It is August which only means one thing – it is Camden Fringe time! Over the next few weeks we are chatting to acts that are performing at the festival and finding all about their show and what they would call this years iconic Camden Fringe Pigeon! Today we speak to Ankita Ghosh and Nobby Kobayashi about Lost and Found

Date: 1st / 3rd / 8th August
Time: 7:30pm / 9:30pm / 7:30pm
Price: £9 Concessions £7
Location: Etcetera Theatre
Ticket Link: https://camden.ssboxoffice.com/events/lost-and-found/

Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

Hi! We are Ankita and Nobby. 

Ankita is Indian, living in Vietnam for the last 6 years. A cushy advertising job with one of the biggest global agencies brought Ankita to Vietnam. A failed marriage, conflicted relationship with parents, loss of one parent in the year of pandemic and a dystopic dating life – all of this fuel her comedy which are basically tales of how she loses herself time and again only to find herself as a stronger, kinder, forgiving and loving human being. 

Born and bred in Japan, Nobby left Japan because she didn’t fit in. She came to England after attending an international school in New Mexico, USA. She found a job and a husband, but he turned out to be a psycho. The abusive marriage nearly destroyed her, but after divorcing him, she picked herself up and started standup comedy. Nobby has performed at more than 350 gigs, including charity events and professional nights. Her first appearance at a festival was at 2019 Women In Comedy in Manchester, sharing an hour with Sadia Azmat. She has also performed in an all-women showcase at Leicester Comedy Festival in 2020. She teaches Japanese, using anime (get in touch if you are interested) and lives in North London. 

Nobumi and Ankita met online, doing countless zoom comedy shows and hit it off from the word ‘go!’ They split the hour to bring you their wholesome life stories. 

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

We are two women belonging to two different ethnic minorities; who left their respective homelands, only to be found again in two different foreign countries; living, working, and telling our stories on stage.

When we realised that our stories are much about our search for self and journey through transformation, including what we view as spiritual awakening, the title, Lost and Found, seemed perfect.     

Tell us a little bit about your style of show?

Lost & Found is a stand-up comedy show. It’s hour-long, and we will split the hour between us. 

What will your set be about?

Ankita will talk about her experience as a brown female heterosexual expat in Vietnam, how her identity and personality clashes with every day stereotypes in personal and professional relationships. 

Nobby’s set is about her re-examination of her past relationships, which could only be described as toxic, prompted by the end of her most recent relationship. Central to this process is her realisation at her mature age that she suffers from CPTSD, helping her make sense of her blunderous life.

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

Robbie Fox, Tom Mayhew, Phil Green, Derya Yildrim and others, Sara LA Productions, etc. 

What advice would you give to others who want to perform at Camden Fringe next year?

Start preparing early on. You have to have a show in mind, and if you are collaborating, it’s important to find the right collaborator so the stories are in sync. Applying process is pretty straightforward, we could do it together while living in two different parts of the world. 

What are your favourite things about London?

It offers lovely lush parks and live entertainment (theatres, museums and galleries) and is so cosmopolitan.

What are your three favourite things about Camden?

The market, vegan eateries and the fact that it’s so vibrant/energetic.

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

Ankita – I recently did shows in Los Angeles, where I opened with the following: ‘I am an Indian. The ones that are stealing your jobs. Not the ones you stole this land from!’ I love this because it immediately puts into perspective the immigrants’ crisis as well as an uncomfortable historical fact, in one statement. The audiences loved it. 

Nobby – Here’s my favourite one liner: ‘I got divorced recently. So, I started trampoline lessons and ended up sleeping with the instructor. That was just rebound sex.’ I wrote this when I just started doing standup comedy as my ‘sexless’ marriage ended. It makes me laugh, because it’s utterly silly, but also it reminds me of how much of my material revolved around sex: I must have been so desperate!  

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

Liberal and cosmopolitan non-leave voter with loadsamoney!

The iconic image of the Camden Fringe is the Pigeon – if you could call this years pigeon a name to represent its style what would it be and why?

Omicron Dodging Flying Rat

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

https://www.facebook.com/Ankita.GhoshComedy
https://www.instagram.com/ankitasame/

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

Identities. Encounters. Authenticity.

or, 

Get A Life!