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!

Kathy Maniura: Objectified

Location:   Gilded Balloon Teviot – Wee Room (Venue 14)

Dates:  Aug 2nd-13th, 15th-28th

Time: 16:40

Price: £12 Concessions £11

Ticket Link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/kathy-maniura-objectified

Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

I’m Kathy Maniura, a queer character comedian who pretends to be objects on stage. I’m a recovering hypochondriac who nearly died from tonsillitis in 2021 (lol, a disease for children, how humiliating).

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

It’s an hour of me pretending to be objects so I just thought of every object related word or phrase it could.. I OBJECT!… Object of Desire… Objectivity… but Objectified felt the most fitting for the show, since I am in a sense literally being objectified, and it’s PROVOCATIVE. There’s absolutely nothing about sexual objectification in the show though, it’s just a person pretending to be objects – pure and simple. 

Tell us all about your show!

It’s an absurd character comedy show where I bring to life a variety of everyday objects – by which I mean, if they were people, what would they be like? I’m asking the big questions – will a regularly discarded e-scooter ever be loved? Can anyone resist the appeal of a slutty little airpod? What’s a wine bottle hiding? And much more… It’s good natured, silly, and I hope might inspire people to look at the world around them a little differently. 

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

So many!! Lorna Rose Treen, another brilliant, silly character comedian. Adam Flood, the most famous fringe at the Fringe, Simon David with the ultimate Dead Dad Show, Lachlan Werner ventriloqist extraordinaire, sick fuck Patti Harrison, Mawaan’s new music, Siblings and their mixed bill. There’s some real mad, phenomenal shows happening this summer. 

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. 

Yes, several times as part of duo Horseplay. God, so much… eat some vegetables, don’t get too drunk every night, celebrate your fellow performers and check in on them – everyone struggles at points and even people who seem like they’re killing it on the surface will be finding it difficult, try and take a day out to the beach/hills/other side of the railway, flyer, pack some jumpers.

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

‘STEM is the jobs where women are underrepresented – mechanics, electricians, TV producers and serial killers.’ Most of my material is character-based and only makes sense if a white vest is saying it in a Scottish accent (for example) so one liners that make sense on paper are few and far between… I’m quite proud of that one. 

What have been some of the most unique and different comedy shows you have seen this year and why?

There’s a ton of amazing alternative comedy out there at the moment that blurs the lines with clowning and cabaret. A couple of recent favourites are Julia Masli’s show Choosh! – an amazing inventive and playful clowning show – and Trash Salad, a sexy, asburd hour of salacious salad. You’ve got to see it for it to make sense, which is half the fun. 

Talk us through your daily routine for a day at the Fringe

Lie in, feel a bit bad about lie in, food, think about flyering, muster energy to go flyering, flyer, stop flyering and feel like you should have done more flyering, rush to a friend’s show, feel proud after friend’s show, think about if you should make some content, frantic last minute flyering, eat, head to venue and warm up/get ready/do get in/worry about audience size all at once, do show, drink to celebrate/drown sorrows (delete as appropriate), see another friends show, bump into more friends and have pints in a lovely beer garden, probably have too many pints, repeat. 

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

It’s a wild roller coaster ride – you’ll have days where you feel like the most amazing creative genius, super inspired and surrounded by talented people. And then you’ll have days where you feel like an imposter, doing worse than everyone else, wondering why the hell you’ve spent so much money to put yourself through this. It’s hard, but the best way to have fun is to try and rid yourself of the scarcity mindset – other people’s success is not at your expense.

Make time to hang out with people who energise you, be honest about how you’re feeling and how your show is going with other people – I guarantee they’ll be feeling the same. And try to take time out – physically and mentally, whether that’s heading to the beach, watching some trashy TV, calling a friend back home who has absolutely no idea what the Fringe is and doesn’t want to hear the ins and outs. The good times will be good, and the bad times will make excellent anecdotes to tell at dinner parties. And if you mean how to have fun as an audience member, just go and see as many shows as you possibly!

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

There’s nothing better for your development as a performer than getting to do the same show every day for a month to different audiences – you’ll find things you didn’t know were there, you’ll get so comfortable with the material and with responding to whatever’s thrown at you – small audiences, stag dos, babies, people asleep, power cuts… whatever it might be. You’ll get to meet so many likeminded and inspiringly creative people. It’s magic. 

 The most challenging thing about performing at the fringe?

Comparing yourself to others – the set up with awards and reviews makes it very easy. Everyone does it, the best way around it is to make friends with as many performers as possible, community is everything. Then you get to hear their shit bits and all have a moan together and everyone feels a bit more human. 

What would be your top three items every performer must take to the fringe?

Disposable camera, vitamin c fizzy things, JUMPERS. 

What’s the secret to successful flyering? 

Be friendly and high energy, nail an interesting one sentence pitch and get that out your mouth before people say no, try not to take it personally when people ignore you or drop your flyer before they leave your field of vision. 

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

Well ideally I’d have more than one, but someone who’s down to get on board with the silliness from the start, who’s there to have a good time and who is generally stunning, gorgeous and cool as I find most of my audiences are. 

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

@kathykathymm on Insta and Tiktok (please look at the content I’m throwing at the algorithm) and @kathyaqm on Twitter

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

Silly little objects