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 Leighton, Michalle and Greg about their show Greggg’s Bakery of Neuro Divergent Treats

Date: 5th &13th August
Time: 17:30
Price: £10
Location: Museum Of Comedy
Ticket Link:  https://camdenfringe.com/events/gregggs-bakery-of-neuro-divergent-treats/

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

So we were all talking after a show and Leighton suggested to Greg to make it a pun on his name with Gregg’s bakery because it’s funny. And we wanted to represent Leighton’s neuro divergency as well – so together we came up with Greggg’s Bakery of Neuro Divergent Treats. Three Gs at the end of Greggg’s because there is three of us. And we went with Treats as it represents what all three of us bring to the stage – a nice mix of acts and styles.

Tells us a little bit about your style of show?

It will be stand-up comedy first and foremost, but some acts will have multi-media aspects. Greg is very engaging and likable with a great stage presence. He’s a silly story-teller and talks about Canada too much! Leighton is a bit more of a scripted comic but very quick on his feet. His rapid style endears him to the audience and entices the laughs! Michalle is a worldly and charming comedian who’s very likeable and relatable. She tells real-life stories in a hilarious way!

What will your set be about?

Leighton: my set will be quick autism awareness jokes at the top followed by funny anecdotes and stories about my life and my family, with the occasional, short joke or one liners.

Michalle: my set will be a lot about dating and daily-life. The prime middle-aged female experiences.

Greg: my set will be fish-out-of-water stories of a Canadian code-switching into UK life. Along with mental health awareness and dumb jokes about food.

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

It would be great to see some of our friends: Martin Graham, Roman Harris, Phil Green, Paul F Taylor, Kate-Lois Elliott, Jessica Aszkenasy, Sarah Roberts, Nick Elleray, Katie Price, Jacob Hawley to name a few. And Greg has another show at the Fringe which is more sketch/variety based.

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

No this is all our debut and we’re very excited! Leighton: Because of my learning behaviour difficulties it’s taken me a long time to get to this stage and I’m very excited and grateful to have this opportunity. I enjoyed watching Roman Harris and Thomasin Lockwood last year, two very talented comics. Greg: I watched Estefanía Baha’s show last year and it was a treat!

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

Just make sure you’re experienced at what you do and you can get a really strong set together if you’re a comic, also make sure the venue you choose is right for you.

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

We think it’s a great starting point to create a unique show. And a good proving-ground and preparation for longer sets in other future festivals. Also it’s a good way to support and connect with London venues.

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

Look after yourself and your mental health and try not to burn yourself out because it can be a difficult ride. Try and get generational-wealth, it makes London a very easy and accesible city. Save your McDonalds receipt and fill out the online survey to get a very cheap meal in the future. Don’t buy drinks at every single gig.

What are your three favourite things about Camden?

The atmosphere, the people (punks are people too), the restaurants/pubs.

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

Leighton: I actually struggle with one liners because of my autism, I make them too wordy. Here’s one I do like I’ve done: I’ve had all sorts of jobs in my time, I used to work as a lawn mower but I quit that job, I got fed up of being pushed around all day.

Greg: I’m not a traditional one-liner comic as I build my set off of my likeability and delivery. But I’ve had this joke in my arsenal for a while: I used to play a lot of LEGO growing up… if you don’t know LEGO is a Danish word that means ‘Many bricks, no friends’.

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

Leighton: I think Michael McIntyre, someone like that who has great people skills and I looked up to before starting comedy.

Michalle: Jerry Seinfeld, I used to watch all his standup and show all the time when I was growing up.

Greg: Probably Conan O’Brien with a time machine. So he can come watch me and fall in love with my comedy like the teenage version of me did with him. And then he can take me back in time and give me a job on his show.

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?

Obviously Gregggs! Because that’s what it mostly eats (and helps promote our show).

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

@leights92 @this_is_me_challe @GregHoustonComedy or www.greghoustoncomedy.com

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

It is awesome.