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!

Courtney Buchner: Big, If True

Location:   Bothie – Gilded Balloon Patter House (Venue 24)

Dates:  Jul 30th -10th, 12th-17th, 19th-24th

Time: 17:20

Price: £11 Concessions £10

Ticket Link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/courtney-buchner-i-wrote-this-show-last-night

Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

Hello! I am Courtney Buchner, I’m a South African born, British-bred comedian, writer, actor and content creator. The love of my life is my cat, Bailey (my fiancée does know this) and for the last four years I have eaten a peanut butter and marmite bagel for breakfast…

Tell us all about your show!

My show has been on a bit of a journey! After starting stand up officially in June 2024, I decided I’d take my first ever show/WIP to Fringe 2024. It was a wild decision but it was the best decision! “I Wrote this Show Last Night” was a pick your own adventure where the audience would hear four stories every evening and vote off their least favourite leaving me to replace it for the next night. It was such a great way to trial material and to get a real sense of the type of stories I wanted to tell.

This year, I originally thought I’d bring the show back but after a few rehearsals I realised just how much I’ve changed as a comedian so I’m coming back with a new show looking at some of the stories I told last year through the lens of honesty vs comedy. There will still be the element of audience choice within the show just like last year’s show because I absolutely love the tension between audience control and performer control!

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

Obviously, a huge highlight of Fringe is seeing “Stamptown” and the madness it brings and whatever stunts Dylan Brand pulls. I cannot wait to see Sophia Garrad’s “Poor Little Rich Girl.” She is absolutely sensational and keeps me in stitches both in her online content and her stand-up. I’m really excited to see Elf Lyons do her bird trilogy! Chris Hall is bringing a WIP up and last year I just adored “Girl for All Seasons.” I can’t wait to catch Sam Nicoresti “Baby Doomer” too! 

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. 

I bought a show to the Fringe last year and it was a bit of an unexpected journey because I only applied in July which meant I didn’t have much time to overthink anything or set high expectations and honestly, it was the best thing! Everything exceeded what I had imagined and I felt incredibly lucky. I ended the month with a sold out month run, a few four star reviews and I was interviewed on BBC Live which absolutely made my mom’s day because my photo was next to Michelle Obama…

I think the reason I adored it last year was because I had been given the advice to be open to what the festival was outside of my hour show. I got to watch so many other performers and it really allowed me to not only appreciate and be inspired by other voices but also refine my own.

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

Last year, I was training for a half marathon and this year I’ll be training for a marathon so I’ll be having to schedule in a few long runs and I genuinely think having to get out and about last year kept me sane. 

I’d usually wake up, eat my peanut butter/marmite bagel while watching an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Charmed (I was in a phase). I’d then go on a run or call my girlfriend to catch up and see how the cat was doing (very important)! I’d then head into town to flyer or catch a show.

Flyering was wild! In the rain! In the sun! I loved doing my own flyering and getting to flyer people and then see them walk into that theatre that day. However, I felt really lucky when I could start to flyer a little less and when I could take a little break from flyering I actually found myself on the Hop on Hop off Edinburgh bus which felt really surreal amongst the festival. 

I’d then head home, have some dinner, do a little warm up and head to my venue as I had an 8:45pm show. I’d smash a berocca, a bowl of porridge or some form of fruit juice (at one stage I had those weird baby fruit pouches because I was seriously concerned I was lacking nutrients).

After that it was either off to bed to get sleep or out to catch a show and see some friends before beginning the day again! It’s like Groundhog day sometimes! 

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

Ohhh! I love this question! My favourite place to eat was this food truck on Bristo Square (which I called Bistro Square the whole month and no-one said anything). There was a truck there that served rice bowls and I ate there so often I am embarrassed to admit it. At the end of the month I actually got into the truck, popped on some gloves and served some of the meals.  

I love to end the night with a hot chocolate and I loved Union which was a cafe/cocktail bar. Everyone was sipping their cocktails at 10pm and I was starting the night with a hot chocolate.

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

The best thing about performing at Fringe is the amount of other performers you get to meet and be inspired by! Of course, performing every day is amazing and I loved getting to connect with audiences and to perform and show them something I was proud of but honestly it was just as amazing watching others!

I think towards the end something I really enjoyed was just the feeling of camaraderie with the people you meet, whether that’s your venue family or people who you meet at the bar or at shows. There’s this real sense that you’re in it together and no-one understands why you’re crying over a fruit smoothie like the people who are going through it with you. 

What is the hardest part about performing at the Fringe?

The Groundhog Day of the Fringe was the hardest thing for me! Most days I’d wake up and wonder if anyone would come to the show that evening. Then I’d stress all day and then in the evening feel really lucky when I had lovely audiences. Then I’d wake up the next day and it would all begin again. On the flip side of that is the beauty that nothing stays (positive or negative) forever and that you go again tomorrow!

Do you bring anything special from home to make it feel more special whilst you are away?

I nearly bought my cat with me! I always bring an eye mask and ear plugs just in case but I always carry a stone with me that I’ve carried around with me for years. I also bought magnesium spray (it’s supposedly good to spray on your feet for sleep but honestly I think it’s water and I’m just rubbing my feet together).

What are your best hacks to save money whilst at the Fringe?

Meal. Prep. And give yourself time to cook because it took me so long to prioritise properly cooking but once I did I felt ten times better!

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

Completely dependent but for me…contact lenses cause otherwise I can’t see. In general a power bank, something comforting from home and a phone (so you can facetime people not at Fringe and remind yourself that there is a world outside).

what’s the secret to successful flyering? 

For me, I found the secret to flyer was actually asking people “Do you mind if I give you this flyer and tell you about my show.” Honestly, every time I asked before just going straight in it was just such a nicer interaction and if people said “oh actually we have plans etc” then it didn’t feel like I was just completely ignored. 

I did have a wild time flyering. I decided to do a comedy sketch about flyering and how often at the Fringe you get people online talking about how tough it is etc etc. So I went to TikTok and I created this sketch where I said “I cannot do this anymore. I cannot go out there and flyer one more day…”

It was day 2 of the Fringe. 

I posted it and thought nothing of it but then the next day my friend sent me an article written about me and it was titled “Edinburgh performer cries “I can’t do this” after selling just five tickets flyering.” They then attached the photo below with the caption “She said she just can’t do it anymore.” It was the first thing ever written about me as a comedian…I think maybe my acting was just super subtle?

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

Oh! You can follow me on courtneybcomedy on instagram and courtneybuchner on tiktok! 

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

Unique. Shocking. Unpredictable. 

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