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 Steph Aritone about the show Excelf-esteem (Work in Progress).

Date: 6th & 7th August
Time: 17:00 / 18:30
Price: £5
Location: Aces and Eights
Ticket Link:  https://camdenfringe.com/events/excelf-esteem-work-in-progress/

 Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

I am a data analyst and standup comedian from London. Roast Battle UK second place 2023, & Finalist 2022 As seen on NextUp Access festival 2023,The Comedy Wine List Podcast (downloaded 10,000 times),Host of South Kensington Comedy Club & BeComedy UK

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

My love…NEED… of Excel spreadsheets and my therapist telling me I have low self-esteem – hence, Excelf-esteem

Tell us a little bit about your style of show?

It’s a multimedia (powerpoint and graphs…QR code to a poll, anyone?) show about the female mind, self-esteem and my need to control and track everything in a spreadsheet.

Like Monica from Friends but my apartment is excel.

What will your set be about?

Do you want to excel at self-esteem?

Comedian, data analyst and “I love Excel spreadsheets” mug owner Steph Aritone brings her 45 minute stand-up comedy show to Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Join other data curious (nosy) people and hear jokes on spreadsheets and real-life trends in Steph’s life data (food, booze, cigs, mental health score…and more… *wink wink wink)

Will Steph break… the formula for acheiveing high (ex)self-esteem? The answer is #N/A

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

Phil Green, Sam Williams, Tom Mayhew, Lew Fitz, Lez Misérables, Martin Graham, Lee Hudson, and Katie Norris

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

Haven’t yet but The Comedy in your Eye is a fun gug near there

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

Spread your show through word of mouth – everyone knows someone in london.

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

I’m from London and the comedy circuit here is very supportive

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

Shandy with the cheapest lager is your friend.

 What are your three favourite things about Camden?

I love the fancy dress shops/ Cyberdog and the comedy/ live music scene. I used to go to Camden every weekend as a teen and wore a Lisa Simpson t-shirt and stud belt I bought from there thinking I was soooo cool.

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

There’s a reason my mum is tough. She grew up in Poland with this childhood friend called ‘Era’. Full name, Communist Era…

 Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

An excel nerd who ‘gets it’ and their partner who is horrified. I want their partner to see that there is representation in the comedy community for us control freaks. We’re not all just happy go lucky creatives that find their voice by stumbling on it, some of us need strategy and plans of action. And graphs.

 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?

Paloma Skye – paloma means dove in Spanish apparently and is a cocktail so we could do Paloma Skye Camden Fringe cocktails. In the future… Yes I do like the odd alcoholic beverage. #drinkaware

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

Twitter: @ Stephiiito

Instagram: @ stephcomedywinelist

TikTok: @ thecomedywinelist

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

Nerding with spreadsheets