t 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!

Duck

Location:  Pleasance Courtyard – Beneath (Venue 33)

Dates: Jul 31st Aug 1st-11th, 13th-18th, 20th-26th

Time: 15:40

Price: £16.00 Concessions £15.00

Ticket Link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/duck

Hello! Tell us about yourself?

Hi there! I’m maatin, writer and producer of Duck. I write across theatre, radio, television, and film, with a focus on telling stories that centre Muslimness, for all its breadth, range, and multitudes. My biggest hope is to contribute to the increased participation of Muslims in all areas of the creative process.

Tell us all about your show!

Duck is a one-person show about a fifteen-year-old called Ismail – the star cricketer in his posh London school. It follows him through the summer of 2005 as plenty of stuff goes on in his life and in the world around him, such as England’s memorable Ashes series win and the 7/7 London bombings.

Ismail is a British south Asian, Muslim teenager who’s yet to realise what it means to be brown in the world he occupies. He’s top of the heap with a lot of privilege and a seemingly easy life, before things go wrong for him both on and off the pitch, at which point his identity starts to come into focus, and his love for cricket wanes for the first time.

Duck is my very first full-length play to make it to the stage and has returned each summer for the past three years, now making its Fringe debut ahead of a national tour next year.

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

Great question! Duck refers to the cricket score of zero runs (which is pretty much the worst thing that can happen to a batsman), so that gives a hint at how Ismail’s time in his new team may go (a very minor spoiler, I promise!) The title is also a reference to the duck pond where we meet Ismail at the top of the play, a very important and significant location, as well as the ducks who become a source of comfort to him at a difficult time.

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

I plan on doing my first Fringe properly by seeing as many things as I can cram in! I will consciously do my best to seek out and support other minoritised artists, and as someone who loves stand up and comedy, I will not find myself short of incredible options.

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. And if you haven’t, how are you gearing up for it? 

This is my very first time, both as a creative and a punter! So I’m thrilled to be finally out of excuses not to go, and can’t wait to get into the whole vibe and energy of it. Having heard from so many others what a unique thing it is, it’ll be great to experience for myself. I’ll certainly get some advice from Fringe veterans about the best way to tackle the beast.

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

I used to work in marketing, so I should be good at being pithy, but it’s hard! Here goes… Duck is: Touching, energetic, & joyful.