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!

Doktor Kaboom: Under Pressure!

Location:   Beyond at Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33)

Dates:  Jul 30th -5th, 7th-12th, 14th-24th

Time: 13:40

Price: £15.50 Concessions £13.50

Ticket Link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/doktor-kaboom-under-pressure

Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

Hi! I am a professional actor and comedian with almost 40 years’ experience performing full time around the globe. In 2004, my daughter was born, and I turned my focus towards performances for families. This has become both my passion and the most fulfilling work I have ever found. Or even imagined, really!

I am of British, German, and French descent, now living in the Pacific Northwest of the US. It is a place of absolutely stunning beauty and honestly lovely people.
This is my 4^th year performing at the Festival Fringe and the Pleasance Courtyard. In 2022 I came as a bucket list kind of thing, but was immediately hooked. It is the hardest but also the most joyful month of the year for me.

This year is especially exciting because my wife is also bringing a show to the Courtyard! Her new three-person play called “Fuselage”. It is quite moving and an absolute must-see. Bring a tissue, there will be tears.

Tell us all about your show!

I’m a comedian for the whole family, and have been touring worldwide for 17 years as Doktor Kaboom, a German scientist dedicated to sharing his joy for science, and empowering the children he encounters along the way. After the pandemic shutdowns I realized our children had been psychologically traumatized by the event, many of them rather deeply. Mental health issues are on the rise for children everywhere, but almost no one is talking about it. So, I am.

In this show I use the physics of pressure as a metaphor for the stresses and anxieties of life. Using character comedy and physics I demonstrate that if you feel it, it is real, and if ignored it can be devastating. Then I show them how to deal with it, and finally, how to turn it to their advantage.

My goals are twofold:
I strive to create lasting, joyful, memories shared by the entire family. Memories they can call back to for years to come and enjoy the moment all over again.

I hope to spark open conversations as the first step to discovering and dealing with personal stress.

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

SO MANY!  “Fuselage” of course. Also, Rhys Darby, Charlottesville, 1984,

…Earnest?, Stuart Goldsmith, Showstoppers, and all the street theatre I can catch.

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, this is my 4^th run at the Fringe.
Advice: Remember to breathe. Get away to the Botanical Gardens for some fresh air and greenery and if you’re lucky, a little quiet. Bring good walking shoes. A water bottle. Pack a lunch. See as many shows as you can and make friends with everyone you meet.

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

 I wake up in an everchanging multi-bedroom house filled with performers of all kinds from around the world. Coffee, morning munch, and a slow awakening as the children are prepped for their child care and the street performers head out to the daily draw. About 11 I’ll head to the Royal Mile for some flyering in character.

Around half noon I head to the Pleasance Courtyard and my dressing room. It’s a large locker room shared with multiple sub venues. More chances to get to know fellow performers and share stories. A quarter past one and the theatre (Beyond) is mine. The exceptional crew, plus my stage manager and I, rush to set the stage, the audience comes in at 13:30 and ten minutes later its showtime!

An hour after that I am both exhausted and enervated. After a bit of audience meet and greet following the show it’s time for lunch. I then set about seeing shows, fixing props, replacing show supplies, buying groceries, etc.

I get back to the “group home” sometime between 16:00 and the next morning, often ending the evening at The Jolly Judge, a pub the street performers have been gathering at for decades.

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

I’m a total foodie! Mother India’s Café is my go to for deliciousness no matter what I order. I’m not vegetarian but I do love great plant-based food, so David Bann’s or Vegan Soul when I need it. When it comes to meat, there’s a fantastic Turkish Grill I found on my last day last year. It’s called, Ada, on Leith Walk, and I will absolutely be hitting it several times this year.

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

Being in a magnificent city surrounded by exceptional artists from all over the planet! The vibe is thrilling, the audiences varied and intelligent, and the camaraderie is outstanding.

What is the hardest part about performing at the Fringe?

The grind. It is thrilling and exciting and a full-on exceptional experience, but it is hard, hard work. When you fail it is even harder. On days you succeed it still isn’t easy.

You have to hit the ground running the moment you arrive and keep going through the final show plus a little bit longer as you load out of your venue, clean your housing, and head back home or wherever is next. And then you have the letdown.

After weeks of full speed ahead you leave this joyously exhausting celebratory existence and quit it cold turkey. The whole experience is mentally, physically, and emotionally debilitating. And I honestly can’t wait!

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

  Ha, my wife and any friends we can coerce! In particular, one of my best mates, Andy Sharp. Andy is a lifelong friend, we roomed together in university, and he comes along as my stage manager and tech guru. I am blessed to have such a friend. He’s the kind of person we all want our kids to be. The kind of person that if I’m every feeling down on myself, I can remember that he loves me so I must be ok.

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

 Cook for yourself, pack a lunch, walk everywhere.

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

 Excellent walking shoes
 Informed expectations

 A sturdy daypack

what’s the secret to successful flyering? 

 Hiring flyerers. I’m in my 50s so trying to do it all on my own is much harder than it would have been 30 years ago. I’ve become a believer in hiring good people and paying them well. I also work with excellent UK producers, Suzanna Rosenthal and Charlotte Lund who always put together a superb team and really help me stay on track to get it all accomplished. I’m very lucky to have them on my side as they work with some exceptional talent, like Showstoppers!

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

 I’m on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, though I’m not always great at staying on top of them all. @DoktorKaboom is my tag for all of them.

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

Joy. Empowerment. Laughter.

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