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!

Jess Robinson: Your Song

Location:   Piccolo Tent – Assembly George Square Gardens (Venue 3)

Dates:  Jul 30th -10th, 12th-24th

Time: 18:05

Price: £15 Concessions £14

Ticket Link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/jess-robinson-your-song

Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

Hello! I’m Jess Robinson – comedian, singer, and impressionist. I’ve performed everywhere from The Last Leg to Dead Ringers, and from Vegas to the London Palladium and the Royal Albert Hall. I mix music, comedy and a whole host of impressions in my shows – and my latest one, Your Song: Elton Reimagined, is all about giving Elton John’s biggest hits a fabulous twist, reimagined through the voices of iconic women. It’s silly, joyful, a bit emotional – and just pure fun. Offstage, I’m usually in a voiceover booth (doing an array of characters for animations), hanging out with my stepson, eating cheese, or walking the dog along the seafront in Brighton.

Tell us all about your show!

Your Song: Elton Reimagined is Elton John as you’ve never heard him before – with his biggest hits performed in the voices of iconic women. Think Kate Bush doing Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Billie Holiday crooning Rocket Man, and Britney Spears belting Bennie and the Jets. It’s part comedy show, part gig, part glorious identity crisis.

I’m joined by my brilliant Musical Director (and carer / chaperone / therapist), Matthew Floyd Jones – West End composer and formerly one half of Frisky and Mannish. Together, we’ve created a show that’s silly, camp, a bit emotional, and full of surprises. You’ll laugh, you might cry, and you’ll definitely never hear I’m Still Standing the same way again.

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

I always love Jessica Fostekew – she’s consistently brilliant. Robin Morgan is doing about three shows this year, I think, so definitely catch him if you can – especially in the first week. And I’m really excited to see Trygve Wakenshaw’s new show. I saw his last one at the Soho Theatre and it was so funny and clever – I still think about it.

Other than that, one of my favourite things about the Fringe is stumbling across new acts. There’s nothing better than taking a chance on something and discovering someone amazing. I’m hoping to see loads of shows this year – I’ll be running from venue to venue like a happy, slightly overwhelmed meerkat.

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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. 

Yes – I’ve done the Fringe about seven or eight times now. My first full show was in 2013, and I’ve learned a lot since then… mostly the hard way! My key bits of advice – which I must actually try to follow myself – are: take your vitamins, try to get eight hours of sleep, hydrate, and eat your greens.

It’s easy to get caught up in the buzz and stay out every night, but if you want to keep your voice and your energy, pace yourself. Try to take a couple of days to get out of town – climb Arthur’s Seat or head down to Leith for a change of scene (and some air that doesn’t smell like tequila and flyering panic).

Mostly, just remember to pace yourself. The Fringe is a wild, wonderful, exhausting ride – it’ll feel like it never ends… and then it’ll be over in a flash.

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

My typical Fringe day? Well… I’ll probably wake up about an hour later than I meant to. If it’s not raining, I’ll have a coffee in the garden and pretend to be chill – then instantly reach for my phone and Google my show to see if there are any reviews. I promise myself I won’t… because I don’t care about reviews… except I do… but I know I shouldn’t.

Then I’ll usually go for a walk down the High Street where I’m staying, maybe hit the gym to shake off the adrenaline and get out of my head. I actually have a rule that I have to stop thinking about last night’s show at midday. Doesn’t matter if it was amazing or awful. I draw a line under it at midday. 

I’ll see who’s about, grab some lunch, catch a show or two…

Around 4:30 I’ll head across the Meadows to Assembly Gardens and my glamorous rabbit-hutch dressing room behind the Piccolo tent. I’ll have a Berocca, take my vitamins, warm up my voice and slap on my makeup while doing scales.

Then it’s showtime – hopefully followed by a standing ovation and a celebratory drink with Matthew. Around 9pm I’ll dash off to see some more other shows, get home by midnight, set my alarm for 9 a.m.… and an emergency one for 10, just in case.

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

I don’t know if it’s still there, but Olly Bongos is a winner. 

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

The best thing about performing at the Fringe is the buzz – nothing else feels quite like it. The energy, the chaos, the constant chatter about what people have seen and loved. You’re part of this mad, magical community where everyone’s creating and grafting and taking risks. It’s exhausting and emotional and sometimes overwhelming… but when you step out on stage and the room is full and ready to have fun with you – it’s electric.

Also – the late night crepes from that one stall. Life-changing.

What is the hardest part about performing at the Fringe?

The relentlessness of it! Performing every day, keeping your energy up, doing extra gigs to promote your show, trying not to obsess over ticket sales or reviews – it’s a lot. You’re constantly ‘on’, and it can be hard to remember you’re a human being and not just a show-machine.

Also, the emotional rollercoaster – one day you feel like Judi Dench, the next you feel like you’re shouting into a bin. But that’s part of the magic too, in a weird, slightly masochistic way.

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

Yes – and please don’t hate me – I’m taking a candle and a fluffy blanket to make my room smell and feel cosy. I’ve fully embraced my inner granny. I also bring all my good skincare (Fringe skin is no joke) and my gazillions of supplements. Collagen is key in your 40s!

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

Stay with my cousin and eat all her food.

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

1. Your costumes – because doing a whole run in one sweaty outfit is a crime against humanity.
   
2. Your props – or at least the ones you haven’t left in a bar or loaned to another act “just for one night.”
   
3. Your musical director – ideally one who’s also a therapist, friend and tech wizard. I’m lucky – I’ve got Matthew Floyd Jones. He does all of the above… and makes a mean cup of tea.

what’s the secret to successful flyering? 

Pay someone else to do it.

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

You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube – I’m @JessRobinsonOfficial on all of them. And if you want to check out show dates, videos or just stalk me in a more organised fashion, my website is jessrobinson.co.uk.

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

Because Elton’s iconic.

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