Ian Smith is a critically-acclaimed comedian who has been a Fringe staple since 2013. He’s also the host co-host of the Northern News podcast with The Delightful Sausage‘s Amy Gledhill, and is a regular guest on The News Quiz and The Bugle. We spoke to him about his new show ‘Crushing’, the spiralling cost of the Fringe, and stage-diving at a comedy gig.
Can you tell us about ‘Crushing’?
The title comes from my dentist telling me I’m grinding my teeth in my sleep – and my hairdresser and I driving a tank over a car in Slovakia. It’s a 55 minute explanation as to why those two things have happened. It’s about stress, but in a very silly way.
Your show is about anxiety and the lengths you’ve gone to try and alleviate it? Many comedians say they use their performance as a way of dealing with their anxiety. Does this work for you?
I’m not sure – I really love stand-up and certainly feel very comfortable and in-the-moment on stage, but I suppose if someone starts heckling you or a hen party is waving inflatable cocks around, it does become a bit less relaxing.
Last year you directed the Fringe show of your Northern News podcast colleague Amy Gledhill. What does directing a comedy show involve?
I think mainly just talking and helping that person get their ideas out – asking questions, suggesting ways things could go etc. Amy is so naturally funny and had so many great stories to tell that it was very easy. I guess you’re always trying to find what someone wants to say with their show and help them structure that a bit. I kept suggesting fireworks and a 12-person live band, but Amy wouldn’t listen to me.
You’ve also recently become a guest on The Bugle. How did that come about?
I’d worked in the writers room on The News Quiz for a while and then became a guest on the show – it’s hosted by Andy Zaltzman who also hosts The Bugle and he very kindly asked me to come on. I really love doing topical comedy, but it’s also been incredibly useful to have to look at whatever is in the news and write about it – it takes away any indecision and you’re on a tight deadline, which sometimes seems to be the only way I can get work done… looming pressure!
What for you are the best and worst things about the Fringe?
The best thing is to be able to perform a show you’ve spent ages working on and you really enjoy – and to be able to do that every day. I think Fringe audience are the best. It’s nice to perform to audiences who really love comedy.
The worst thing is probably the spiralling cost. It’s becoming increasingly inaccessible for working class performers, and even when you can come up, there’s a level of financial anxiety and pressure that comes with committing so much money. Not a very funny answer from me, but I do worry that the Fringe is becoming a difficult place for working class performers perform at.
Have you had any really memorable Fringe experiences, good or bad, either as performer or as an audience member?
I wanted to do a stage dive but the audience lost confidence so I dived into some empty chairs and cut my arm. This was early on in my career and I think I was a bit drunk. My stand-up is A LOT less like an episode of Jackass now.
Beside the two shows, can we expect to see you performing elsewhere during August?
I’ll be doing various guest slots – places like ‘Late’n’Live’, Chortle ‘Fast Fringe’, ‘Edinburgh Comedy Allstars’, but my big plan is to try and relax between shows. It’s nice to do something non-comedy to get through the month, so I’m planning on going to a steam room every now and then and playing Football Manager on my phone. Maybe at the same time.
Are there any other acts at the Fringe that you would recommend audiences see?
I think Pierre Novellie is brilliant and always does great shows. I’m looking forward to seeing Jonny Pelham too, he’s a very very funny man – and I think Tamsyn Kelly’s debut show will be great.
‘Crushing’ runs from Wed 2 to Sun 27 Aug 2023 (except Mon 14 Aug) at Monkey Barrel Comedy – The Tron at 13:35