Charlie-Vero Martin is a character comedian and actress. Her new show ‘Picnic’ is her fourth at the Fringe and her first since 2019. She is also appearing in the comedy play Super throughout August. We spoke to her about both shows, how she creates her characters, and the good and bad aspects of the Fringe.
Can you tell us about ‘Picnic’?
Picnic is a new solo character comedy sketch show from me – yay! – Charlie Vero-Martin, Scottish comedian and Leicester Square Sketch Off Finalist 2023. It’s full of characters and puppets, and there are even bits where I’m myself! It’s a big, fun, silly show where the audience is encouraged to join in but there are some dark twists and surprises so watch out.
In the show you go about saving the word through the joys of a good picnic, which sounds rather lovely. What would your picnic hamper of conflict resolution contain?
Oh don’t be taken in… let’s just say this picnic party gets a bit Midsommar! But on the way I think we find in the basket ways to play nicely together through joy and curiosity.
How do you go about creating a character like, for example, Mr Basketcase? Where does the seed for a character come from? And do you expand the character on the page, or tease them out live?
Some characters come from the ‘inside out’. As in, they start with a point of view or attitude that I find funny or observed and then develops into a bigger character. Neville Nevilleson, the cryptic crossword aficionado who is also an international man of mystery is like that as he comes from my geeky love of codes, languages and puzzles. Mr Basketcase is more ‘outside in’, which starts with physicality or voice. In this case it started with a physical picnic basket.
In the depths of lockdown I went a bit mad and worked out I could make it into a very simple puppet. The voice then came from me looking at the shape of the mouth I’d created, which was very wide and open. The voice that came out was very confident, chatty and masculine. He reminded me a bit of a taxi driver. Because I needed to sit still to operate him, he also became quite grounded and pensive. I didn’t quite know what to do with him but I knew he was fun so I went to ACMS and asked the audience if they had any questions for him. ACMS is the best place to try stuff like that out! I’d done a Napoleon character for many years that involved the audience asking for life advice, which I really loved doing. Mr Basketcase is similar, sharing his infinite wisdom but he’s more like the cheeky MC of the show.
So in short – sorry to ramble – I often try out the idea of a character in front of an audience and improvise. I’ll then write up that sketch and go through each line but it’s never set in stone as I love interacting with the audience.
You’re also performing in the comedy play Super. Can you tell us about that?
Super is a new dark comedy by Matthew Radway also starring Max Dowler (Line of Duty). It’s about a former couple who used to work as Batman and Catwoman on Hollywood Boulevard until a video of him punching Jack Sparrow went viral. You hear both of our sides of the story and thoughts on fame and failure. And yes, we’re dressed as Batman and Catwoman throughout.
This is your first Fringe show since 2019. What are your hopes and expectations for August?
To get through it alive! Two shows a day is starting to feel a bit mad. But in all honesty, I’ve been working on my show for about two years now and I’m really excited to share it. It’s been really nice to spend time developing it and work with others too. I hope that it finds its audience of people who love fun alternative comedy fringe shows, and it reflects everything I love about performing. Due to the cost of making a Fringe show, it might be a long time until I do another like this – and that’s coming from someone with free accommodation in Edinburgh – so I really want to give it all I have.
What for you are the best and worst things about the Fringe?
I have done so many Fringe shows to just 2-3 people, and even had shows cancelled when I’ve been out flyering all day. That’s pretty heartbreaking! It can be a really hard slog when you’re alone and trying to compete with all the noise. But when you do get audiences in, especially strangers you’ve flyered, it’s an amazing feeling to connect with new people and do what you love every day.
Have you had any really memorable Fringe experiences, good or bad, either as performer or as an audience member?
In 2017 I did my very first solo show, ‘Dante’s History of the Banished‘. There was a bit where I did all of King Lear as King Lear in under 10 minutes and when I exiled someone I put cardboard over an audience member’s head. Usually they’d laugh and take it off after a few seconds but this one guy kept it on for the whole bit. Him and his wife have continued to see all my shows since and even named a chicken after me! They’re the loveliest audience members in the world.
Beside ‘Picnic’ and Super, can we expect to see you performing elsewhere during August?
I always love doing ACMS at Monkey Barrel. I even did it last year with Mr Basketcase even though I didn’t have a show! There are a few improv shows that often allow guest improvisers so I hope to jump on some of them too.
Are there any other acts at the Fringe that you would recommend audiences see?
I’m absolutely gutted that my show clashes with Mike Birbiglia. Luckily I saw him in London last year and I will see him again on the West End in September. So go see him, but only if you’ve seen my show first! I’m also excited to see Laura Ramoso’s character comedy sketch show. And there are lots of great shows that were developed with the Soho Theatre Lab like mine coming this year.
‘Picnic‘ runs from Thu 3 to Sun 27 Aug 23 (except Mon 14) at Underbelly Cowgate – Delhi Belly at 18:55
Super runs from from Wed 2 to Mon 28 Aug 23 (except Mon 14) at Pleasance Courtyard – The Cellar at 13:45