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!

Gracie and the Start of the End of the World (Again)

Location:  Assembly Roxy – OUtside (Venue 139)

Dates: Jul 31st Aug 1st-12th, 14th-19th, 21st-26th

Time: 14:10

Price: £12.00 Concessions £11.00

Ticket Link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/gracie-and-the-start-of-the-end-of-the-world-again

Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

Hi! I’m Gracie, and I’m a jellyfish. I know, I know, you don’t expect us to be romantic heroines, but the whole ‘glugging about like a big plastic bag’ stereotype is outdated and you should check your assumptions. You don’t expect us to know about pop culture, but what can I say? I like to read.

My main wing-women are producer Louise Oliver and writer-performer Zoë Bullock, and they’re helping me come to the Fringe so I can meet new people and share my (pretty incredible, if I do say so myself) story with the world.

Tell us all about your show!

Ooh, good question. I guess you could call it an apocalyptic love story with lashings of marine biology, eco-activism, and my small ginormous obsession with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Basically I leave my jellyfish Bloom (which in case you don’t know much about jellyfish, is Simply Not Done) and embark on a dating odyssey across the high seas. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t go well. Invertebrates are terrible conversationalists.

The rest is… Let’s just say things go from 0-100 in pretty short order. If you’re into any combo of romance, climate activism, nerd culture, jellyfish facts, the end of the world, the power of hope, the human capacity for both tremendous good and terrible evil, or #interspeciesdating, this is the show for you.

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

Well, you know how human empires are caught in a cycle of never-ending apocalypse and the total collapse of one civilisation is merely the beginning of the next? It’s kind of about that.

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

Where to begin! Human pop culture is literally my reason for existing, so I’ll be seeing anything with an edge of nerdery to it. I’m also super excited about Trygve Wakenshaw’s new show Silly Little Things, as well as Òran from Wonder Fools and Experiment Human by Hooky Productions. 

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. 

All my team have done the festival before, though I’m personally a fringe virgin. They tell me to love my show like the baby polyps I never had, but don’t tie it to my sense of self worth. The occasional tiny audience, no reviews (or bad reviews) are all part of the fringe experience, baby! 

And if you’re having a bad day, just pretend everyone around you is naked. 

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

My day starts bright and early (9am) with a few fresh anchovies and a glass of plankton-infused juice. Think of it like cucumber water but fishier. I’ll wake up slow, maybe do some admin work, which is tricky without opposable thumbs but I make it work.

As a Glasgow-based jelly, commuting is my jam, so you bet I’m squashed into that noon train to Waverley along with a thousand other cultural icons and everyone who was too late to book Edinburgh accommodation. Then it’s straight to the Mile to introduce my jelly-self to the good people of the Fringe.

At 2.55pm, it’s showtime! Then I’ll see some early evening shows before getting on that sweet sweet train back to where everything makes sense and I have to remember it’s no longer normal to talk to strangers in the street outside Queen Street Station.

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

Do see as many shows as you can!

Don’t forget to eat.

Do be open to seeing/doing the unexpected.

Do get out of Edinburgh if you have a day off! Portobello Beach, Loch Lomond, the Pentland Hills, even the Botanic Gardens if you’re strapped for time/transport. Fresh air and nature is good for the soul.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.

Do pretend everyone around you is naked.

Ok, where is your favourite place to eat at the Fringe? 

Let’s be honest, most of my Fringe sustenance comes from supermarket sandwiches and cheap coffee, but as a big seafood fan, if I’m feeling fancy I’ll stop by Bento on South Bridge for a lunchtime treat. 10 to 10 in Delhi is also an underrated gem in my opinion, and there’s always local chain Maki & Ramen if you’re nearer Waverley and need a soul-warming bowl of goodness.

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

The people, baby! The people are amazing. Where else can you meet a bunch of like-minded creatives from all over the world, in such a giant melting pot of new theatrical ideas. It’s even better than the time I went to Comic Con (and believe me, that was a whole thing – come see the show if you want to hear me spill the tea). 

Top tips for travelling around the Fringe and getting to shows on time?

Don’t. Over. Schedule. Sure, it might seem tempting to skip lunch and boost from Summerhall to the Traverse in T-5 minutes, but trust me, you’ll regret your choices when you find yourself hangrily sweating your tentacles off on North Bridge and trying not to accidentally push someone in front of a bus. Don’t. Over. Schedule.

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

Depends on whether you’re human or a jellyfish. For me? Warm salt water, dried anchovies, my translator. Humans? A reusable coffee cup, a pillow from home, hangover medication.

What’s the secret to successful flyering? 

Nail your one sentence pitch. Pretend everyone around you is naked. Be a jellyfish.

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

I’m on Insta @graciethejellyfish and Twitter @graciejellyfish. 

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

Funny. Sexy. Jellyfish.