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!

The Quality of Mercy: Concerning the Life and Crimes of Dr Harold Frederick Shipman

Location:   theSpace @ Surgeons Hall – Grand Theatre (Venue 53)

Dates: Aug 4th-12th, 14th-26th

Time: 17:35

Price: £15 Concessions £12

Ticket Link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/quality-of-mercy-concerning-the-life-and-crimes-of-dr-harold-frederick-shipman

Hello! Tell us about yourself?

 My name’s Edwin Flay, I’m the writer and actor of the one-man show The Quality Of Mercy, and I live in Brighton.

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

I stole it from Shakespeare! Seriously, the play’s about Harold Shipman so the title reflects on the themes it touches – mercy in terms of euthanasia (voluntary and otherwise), mercy vs mercilessness, mercy in the sense of criminal justice, amongst others.

Tell us all about your show!

The play imagines the last night of Harold Shipman’s life: he is recording a tape as a rebuttal of everything said about him in the Smith Report and the tabloids as he prepares to commit suicide. I was a patient of Shipman’s when I was very young, and my grandmother was one of his victims, so I felt that if anyone was in a position to examine his monstrous legacy, it was me. It’s not exactly a laugh-a minute, but it’s not as dark as it sounds.

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

Sooz Kempner, definitely; The Ghost of a Smile, which is being performed by a friend of mine, and Can’t Wait To Leave, both at The Space; there must be loads more, but I’ve not had a chance to search too much yet.

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. 

The last time I did the Fringe, I broke a tooth two weeks in. Best advice I have for anyone so far is “don’t do that.” Best advice I have been given is “pace yourself, have a healthy routine and don’t get actively pissed – you never know when an important meeting or encounter may spring up.”

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

I saw The Importance Of Being Earnest As Performed By Three F****** Queens And A Duck at the Brighton Fringe, and that was a lot of fun – fast-paced, filthy, raucous and anarchic. I’ve not caught as much live entertainment as I’d like this year, unfortunately.

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

At a guess: – wake up, doze off, wake up, groan, tea, dress, go climbing, go home, shower, lunch, flyer, help with taking down a set, stick beard on, pull beard off, stick beard on better, do show, pull beard off, drink, another drink, try and eat something, catch a show, drink, sleep.

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

Wake up, doze off, wake up, etc.

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

Couldn’t tell you – not done it in 26 years. Very excited to do it again this time, I may even get the hang of it. 

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

Comfortable shoes, Berocca, the readiness to find a quiet space and decompress every now and then.

What’s the secret to successful flyering? 

When I was there last, I was part of a platoon of eight soldiers. We staged an elaborate fight scene on the Royal Mile each day, had uniforms, were very eye-catching. So that definitely worked.

Now there’s just one of me, so I’ll be relying on looking like Britain’s most prolific serial killer to draw attention….

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

One who doesn’t laugh inappropriately when I re-enact my own grandmother’s murder.

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

www.edwinflay.com, Twitter handles are @nailedcreates for the show, and my personal one is @EdwinFlay – though that’s mostly political shitposting, tbh.

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

To be chilled.