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!
Aarian Mehrabani: How’s Your Head?
Location: Underbelly, George Square – Bluebell (Venue 300)
Dates: Aug 5th-17th, 19th-31st
Time: Various Check the dates
Price: £13 Concessions £12
Ticket Link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/aarian-mehrabani-how-s-your-head
Hello! Tell us all about your show!
I’m a triple threat, Blind, Brown and Bisexual. Which some might argue is more than enough material for a debut Edinburgh Stand up Hour. However in 2024 I was hit with a very aggressive and life threatening brain cancer…I don’t think the universe could be any less subtle in telling me to do an Edinburgh show.Previously
Previously I’m a writer and actor. Mainly with my theatre company FlawBored. And I co-wrote a show which I also Acted in called “It’s a MotherF****** Pleasure”. We brought it to the fringe in 2023 after winning the untapped award, and the show sold out. We then went all over the world. However in 2024, when I was hit with brain cancer and the high likelihood of dying. My ego kicked in. If I died, no one would remember my work with FlawBored, because I was one in a company. And if I died, the rest of them would go on to have careers, and my existence would be totally forgotten. I had so much I wanted to say, and quite frankly it was of no interest to me if anyone wanted to hear it. But I promised myself in hospital, that if I made it through this, I was going to make an hour long stand up show and perform it every day at Edinburgh.
Which is exactly what I’m doing!
What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe?
My favourite part of the fringe is being recommended a show, and discovering a new favourite act, theatre maker, actor or company. Or hopping on the app because I have an hour to kill and seeing what’s starting near me. (Just to be clear, I mean the Fringe app…not grindr) So I’m most looking forward to the shows that I don’t know about yet. However, I do have some very talented friends who are taking their own shows up or will be performing in shows, which I will 100% catch.
Some highlights are:
My hilarious friend Rob is in 2 shows by “Maybe you like it”, “Whatever happened to that guy” and “Down to Chance”
Rosie Wood, who I think is one of the funniest acts on the circuit, is taking a double bill up called “Wood and Crook: Wooden Crook.”
And my fabulously talented friend Elliott Wooster will be performing in the new family musical “Apparently Ugly.”
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 came up in 2023 with my theatre company “FlawBored”, and our show “It’s a MotherF******* Pleasure” which I co-wrote and act in. We were winners of the Untapped award and had a sell out run. As well as being named one of The Stage newspaper’s “Fringe Five: Five artists who smashed the fringe”. But this is my first time going up completely on my own. With out a company around me, with a show which is a completely unknown entity…so I’m very scared.
But I remember having a drink during the 2023 Fringe with Nic (Who was the head of theatre at the Pleasance). And he told me that I should under no circumstances have sex in my flat at Edinburgh, if I am sharing it with collaborators. Because even if they are friends, I shouldn’t risk damaging any professional relationships. Which is a very good piece of advice.… just to mention that this year I will not be sharing a flat with collaborators…
Talk us through your daily routine for a day at the Fringe
In 2023 I really got into a routine which I think was the only thing that kept me sane, so here’s what I’m thinking for this year:
– Wake up and walk to the gym, via Starbucks (I need my Starbucks in the Morning)
– After the gym I’ll go back to the Starbucks near Bristo Square and handle any emails or admin stuff I need to do
– If there are any shows I want to see before my show I will go along to those
– Spend a few hours flyering for my show
– Then I’ll walk into the dressing room, probably with another Starbucks, and get ready.
I’ll do my good old fashioned vocal warm up with articulation exercises and tongue twisters. Partly because I trained as an actor and find them very useful. But largely because I have OCD and if I don’t get through my tongue twisters in a particular order, I go into meltdown.
– At 4:45 I’ll perform my show to a sold out room full of people who love me…
– Then after my show I’ll go see other peoples shows, go for a drink with other artists,maybe do a bit more flyering, and hopefully a compilation show or 2.
– Then I’ll head home and do it all over again
As you may have gathered, I’m the sort of person who needs to get into a routine. And I stick to it like Jack stuck to that door at the end of Titanic.
Ok, where is your favourite place to eat at the Fringe?
In 2023 I almost exclusively ate at the awesome food stands. Particular faves were a super Mario themed pizza stand in Bristo Square. A hot dog place outside George Square (Which is right outside where I’ll be performing so perfect for a pre show bite).
As well as a couple of variations of mac and cheese from 1 place outside Bristo Square and another outside George Square. Fingers crossed they are all still there, in particular the Mario themed pizza stand, as I fear they may have infringed some form of Nintendo copyright (Please note this is not an accusation and I am not suggesting any wrong doing, so please don’t sue me).
Best thing about performing at the fringe?
I mean truthfully it’s one of the greatest experiences you can have as an artist. Whilst it’s exhausting, it’s incredible. You get to see so many incredible shows and meet so many incredible artists who are all concentrated in one city, going through the same experience, for one bat sh*t month.
Do you bring anything special from home to make it feel more special whilst you are away?
In 2021 I was doing a show where I was away from my flat for a couple of months. So I bought a half sized guitar that now comes with me everywhere I go.
I’m also a singer/songwriter (“Aarian” on Spotify). And whilst my main instrument is piano, I couldn’t deal with not having an instrument in my room for a whole month.
So I bring my baby Taylor with me. Which means I can play and write in my room, when I need to give my brain a break and do something that feels totally different, but is still creative.
What are your best hacks to save money whilst at the Fringe?
I think my rule for casinos is appropriate here…go with me. I love casinos but before I walk through the door, I decide how much money I’m willing to spend (and lose). I make sure I walk in with the cash, so I never take money out in the casino. And once it’s gone, no matter how quickly. I go home. So for the fringe. Decide how much you are willing to spend for an incredible few days/week. Maybe fence it off in a separate Monzo pot (other banks are available) and just have fun. There’s so much freedom that comes with budgeting…right? Everyone enjoys budgeting?…I’m not weird, you’re weird!
If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?
You can find me on Instagram and Tiktok @aarian.m Or check out my website aarianmehrabani.com, where you can sign up to my mailing list.
And I’ve basically told you everywhere I’ll be every day in August. So I guess you can also find me in real life. Probably at Starbucks.
And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show?
Brown, Blind and Bisexual
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