Noah Seltzer is a New York-based performer, clown, and theatre-maker whose work blends clown, movement, theatre, drag and live audience interaction into performances that are playful, vulnerable, and absurd. Noah has brought his first show, ‘Here Comes Almost’ to the Fringe. We spoke to Noah about the show, the creation of Almost as a character, and how he attempts to find the show’s funniest moments organically with each audience.

Can you tell us about ‘Here Comes Almost’?

‘Here Comes Almost’ is a clown show where the clown ‘Almost’ attempts to solve the pandemic of loneliness. At different points along the process of creating this piece, I tried to fit a thousand different ideas into it. But then I settled on this simple problem – something that felt personal and universal. What can I do about loneliness in my own life and in the modern world? In it, Almost tries a bunch of ridiculous and not so ridiculous ways to remedy this in real time. The beauty and hilarity of this show is the journey we go on together and the real possibility of resolving the problem of loneliness in the audience each night.

For those who might be unfamiliar with you, how would you describe your comedy and your approach to performance?

My comedy and approach to performance comes from trying to do something wholeheartedly and discovering, often to my (and the audience’s!) surprise, what happens along the way.

I may have an idea in my head that I think is funny, but often, the funniest moments aren’t planned; they emerge in the room with the audience.

That’s one of the things I love most about clown: it requires other people. Sometimes the funniest moments emerge from something I didn’t even know was funny. Then I become genuinely curious about why they’re laughing, and that curiosity makes them laugh even more. Clown shows are co-created with an audience. Even in the process of making material, I am constantly working things out in front of audiences. I love to be in this place where anything can happen, where I am riding an edge of success and failure each night.

Where did the character of Almost come from? What’s the significance of that name?

I was actually given the name ‘Almost’ by my first clown teacher, Chris Bayes. It was my first experience with clown, and one of the hardest things I’d ever done. We spent three weeks confronting all the ways we try to hide and control how we’re seen.

At the end of the workshop, we each stood onstage in front of our peers while Chris searched for our clown names. He would try different names, watching both the performer and the audience, until something clicked. In true clown fashion, the name wasn’t chosen so much as discovered together.

Most people received long, elaborate, ridiculous names. Mine was simply, ‘Almost’. It touched something tragic and hilarious in me, and over time I fell in love with it. The longing, the poetry, and the way it can also be heard as ‘All Most’. My clown often plays between these two poles.

What are your hopes for the show? What would constitute a successful Fringe for you?

I have two sets of goals. The first set are personal goals for myself as a performer. This will be my first Fringe and longest run of my show. I hope to grow and learn as a performer. Develop the show more and discover things about the piece and myself along the way.

I would love to have a decent sized audience each night (at least 10 people!). I also hope to connect with people. If audiences leave feeling a little more alive, a little more seen, or simply having shared a joyful and unexpected experience together, I’ll be very happy.

And then getting very good reviews and an opportunity to tour the show would be wonderful!

What are you most looking forward to, or perhaps dreading, about the Fringe?

I’m looking forward to performing a bunch and learning a lot through playing with a bunch of different audiences. I also can’t wait to see so many other wonderful shows, and meeting and connecting with a bunch of really great artists. And going out, staying up late, having fun, and exploring a really wonderful city.

I don’t have too much I’m dreading. Perhaps excessive flyering – though I think that could be fun too. I’m certainly dreading not having an audience – though a night off might not be the worst thing! And I suppose I’m dreading a flop I can’t recover from – though those tend to be great teachers – and I’ve already had some pretty spectacular flops in my performance career!

Maybe this answer is too positive… I think it’s the hopelessly optimistic clown in me!

Besides ‘Here Comes Almost’, can we expect to see you performing elsewhere during August; guest spots, compilation shows, etc?

I plan to be in a few other compilation nights. Still sorting that out!

Are there any other shows/ performers at the Fringe that you would recommend?

My friends Ethan and Gigi are performing their hilarious show ‘The Movement‘ at Underbelly Cowgate. And another hilarious friend Kento is performing his show Japanese Grandma Funeral at the ZOO.

‘Here Comes Almost‘ is at Playground 1 at ZOO Playground until Sat 29 Aug 2026