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 Victoria, Jen and Jessica about their show.

Date: 7th August
Time: 5 pm
Price: £ 7.50
Location: The Bill Murray
Ticket Link: https://camden.ssboxoffice.com/events/yes-yes-yes/

Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

VB: Hello!  I’m Victoria and I’m a comedian and co-producer for Larker Bout.

JA: Hi!  I’m Jessica and I’m a comedian.  I’m also co-producing for Larker Bout!

JL: Hello!  I am Jen.

VB: Anything else you want to say there, Jen?

JL: I’m Jen and I like eggs?

JA: *spits out drink*

VB: Okay.  Jen’s also a comedian and a co-producer.

JL: I see!

JA: Essentially all three of us are doing all things to get our Camden Fringe shows off the ground and to make them as amazing as they can be!

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

VB: We’re bringing two shows to this year’s Camden Fringe.  Our first show, at The Bill Murray, is called Yes. Yes? Yes!

JA: We just tried to think of a name that would be mildly encouraging in the buying of tickets to see three new comedians.

JL: And we had headshots that matched the punctuation in the name.  Maybe I thought about that bit a bit too much?

JA: Maybe….

VB: Maybe you did, yes.  Anyway, our second show is called Cirque du LOLeil because we’re at the circus-themed Little Angel Theatre. 

JL: How magical that it’s all just fitted together, eh?

Tell us a little bit about your style of show?

VB: Yes. Yes? Yes! is a stand-up comedy split bill.  Cirque du LOLeil will be a full stand-up show with six or seven comedians. 

JA: We’ll also have a BSL interpreter at both shows and the venues are wheelchair accessible.

JL: If you want to chat to us about accessibility, you can email us at larkerbout@gmail.com

What will your set be about?

JA: I am a disabled comic who talks about the absurdities of being a middle aged mum on a mobility scooter.

VB: I’m an academic researcher but inevitably I end up revealing just how clever and smart I am not.

JL: I’m just an idiot.  My set’s about cheese, bags and stickers, but mainly about cheese.

VB: So many props. 

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

JA: Helen Prior, Kimi Tayler and Matt Hutchinson.

VB: Robin Morgan, and then I will probably miss lots of great stuff as I am off up to Edinburgh.

JL: Pauly F Taylor, Lachlan Werner and Jen Brister!!

Have you done the fringe before? What have been some of your favourite shows to date and why?

VB: We have!  We produced a series of new comedy showcases at last year’s Camden Fringe fresh off the comedy beginners wagon.  

JL: Ooo yes and we managed to squeeze in seeing Lou Sanders didn’t we?!

JA: Last year’s Fringe is actually where I met you both, wasn’t it?

VB: Yes!  You came along to do a showcase and had the entire room in stitches.

JL: Everyone loved you – you were so good!

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

JL: Just go for it!  If you even slightly think you have a show, or part of a show, find other people who are keen to get some stage time and conjure up a silly name for a show.

VB: Maybe start closer to the beginning of the alphabet with the show name so it doesn’t get lost in the listings. We started with X and now we’re on Y. It’s less than ideal.

What is the best thing about performing at the Camden fringe?

JA: It’s in my home town, which is awesome.

VB: For me, it’s the range of people you could have come and see the show.  Last year, we had friends and family, some comedy fans and then people up for a laugh as part of their evening in the pub.  It made for some lively rooms, which was a brilliant experience!

JL: I spent a lot of my 20s hanging out in Camden and I’ve moved away from London so getting to do shows here just feels like coming home.

What are your three favourite things about Camden?

VB: People watching, comedy watching, and comedy people watching. 

JA: Wasted most of my teens in Camden Market, my twenties drinking pints here and it’s the first place I performed comedy IRL. #Camdenlovestory.

JL: Remembering the day I bought bright pink velvet jogging bottoms from PunkyFish (in, roughly, 2003).

VB: Oh Jen. 

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

VB: Describing myself as a chubby ginger toddler and looking like ‘orphan Annie being fattened up for veal’ seems to go down well. 

JA: “Part time wheelchair user, full time legend”. Because I am a legend.

JL: “We were having our olives and focaccia, our amuse bouche, our pre-starter if you will.” And then trying to remember the beginning of Firestarter by the Prodigy and failing.  A contemporary reference.  Totally bombed.  

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

JL: As always, any and all audience members at any show are pretty much a dream.

JA. And ones that don’t mind an angry disabled woman with low blood sugar.

VB: Well at the risk of being serious for a second, we are working really hard to make sure these shows – particularly Cirque du LOLeil – are as accessible as possible. So really, audience members who might not think a live comedy night is for them because they have access needs that aren’t normally catered for, are the ultimate dream. Even if we don’t get it 100% right this time, we will learn from it and do it again, but better. 

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?

JL: Dabber Dick.  Can you print that?  That’s what I’d call them anyway.

VB: Cyril. Just seems like a good name for a pigeon. 

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

VB: On instagram and Twitter we’re @itslarkerbout.  My instagram and Twitter is @dr_vjbarker.

JL: You can email us at larkerbout@gmail.com with any questions as well.  My instagram and Twitter is @itsjenlarner. 

JA: On instagram I’m @ jessicaaytac and on Twitter I’m @JSpencerAytac.

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

VB: Need Ticket Sales. 

JA: We are ace?

JL: Because. They’re. Fun!