It is festival season and that means that in the next month there is so many great comedy festivals to look forward to! This month we are looking at some of the great shows that you can see at the Edinburgh Fringe. So take note because we are going to give you all the information you need for just a handful of some of the great shows happening this year! We have also been able to interview some of the acts that are heading up to the Fringe as well.

Kate Barron: Losing Myself

Location:  Just The Tonic at the Tron – Just the Tonic at the Tron (Venue 51)

Dates: Aug 4th-14th, 16th-28th

Time: 21:00

Price: £6

Ticket Link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/kate-barron-losing-myself

Hello! Tell us about yourself?

I’m a loud, unladylike (whatever that means) Canadian comedian who says what you’re thinking out loud. I started comedy while living in Toronto and moved to the UK just in time to get a taste of the emotionally unavailable British men and head into lockdown. 

What’s the name of your show this year?

My show is called “Losing Myself” and I talk about everything from death and sex to losing 13 and a half stone and what life has been like growing up in a working-class family. 

How did you come up with the name of your show that you’re taking to the fringe?

It was easy! I made a list of approximately 573 titles and asked everyone and their dog their opinions which were all wildly different. Then had a small breakdown and decided to throw a dart at a wall and then voila “Losing Myself!” In reality, I finished writing most of my show and decided to go back through my list and pick the title I felt best represented what it is about. 

Tell us all about your show!

‘Losing Myself’, is my debut hour. I moved to the UK in 2019 in the hope to be part of the best comedy circuit in the world, and date the most emotionally repressed men in the world.  I explain how I was a fat awkward kid from Canada, from a loud, chaotic family with an unhealthy obsession with romance and the idea of happily ever after. 

Always the last one to leave the party, the first one to finish my wine, and the brunch guest with the best bad date stories, I was the hot-mess friend who was always up for a good time. 

When the stages closed in 2020, I found myself living alone in London, 4706 miles away from any friends and family. The solitude forced me to look inward and make a decision about the direction I was headed. From death and dating to family, fear, and weight loss,  Losing Myself is a raw, honest, hilarious hour of tales with just the right amount of filth. 

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe?

Wait, it’s not all about me?! That’s rude. I’m a comedy nerd and there are so many great acts going up that I’m going to try to see as many as possible. A few that come to mind are Fern Brady, Njambi McGrath, Micky Overman, and my fellow Canadians Bobby Mair and Aliya Kanani. 

Have you done the fringe before? What are the key pieces of advice you have been given or would give to new groups or people performing at the fringe. 

I’ve never done a full Fringe run before, but the key advice is to keep in mind that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. You’re there to work

Favourite one-liner you have done in a show and why?

I had an off-the-cuff one that I did on a Halloween show when I had no costume and it’s still absolutely one of my favourites. “Can you guys tell what I’m dressed up as tonight? A harmonica. Just put your mouth on my holes and I’ll make some noise.” Do I really need to explain why I love it? 

What three items are essential for a successful Fringe? 

This is my first year going up, so I’ll have to guess based on what I have heard from all of the other comedians who have given me advice. I’d say that the three essential items are a therapist, a pillow to cry into, and good people around you who tell you to snap out of it when you start to believe your own hype or when you start to spiral at bad reviews.    

What is the best way to enjoy yourself at the fringe?

Take up the show you want and one you enjoy performing versus the show you think will win awards or the one that you think other people will want to see. If it’s not authentically you, don’t do it. 

The most challenging thing about performing at the fringe?

For me, the most challenging thing is not knowing entirely what to expect because I’ve never done a full run. 

What’s the secret to successful flyering? 

Find great people who actually care about the success of you and your show. There’s nothing worse than seeing an exhausted flyering team who clearly doesn’t like, know or enjoy the show they’re flyering for. I think it’s also about establishing good relationships with your team early on, and showing them you’re respectful and grateful for their time and effort. 

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

Arthur, the security guard from my old office. He has the best, loudest and most infectious laugh and thinks I’m hilarious! Oh, and probably the CEO of Netflix. 

If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?

Sadly, I haven’t started an Only Fans yet, so they’ll have to go with the old-fashioned social sites. Twitter @Kate_barron , Instagram @_KateBarron and I’ve decided to begin embarrassing myself on TikTok @_KateBarron – please follow me on all. 

And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show? 

Bold. Funny. Honest.