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!
Gearóid Farrelly: No Pressure
Location: Studio Five at Assembly George Square Studios (Venue 17)
Dates: Aug 5th-17th, 19th-31st
Time: 19:20
Price: £13 Concessions £12
Ticket Link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/gear-id-farrelly-no-pressure
PRONOUNS: He / Him
TWITTER / X ACCOUNT: gearoidfarrelly but I don’t use it
INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT: @gearoidfarrelly
NAME OF SHOW: Gearoid FarrellyNo Pressure
SHOW LINK: https://assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/gearoid-farrelly-no-pressure
Hello! Tell us all about your show!
My show is called No Pressure — which is ironic because the entire thing is about moments in life where the pressure is absolutely astronomical and you just have to go “I’m not sure about this but OK!”.
Last year I became part of the first same sex couple on Dancing With The Stars in Ireland. Which sounds empowering and glamorous until you realise I’m an anxious man with no rhythm whose natural habitat is a pair of dungarees. I dance like a toddler wearing wearing shoes for the first time.
So suddenly I was expected to do the tango on national television while emotionally processing the fact that my cat — genuinely the love of my life — was getting very sick.
And grief over pets is such a strange thing because if you lose a parent people send flowers, but if you lose a cat some people react like you’re upset because your toaster died. Meanwhile this animal has seen me through every difficult moment I’ve had in the past nine years.
The show is basically about what happens when life forces you to step up before you feel ready — whether that’s dancing in sequins under studio lighting or trying to say goodbye to something you really love without completely losing your mind.
What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe?
I love Felicity Ward and I’m looking forward to seeing her show as we were both contestants on Dancing with the Stars in different countries. So I can’t wait to hear what she has to say about it. We were on at the same time in the same venue in Melbourne. So I’ve heard little bits of the show! I also love Will Owen. I saw his first show a few years ago and it was truly hilarious and he topped it last year. He’s also only baby.. I think he’s about 12. I think he’ll be huge.
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 one done the fringe many times. Forget about the fringe and just enjoy getting to do your show every day. If you don’t feel confident fake it. Give the audience a good time. Don’t read reviews, they’re none of your business. When the negativity or the bitching starts hit the ejector seat! It’s a long month so try and have the odd vegetable and try to get to bed at a reasonable hour at least once a week. Try to see some shows that are different to what you do.
Also don’t be afraid to tinker with the show. Nobody cares! It’s your show. Nobody is watching you as closely as you think they are so don’t be weirded out by the hoopla of the fringe. Just do your show the best you possibly can and make a concerted effort everyday to enjoy yourself. Make a decision about what you’re going to wear for the show so you don’t have to decide every day.
Talk us through your daily routine for a day at the Fringe
Get up about 10am, questions every life decision made up until now. Shower, think about doing some exercise but I’ve already showered. So I’ll do that tomorrow. Make something healthy for breakfast, realise I haven’t bought anything for breakfast. Get an uber to a supermarket buy a water bottle, ice cream and a probably a phone charger. I lose about two a week at the fringe. Start to walk home wondering why I’m hangry stop at a coffee shop get a croissant and a coffee because I’ve earned it from the walk.
Come home, bin the ice cream I’ve let melt. Watch seven episodes of Law and Order Special Victims Unit which is about truly horrible crimes. Wonder why the world is so awful. Cheer myself up with some cheesy pop. Look in my bag for my AirPods, throw out all of the flyers in my bag. Listen to some music on the AirPod that I can find. Realise it’s time to head into town to do my show. Panic. Run to catch the bus. Miss it. Get an uber. Have a lovely show and feel very relaxed. See pals for dinner. Decide to get up early tomorrow and go for a run. Go to bed and deliberately do not set alarm to get up for a run. For me the fringe is this exact day 28 times.
Ok, where is your favourite place to eat at the Fringe?
I love Storries pies on Leith walk… 24 hour pies baby. Maria’s Kitchen on London street is incredible. They have a rum baba and cannoli that are great for a day when you want a treat. There is also a really nice gelato stand beside assembly gardens with the most complex queuing system you will ever experience. It involves queuing twice and giving your name. It’s further complicated because I always say my name is John because Gearoid is too complicated to explain. Thankfully the ice cream is worth the complexities. I also love mosque kitchen and the outsider if someone else is paying.
Best thing about performing at the fringe?
It’s great to feel a new show getting really slick and polished. I also enjoy the camaraderie with the staff in assembly it’s a really fun place to perform. I love getting to do the show every day and find new bits in it. It’s a really comedy boot camp. I used to be very stressed in Edinburgh but now I like the show to be relaxed and fun and it’s nice to be in the same place for a month.
What are your best hacks to save money whilst at the Fringe?
Go to the supermarket. Make a meal plan. Food and drink is really expensive at the fringe and you end up paying for food with your friends anyway that could just as easily come over to your digs and have a take away. There are great takeaways in Edinburgh. Get the bus or bring a bike or a scooter. I’m doing that this year. Not gonna lie I fully expect to be killed off it.
If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?
I’m on instagram @gearoidfarrelly and me and some hackers use my Facebook page.
And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show?
It’s VERY funny!!!!
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