Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?
I'm Jamie DSouza, I'm a stand up comedian and writer from Staines. I've been gigging up and down the country for a few years, and am really looking forward to doing my first show at the fringe in August!
How would you describe your show?
It's a very silly show, it's all about being an awkward, uncomfortable teenager. It's also about my first crush at school, and the terrible emo band I started with my friends in a bid to impress her.
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
I always love going to the fringe. I love how every room, corridor and broom cupboard is turned into a venue. There's so much to see, but what makes it truly amazing is the amount of people that come every year who are willing to take a punt on just about anything!
I'm really looking forward to doing my show every day to a (hopefully) proper audience!
What differentiates it from other festivals?
What makes the Edinburgh Fringe so special is the buzz around the city. I've been up to Edinburgh for gigs outside the fringe and it's still obviously lovely, but during August the whole town seems to transform and there's just a great atmosphere, with something mad happening just around every corner!
What first motivated you to enter the industry? Who were your inspirations?
I've always wanted to do comedy ever since my Mum used to sneak me into comedy clubs when I was 15. I was already three years to young, but also looked about 12. To get past the bouncers on the way in, my Mum would always make me hold her pint and wear my Dad's coat. I probably looked like two boys in one of those long trench coats, but it seemed to do the trick.
How has your background, upbringing and education had an impact on your artistic career?
I studied Maths at university, so in some ways my education has been utterly wasted on my job! Although I do think there is a crossover between Maths and comedy. A lot of joke writing can also be viewed as problem solving, and you can almost write formulas for certain types of jokes! Which is a very nerdy way to look at it, but to be honest, that's pretty much my exact brand.
What is your earliest childhood art memory?
I probably shouldn't say this, but I remember being dragged round an art gallery, bored out of my skull when I was about seven. My first memory that I really enjoyed was seeing Punch & Judy at my local village fair. I just remember rolling on the floor laughing so much. I like to think my sense of humour has developed since then, but who knows.
If you didn’t have your current job, what would you probably be doing?
I used to work as a forecaster before comedy. Not for weather but for sales and the like. It's very dry and boring, so I'm very grateful to be doing comedy now!
Did Covid-19 change the way you create work? Do you approach shows with a different mentality now?
Covid changed everything! Doing gigs over zoom was rubbish, and I'm very glad to largely be seeing the back of it, but I do think there have been some positives to come from the pandemic. I'm now working a lot more on projects that aren't just stand-up. Things like sitcoms and sketches. I even made a few comedy songs, with music videos in my bedroom which were a lot of fun to make, and something I'd never have found the time to do before lockdown.
Describe the last year in 5 words or less?
Back to normality... oh wait...
Do you subscribe to the idea that art should be exempt from ‘cancel culture’?
That's a tricky question, and one that depends on what you mean by 'cancel culture'. If it means being criticised for saying hateful or prejudiced things, then I think art of course shouldn't be exempt. If it means tweeting an edgy joke as a teenager and then years later being wiped of the face of the earth when it resurfaces, then don't worry, that's not really what's happening.
If you could work with anybody, from any point in history, who would you pick and why?
It'd be Frank Sidebottom. Yes he's fictional, yes, the comic who played him is sadly no longer with us, but he's just the funniest and best comedy characters I've ever seen. And I'm gutted I only ever saw him on the telly and not live.
I loved how willing he would be to muck around onstage, and was never afraid to descend things into complete wonderful, hilarious, chaos. I thinking it would be exhausting, but also just the biggest laugh!
What advice would you give to someone who wants to take a show up to the fringe?
Well as it's my first time, I'm probably not best placed to be dishing out advice. But one thing I've done that's really helped me when I'm at previous fringes is to not always go out to the main bars where all the industry types and grown ups are hanging out, and just go somewhere quiet and less networky with some actual mates!
That, and go to Mosque Kitchen every day. It's cheap, quick and delicious.
When and where can people see your show?
I'm on every day at 19:10 at the Pleasance Below, in the Pleasance Courtyard, from the 3rd to the 29th August. I'd love to see you there!
And where can people find, follow and like you online?
]You could follow me on Twitter @Jamie_DSouza or Instagram @jamiedsouzaa
Jamie D’Souza’s debut stand up show ‘Stop Drawing Willies On My Poster’ will be at the Pleasance Courtyard Below at 7.10pm for the month of August for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
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