The Mayor and his Daughter are a sketch duo comprising comedians Ciaran Chillingworth and Kit Finnie, who bring Fringe experience as playwrights, poets, and performers to bear in the folk horror-tinged show ‘A Genuine Appreciation of Comedy’ that’s already gone down a storm at the like of Leicester Comedy Festival and Brighton Fringe. 

We spoke to Kit and Ciaran about the show, disastrous previous attempts at dispelling demons, and the Daughter’s hopes of seeing some naked onstage flesh at some point in August.

Can you tell us about ‘A Genuine Appreciation of Comedy’?

‘A Genuine Appreciation of Comedy’ is our attempt to use the power of Professional Sketch Comedy to pacify the demons who have taken possession of our village. It all started when we discovered a box set of Russell Howard’s Good News (Series 2) in the woods: since then, we have been watching this sacred text on repeat, mastering its strange rhythms and secret rituals. Ultimately, we intend to vanquish the evils of Modern Britain. We are sure most audiences can relate to this.

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

As mentioned above, we are Professional Sketch Comedians. We use the latest technology, such as a big overhead projector, acetate sheets, and ‘Sharpies’, to transport the audience into our world and extract their laughter for our own purposes. I (The Mayor) am confident we have created an enjoyable and instructive bit of comedy. Please try to ignore The Daughter’s attempts to disrupt this.

How did The Mayor and His Daughter come to be formed?

Our first stab at the stage was an ill-advised, never-to-be-repeated piece of slam poetry with tragic consequences*. However, once Russell Howard showed us that Comedy was the true creative force of the universe, we immediately began funnelling our waking and sleeping energies into becoming priests of his wacky sect. We have now burrowed our way into the flesh of the scene; please don’t dig us out.

*A Scout Hut was burned down.

Joz Norris is directing the show. What has he brought to the show’s construction?

Norris labours under the delusion that we are not really a Mayor and Daughter professional sketch act from England, but instead are a pair of sweeties called Kit Finnie and Ciaran Chillingworth. He is a sweet boy and we will not disabuse him. Nevertheless, Norris penetrates the veil of Comedy and sees it for the chthonic monster it is. He understands our mission – i.e. using the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025 to purge our town of demons – and we have total faith that he will not betray us*. Go and see his show – ‘You Wait, Time Passes‘ at the Pleasance Dome – and see how beautiful and shiny he is.

*He said we are allowed to betray him.

‘A Genuine Appreciation of Comedy,’ is your debut Edinburgh show. What are your hopes and expectations for the month? 

All we want is to rid our village of demons (as mentioned), for The Daughter to make lots of friends, and to be in bed at 21:30. Beyond this, we look forward to being surrounded by Art, be it Comedy or one of the other less important genres, like sculpture or decoupage. The Daughter also wants to say that she hopes and expects to encounter one of those shows where you might see a real w*lly or b*m. 

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

We simply cannot wait to try a smashburger. It’s all anyone’s talking about back in our town. People say it goes all crispy on the edges, and that you can have two at once, in the same bun!!! The City is an exciting and hubristic place. In terms of dread – an emotion with which we are all too familiar – we hope not to encounter any new, powerful, or Scottish demons.

Beside ‘A Genuine Appreciation of Comedy’, can we expect to see you performing elsewhere during August?

You’ll always be able to find us at Greyfriars Kirkyard, caressing the graves of all the Comedians who have died at the Fringe (we assume that’s who’s buried there). Other than that, we are administering a ‘Clown Beef’, where a clown and not clown will undertake competitive errands to complete the three points of a triangle (The Triangle of a Conflict). It will be performed at the ‘Monkey Barrel’ on the first AND second Thursday of August (which are the most magical days).

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

You betcha buddy! In no particular order, here are the performers that speak to us (both as inspiration and at gigs): Lorna Rose Treen, Mikey Bligh-Smith, Nate Kitch, Yogie Belle, Lil Wenker, Ozzy Algar, Lulu Popplewell, Sam Nicoresti and aforementioned ‘dab hand’ Joz Norris. 

‘A Genuine Appreciation of Comedy‘ is at Assembly Roxy – Snug Bar from Wed 30 Jul to  Sun 24 Aug 2025 at 16:10