Su Mi is a queer British-Malaysian alternative comedian, musician and drag performance artist born from East London. They won the 2022 Queerovision contest and Beat the Frog at Manchester’s Frog & Bucket and were a finalist in Funny Women Awards, West End New Act of the Year, Musical Comedy Awards and Top Of The Slops (Europe’s Biggest Drag Contest). They bring their debut Fringe show ‘THIS MOTHERPHUCKER’ to Edinburgh in August. We spoke to Su Mi about the show, the lack of progress for queer performers and performers of colour, and how Red Box takeaway is a secret panacea for all the Fringe’s ills.

Can you tell us about ‘THISMOTHERPHUCKER’?

Yes of course! ‘THISMOTHERPHUCKER’ is every intrusive thought led by the biggest bonehead on the planet. It works with tapping into your inner child and is an immersive experience for everyone all at once. It’s just a bit of fun really.

For those unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe your comedy style and approach to performance?

A lot of audience members have compared me to their drunk uncle, which in hindsight is a pretty accurate depiction of my comedy style and general vibe to be honest. My comedy feels raw, silly and intrusive. I feed off whatever the audience will give me that day.

How do you go about creating such a persona?

I’ve always found gammons hilarious. The geezer type not the meat leg. They’re just so dumb and pink and say the silliest darn things. My favorite thing is to impersonate them and because I’m just some chubby little Asian girl , I think it’s fun for people to see that juxtaposition.

That whole geezer character is presented in a lot of my work. I used to dress up like an old dirty tissue on your bedroom floor and he would always be the creepiest slimmest geez. ‘THISMOTHERPHUCKER’ is deffo a hybrid of that.

What influences have contributed to the great melting pot that is ‘THISMOTHERPHUCKER’?

Oh everything and anything. I’m obsessed with the macabre so there are some gross bits.
My director and dear friend Bruce Tang has described it to me as watching CBEEBIES stoned and drunk out of your mind at 3am, with hints of Janice Joplin and Bjork, which I thoroughly enjoy as a descriptor.

‘THISMOTHERPHUCKER,’ is your debut Edinburgh show. What are your hopes and expectations for the month?

Oh I need to have zero expectations. That way anything would be a bonus! I genuinely will be proud that I have survived the month and been able to represent!

As someone whose Malaysian and queer identities are big parts of your comic persona, to what extent would you say that the comedy scene is now more accessible to queer performers and performers of colour?

The comedy industry has a long history of valuing white, thin, able-bodied over queer creatives of colour, and truth be told I think there is still a very long way to go. More venues are becoming inaccessible, drag and queer spaces are closing down and there are so little funding opportunities for the marginalised.

I’ve applied all year for funding (so many of my peers also) to no avail. For a working class POC with no parental support, it is almost impossible to make any dreams come true, especially if you’re working a full time job. It has taken me nine years to be able to do this and I’m proud to say that I can finally do it, but it also saddens me that it’s taken me this long and it is due to systemic racism, classism and capitalism. I just really hope that more POC will have the opportunities and I will work harder to demand them for future artists.

Apart from your show, is there anything you’re particularly looking forward to (or dreading) about the Fringe?

Red Box is a culinary must have. It’s this small Chinese takeaway / restaurant that has healed many nights , hangovers , bad gigs etc. One to watch, 5 stars that place.

Beside ‘THISMOTHERPHUCKER’, can we expect to see you performing elsewhere during August?

Yes I will performing at several other shows including ‘Late Night with Terry Wogan‘, ‘Bad Clowns‘, ‘Knickers Cabaret‘, ‘A Night of Drama‘, and many, many more!

Are there any other acts at the Fringe that you would recommend audiences see?

Hard recommend Jessie Nixon, first time I saw her I lost my mind. She made me laugh so much and is the epitome of the stand-up comedy I enjoy. Ellen Turnhill Montoya as well!!! I saw her show at Brighton Fringe and it is just so clever and fun. Katie Pritchard also is just so silly and fun. What a joy to watch!

‘THISMOTHERPHUCKER‘ is at Underbelly Cowgate – Iron Belly from Thu 31 Jul to Sun 24 Aug 2025 at 18:40