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!

Tamar Broadbent: Plus One

Location: Laughing Horse @ The Counting House – The Ballroom (Venue 170)

Dates:  Aug 7th-24th

Time: 14:00

Price: Free

Ticket Link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/tamar-broadbent-plus-one

Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

I’m Tamar! I’m an award-winning songwriter, comedian, improviser and mother of a (at time of typing) 9-month-old babykins. I’ve been gigging around the UK for a decade, I worked at a US improv theatre called Boom Chicago and you might have heard me on BBC Radio 4’s The Now Show or Fresh From the Fringe or seen me on Comedy Central Online. Now I’m back at the Edinburgh Fringe with my sixth solo musical comedy show, this time all about pregnancy, new motherhood and a baby pumpkin. 

Tell us all about your show!

It’s a musical comedy about fertility tests, failed birth plans and the heroic feat of giving up wine for nine months! It features ten of my original songs, including ‘I Tried Hard to Breastfeed, But It Sucked,’ ‘Don’t You Wanna have a Natural Birth?!’ and ‘Alcohol, I’ll Never Take You For Granted Again!’ They are played live on piano and guitar (with one backing track) and I weave them into a funny, heartfelt tale about the journey to new motherhood. It’s the perfect show for parents, parents-to-be and those who never want to be parents and can delight in all they’re missing (like sciatica). 

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

Literally any musical comedy show. Maybe one serious play. And then anything things my baby can come and watch with me because I will miss her otherwise. 

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’ve done many fringes, and it’s going to make me sound like the mum I very much now am, but sleep!!! Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Stay healthy. If you’re up all night shouting over electro music then you may lose your voice and won’t be able to do a show. Also, you are in the middle of the biggest and best arts festival in the world.

There is no greater place to be. You’re going to get wet socks and weird heckles and it’s all just fine, because you did it – you’re here! (Is this advice or am I just saying this to myself as I load my car up with baby, husband, golden retriever and giant keyboard to begin the full-day pilgrimage North of the Wall?!) 

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

This fringe is going to be very different from my past fringes, as it is my first with a baby. At my last full run, I was up until 3am hosting Spank. This time around, I am fairly certain I will be in bed by 10pm (imagine?!) I am juggling being a mum and doing a fringe show, so no more ramming slot shows in the diary at the same speed as Sambucas in the Underbelly bar.

My days are going to be very calm and tame – coffee and baby cuddles in the morning. Off to do my 1pm lunchtime show, then a dog walk in the afternoon and if I’m feeling wild I might let my husband babysit whilst I go out to catch an evening show (like a flapper in the 20s!) At this point in my life, I actually can’t think of anything more dreamy. 

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

Ciao Roma is my favourite restaurant. 

Also, I’m a sucker for a hot dog. Vegan hot dog these days, because I’m scared of mystery sausages, but it’s always been mostly about the ketchup and mustard for me anyways. YUM.

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

Edinburgh Fringe has the best audiences in the world. They want something more than what you would see in a club comedy set. They want a story, they want to feel something as well as laugh, they take chances and they want to have fun. I can’t wait to be back performing for them again!

What is the hardest part about performing at the Fringe?

I would say, being away from home… but I have literally bought my entire home with me. Even my golden retriever. I’ve made my Tuesday-Thursday shows baby-friendly, so that mums (like me) who have U-12 month old babies, and who are normally stuck at home missing out on all the festival fun (because very few shows allow babes-in-arms), can come and watch my show, which hopefully features a lot of material they can relate to! It also means my baby can come too. 

Sadly, the dog must stay at home and not come to the show… So maybe that is the hardest part about performing at fringe. He will feel very left out.  

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

I bring a plastic fish that my director Clare Plested gave me for my first ever Edinburgh Show Almost Epic. She said, ‘any time you start to take things to seriously, just think about being slapped around the face with a fish.’ And then she gave me that real plastic fish. It has literally helped me every single time I have started to take things too seriously and not appreciate how special an experience Edinburgh should be. Highly recommend. 

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

Make a giant batch of chilli or bolognese and freeze like 10 portions. And… the biggest way to save money is of course… don’t drink. But what kind of a killjoy would I be if I suggested that?! So just… don’t BUY drinks. There you go. A tip and a challenge. 

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

Vegetables. (Although you can get these in Scotland. Probably.)
A book. (Escape when you need to.)
Waterproof shoes. (I could not be more serious about sensible footwear. And yes, I am fully a mum now.) 

what’s the secret to successful flyering? 

Be honest and authentic with people when you tell them about your show. If they like you, they might just come. And if they don’t, they weren’t going to like the show anyway. 

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

Visit my website at www.tamarbroadbent.com or find me on Instagram @TamarBroadbent . 

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

Female-led! Uplifting! Musical! 

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