Interview with comedian Paul Williams

Paul Williams will be performing at Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August.

Interview with comedian Paul Williams

Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?

I’m Paul (Williams) and I’m from Nelson (New Zealand). 

How would you describe your show?

A perfect hour. 

Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?

Money. I love the stuff and am expecting to make a lot of it. 

What differentiates it from other festivals?

It’s in Edinburgh in August and it’s much bigger than the Edinburgh International Festival, less film focused than the Edinburgh Film Festival and less book focused than the Edinburgh Book Festival. 

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

I was motivated entirely by money. My inspirations were Jeremy Seinfeld (world’s richest comedian), David O’Doherty (2nd richest), Flight of the Conchords (3rd richest) and Mitch Hedberg (not rich but I like his jokes). 

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

I never wanted to be an entertainer. I wanted a normal job, but my parents forced me into performing. I was a reverse Billy Elliot. I wanted to be a hairdresser. I used to stand in my room pretending my microphone was a hairbrush. 

What is your earliest childhood art memory? 

Cave drawings in womb. 

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

NBA basketball player.

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

I’ve lost the ability to focus for longer than 5 minutes and I think I might have depression. 

Describe the last year in 5 words or less? 

Topgun Maverick for Best Picture.

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

No. I subscribe to Adobe Photoshop and then I have a profile on my brother’s Netflix account.

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

Jay-Z. His flow is crazy. 

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

Make sure you have enough space in your bank account for all the money you’re going to make. 

When and where can people see your show?

4:30pm at Assembly Roxy.

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

@PaulWilliams on Instagram. @PaulWilliams_12 on Twitter. @PaulWilliamsFanClub on Facebook.


See Paul Williams: In The Moonlight at the Assembly during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 3-28 August. For more information and tickets visit www.edfringe.com or www.assemblyfestival.com

Header Image Credit: Provided

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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