and adding their own unique take to the songs has created something very special.

What sort of musical numbers do you perform?

Everything from The Jersey Boys to Greatest Showman! They also perform Motown, Pop, Swing, Rock N Roll and much more.

Favourite musicals?

West Side Story and Jersey Boys

Person you’d least like to be stuck in a lift with?

John McCririck

The Barricade Boys perform at G Live on July 28. For more information and to book tickets (£21), visit: guildfordfringefestival.com

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