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!

Sugar

Location:   Checkpoint – Assembly Checkpoint (Venue 332)

Dates:  Jul 30th -11th, 13th-17th, 19th-24th

Time: 16:20

Price: £13.50 Concessions £12.50

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

Hello! Tell us about yourself?

Howdy Sugababes – I’m Tomáš Kantor aka SUGAR aka the breakthrough prancing pop prince cracking cabaret open down under. I’m a genderqueer multidisciplinary multi-instrumental ‘star on the rise’ from Melbourne, enchanted with the voice of an angel (allegedly) and cursed with unholy bodyodyody (rippling abs and tight buns…? Come see for yourself!).

I’m GAY, except for when I’m a little bi, and I live to serve the girls, the gays, the theys, the tacky aunties, the juicy mommies, and of course, the daddies. My heritage is a European pick n mix – Italian, Czech, Serbian, and would you believe… SCOTTISH! Welcome home, me! Besides my two siblings, I’m an only child. My one true love is performing, but also, I love pasta. Protect the dolls!

Tell us all about your show!

SUGAR is an hour-long slick and sexy, camp and couture, pop-banger musical joyride following an undercover (and wildly overconfident) genderqueer twink sugarbaby (me…). My Julia Roberts ‘Pretty Woman’ playbook, however, quickly fails to unfold as the Pygmalion cult-classic foretold (go figure).

The scintillating scandal that ensues is a barely believable romp traversing romance, luxury, power, and SEX; as I, via my SUGAR alias, go balls to the wall (literally) to get what I’m owed. And all set to iconic gay bangers from your faves (Chappell Roan to Gaga, Kylie to Dula Peep, Charli to…Macklemore?!). I’m ecstatic, horny in fact, to be serving you this salacious sizzling snack of a confessional for my debut in Edinburgh. Abracadabra Daddies – SUGAR is on the loose, and you’ll see A LOT of me 😉 !

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

Look – it’s very clever and multifaceted. The show is called SUGAR. In the show, I am a SUGAR baby using the alias SUGAR to meet potential SUGAR daddies. Also, SUGAR is very sweet, very yummy, a tasty snack, just like me. And, SUGAR leaves you insatiable, just like people will be after they see the show and come back for seconds and thirds! Oh SUGAR, I’m running late to SUGAR round four! See you there SUGAR!

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

Very excited to catch my genius talented mates. For GENRE BENDING DRAG – the sublime crooning Jens Radda in ‘Skank Sinatra’ and the devilish raucous Iva Rosebud in ‘Bernie Deiter’s Club Kabarett.’ For musical foolery and hilarity, comedy duo ‘Mel and Sam’ are back in Edinburgh after smashing it last year with their new hit ‘The Platonic Human Centipede.’

I missed Hayley Edward’s lauded ‘S***bag’ in Melbourne so I’m dying to see it here. Love me some iconic drag, love me some innovative theatre, love me some big belly laughs, love me some Aussies abroad – flyer me some of that and I’ll be there!

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.

This is my Edinburgh Fringe debut, but I’m no virgin to the festival circuit. They say dance like no-ones watching, and sometimes, no one is! Have a good sense of humour and take it all in your stride, it’s about the journey, the ups, the downs, the surprise curveballs and how you field them. If one person is seated in that auditorium, give them the best damn hour they’ve ever had. And enjoy all the art around you, you’re at the global epicentre of circus, theatre, comedy, cabaret – meet people and expand your own craft and perspective. Soak it all up!

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

I will get up and go for a run or do some yoga or push ups or something physical. I WILL GODDAMNIT! I’ll steam the vocal folds and lip trill the morning away until someone tells me to shut up. I’ll drink a coffee and feel temporarily at peace. I’ll hand out flyers to stunning interested festival goers.

I’ll pick up my flyers on the floor around the corner and re-distribute. I’ll do my award-nominated show to screaming fans. I’ll catch as many other shows as I can, pinot grigio or noir in hand, mood depending. I’m staying with my darling friend who is an AMAZING cook so I’ll likely force them to feed me. Rinse, repeat!

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

Okay first you’re gonna wanna book a ticket to SUGAR. Then you might like to book another ticket to SUGAR with your friends who didn’t come last time but also need to have fun. Then you might decide your second-cousin-once-removed and estranged clairvoyant aunt need to see SUGAR, so you continue spreading the joy around. But seriously, stay sane with good people around you. See HEAPS but also pace yourself and eat food and stay hydrated and exercise and phone home and all those good things for the mental health back in the {real world}.

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

This is where I need your help!! Slide into my dm’s with the recs please. I love food. I’ll certainly be favouring a cheap eat, unless any daddies wanna get meta and shout me something lush for the full immersive SUGAR experience?!

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

I take a lot of pride in my work, and I’ve been very well attended and lauded back at home for my output. I think what’s so FAB about fringe is that it’s a massive equaliser – I’m back at square one, a humble little fish, no one knows me, and that’s terrifying and thrilling!

It means I have to win people over every night, perform at my best, leave it all on the stage, make my mark. It’s a privilege to be performing at this festival, in this venue, alongside this catalogue of artists – the line-up will never be the same, how special to be woven into this year’s tapestry!

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

Run, Forrest, run!

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

1. Headphones – create the vibe you need: Gaga for pump, Mitski to cry, Veronikas for missing home, the bald and the beautiful on commute, brown noise to sleep etc.
2. Lubricant (metaphorical and literal) – when you need a little something extra to slide in or out of a tight spot. Plus can squirt in the face of that drunk heckler in the second row.
3. Trust – you know what you do, you know who you are, you’ve done the work – now WERK diva!

what’s the secret to successful flyering?

A good three second pitch. Look good: colourful, memorable, happy (fake it). Don’t blow out your voice. Hire a blimp and drop millions of flyers over Edinburgh causing a disaster like the catastrophe of Cleveland, Ohio’s 1986 ‘Balloonfest.’

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

Instagram my loves – @tomkantor … drop me a dm, ask me anything, send me tips, let me know you’re coming and when. I’m so excited to meet you and share this story with you.

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

BUSSY WILL FLUTTER! or MY PERKY BUSSY!

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