Interview with comedian Ania Magliano

"If you're working at the Fringe this year, you never know what could happen. A mere 6 years later you too could be a glamorous performer (I'm answering these questions in my pyjamas eating hummus with a spoon)!"

Interview with comedian Ania Magliano

Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?

Hello! I'm Ania Magliano. I'm a stand-up comedian and mother to an evil cat called Otis that I got off Gumtree.

How would you describe your show?

‘Absolutely No Worries if Not,’ is my first full hour. It's got jokes about coming out to my parents as bisexual, LUSH and my aforementioned cat. It's autobiographical, honest, and also pretty silly.

Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?

The Edinburgh Fringe is where I discovered stand up, when I randomly got a summer job working as a receptionist for Assembly in 2016. It feels very exciting to have come full circle! If you're working at the Fringe this year, you never know what could happen. A mere 6 years later you too could be a glamorous performer (I'm answering these questions in my pyjamas eating hummus with a spoon)!

What differentiates it from other festivals?

It's an incredible creative space to be in, but also Edinburgh is just such a beautiful city with some really fantastic kebab shops. YES. PLEASE. 

What first motivated you to enter the industry? Who were your inspirations?

My dad took me to see Eddie Izzard when I was a kid and I was absolutely captivated. I didn't grow up in London, so seeing comedians like Sara Pascoe and Noel Fielding on TV definitely got me interested in comedy. But in terms of first motivation: not being especially popular at school and learning that making jokes would make the cool girls like me.

How has your background, upbringing and education had an impact on your artistic career?

My mum is a doctor, so I knew early on that I wanted to do whatever the opposite of that is. She's also Polish and English is her second language, so I grew up without a lot of British cultural reference points and pronouncing words wrong (Eg. 'dandelion' as 'dan-dill-y-on' which I think is better anyway). 

What is your earliest childhood art memory?

I played Mary in my nursery nativity. I've never been cast in a leading role since. And I didn't even self-tape for it! I peaked at 3.

If you didn’t have your current job, what would you probably be doing?

Doing tweets for big corporations to make them appeal to Gen Z. That's the job I was doing during the pandemic. If you ever saw a massive brand use the phrase 'it's giving', I could be to blame and I can only apologise.

Did Covid-19 change the way you create work? Do you approach shows with a different mentality now?

It's made me realise how although it's great to post content online and reach new audiences, there's no alternative to live shows. They are so much fun. At the gig I did yesterday I spoke to a man in the audience who owned a cow called 'Monster'. GOOD. STUFF.

Describe the last year in 5 words or less?

Shouldn't have cut my hair. 

Do you subscribe to the idea that art should be exempt from ‘cancel culture’?

I think if you can't make 'art' without punching down and being needlessly cruel and insensitive, you maybe need to reassess your skillset.

If you could work with anybody, from any point in history, who would you pick and why?

Shakespeare as I reckon having his name on my poster (even just as a producer) would really help me out ticket sales wise. 

What advice would you give to someone who wants to take a show up to the fringe?

Be kind to yourself, be kind to everyone, get a falafel wrap from Palmyra.         

When and where can people see your show?

16:35 in Bunker 3 at Pleasance.

And where can people find, follow and like you online?

@aniamagliano on Instagram and Tiktok, @aniamags on twitter. And if the Fringe goes really badly, Ania Magliano on LinkedIn.


See Ania Magliano: Absolutely No Worries If Not at the Pleasance during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 3-28 August. For more information and tickets visit www.edfringe.com or www.pleasance.co.uk  

Header Image Credit: Matt Stronge

Author

Tom Inniss

Tom Inniss Voice Team

Tom is the Editor of Voice. He is a politics graduate and holds a masters in journalism, with particular interest in youth political engagement and technology. He is also a mentor to our Voice Contributors, and champions our festivals programme, including the reporter team at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

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