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 find out about the show The Marvellous Snake Boy

Date: 31st July, 1st August
Time: 18:30
Price: £10 Concession: £5
Location: Camden Comedy Club
Ticket Link:  https://camdenfringe.com/events/the-marvellous-snake-boy/

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

Once I had decided that I would be doing an entire hour show as my character ’Snake Boy’, it made sense to name the show after him. Early drafts of the narrative of the show had Snake Boy as a performer at a circus and so the adjective ‘marvellous’ felt like it evoked that sense of grandeur.  

Tell us a little bit about your style of show?

It is a highly interactive clowning show. I try very hard to create a welcoming space that makes people feel comfortable with interacting with me and each other. The sim is to remove the boundaries that make audience members terrified to sit in the front row of a comedy show. 

What will your set be about?

I play the titular snake boy, who starts the show unable to walk or talk and with little to no understanding of the modern world. Throughout the course of the hour, a story emerges of snake boy maturing, learning about love and discovering who he is, all with the assistance of the audience. The audience truly has an opportunity to shape snake boy and who he becomes. 

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

I’m a big fan of the Defective Inspector shows, which are performing their shows later in August.  

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

I have not done the Camden Fringe before. Most of my fringe experience has occurred in Australia where I have done the Sydney, Adelaide and Perth fringes multiple times. In 2017, I toured a show that I have always held a fondness for, called “PeaceByPeace: The Rise and Fall”. It was a show about a fictional Australian teen pop band from the 90s. It was a lot of fun to devise and even more fun to perform as fame-obsessed 12-year olds. I have also enjoyed everytime that I have had the pleasure to perform snake boy because the show is so dynamic and different with every new audience. 

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

I don’t have much advice to give other than to just jump in and do it. The best way to write a show is to just book a show and hope that everything gets written in time. 

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

It’s great to be able to perform in one of the city’s main cultural hearts. The people of Camden want to laugh! And wear cool clothes. 

London can be an expensive place to perform in – what key advice would you give to performers that is sort of a life hack?

Be born rich. Do dumb dances on tiktok. 

What are your three favourite things about Camden? 

It reminds me of my home back in Newtown, Sydney. 

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

I adore weird Al Yankovic, and he was one of my greatest comedic inspirations growing up. I just love how unapologetically silly he is. I also do a character in a different show called “normal Al Yankovic” and it is a personal goal for normal Al to meet his inspiration. 

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

Percy just seems like a nice name for any pigeon but I feel like it evokes someone trying very hard to not be silly but just ends up looking sillier for it. 

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

Check out my website alexanderrichmond.com.au or follow me on instagram at @lex_richmond

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

Teach arms, legs