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 Dick Denham about the show Big Dick Energy.

Date: 6th – 8th August
Time: 21:30
Price: £9 Concession: £7
Location: Aces and Eight
Ticket Link:  https://camdenfringe.com/events/dick-denham-big-dick-energy/

Hello! Tell us about yourself ? 

I’m Dick Denham, a queer, thirtysomething, Croydon-based comedian. I’ve been gigging for around six years, was runner-up in the LGBTQ+ New Act Competition last year, and this is my first solo show.  

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

My friend Simon David – the cabaret star extraordinaire – suggested it to me because he thought it sounded fun, like a party. Originally I was going to  name the show ‘Capybara’,  because I love capybaras, the world’s biggest rodents. But I don’t even have any material about them (they’re too perfect to make jokes about), so really that name wouldn’t have made any sense at all, and may have ended up in some capybara-enthusiasts being severely disappointed in their ticket purchase. 

Tells us a little bit about your style of show?

It’s me talking relentlessly about my queer self, and also sharing some thoughts and reflections on various aspects of lower-middle class British culture. I iconoclastically take on some of our society’s major institutions that nobody has bothered to take on before: Holland & Barrett, the People’s Postcode Lottery, those pubs that have the hand soap right next to the hand cream. No body or thing or nationwide chain is safe! 

What will your set be about?

Me, Holland & Barrett, the People’s Postcode Lottery, those pubs that have the hand soap right next to the hand cream, and me.   

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

Lots of great acts performing! My top picks would be Alfie Packham, Nikola McMurtie, and Dian Cathal.  

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

No, I was going to do it in 2020, but we all know what happened there! Whoopsie! 

I saw Gareth Edwards perform Jack Hoosie and the Leisure Groan back in 2021, and really enjoyed its celebration of queer northern culture and humour.  

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

Just do it bby you only live once!!  

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

For me personally, it’s great to be able to perform a run of my show in London, my adopted home city.  

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

I’m not sure there’s any advice I personally can give to make London any less expensive for anyone! I guess one thing I would say to people coming from outside London, is don’t get too hung up about staying or hanging out in central London. As a Croydonian myself, I can attest that there are places to stay, eat, and socialise in the city’s outer zones which are full of character, just a little bit easier on the wallet/mobile banking app, and are well-connected transport-wise too. 

What are your three favourite things about Camden?

As a country-bumpkin teenager from the Isle of Wight, I used to love coming to Camden Market when I was younger, I thought it was so exciting! For either my fifteenth or sixteenth birthday, I came up with my Mum, and she bought me a massive pair of Criminal Damage jeans that fully covered my skate shoes, as was the style at the time. 

I love Cecil Sharp House as well. I used to be a member of the London Gay Men’s Chorus, and that’s their main rehearsal space. It’s such a characterful building with some lovely artwork inside. 

I also love the former Carreras Cigarette Factory, it’s an art deco masterpiece that makes any bus journey past it more aesthetically-pleasing. 

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

A man holding his card at East Croydon tram stop asked me where he should tap, I said ideally on a hard-wood surface but I wasn’t sure if he was wearing the right shoes. 

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

Just anyone who is really up for it and has come to have a good time (but not too much of a good time! Please don’t start drunkenly singing along from the balcony seats when I close the show with my stunning rendition of I Will Always Love You) 

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?

Patience. I just think it’s a good, sturdy name that you don’t hear enough of anymore. Also all performers need patience to get where they’re going.  

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

@dickdenham_ on Instagram and Twitter  

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

For the Big. Dick. Energy