Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?
Hallo! I’m Bilal Zafar, I’m a comedian, writer, actor and became a twitch streamer over lockdown tbf.
How would you describe your show?
An hour of very funny storytelling stand-up. Which is also my favourite kind of show. It’s about when I spent a year working in a fancy care home for very wealthy elderly whilst being paid £6.50 an hour.
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
I had a very good year with my debut show in 2016 and I saw the impact a good show can have on my career, opportunities, and personal growth as a performer. It can also be very fun, and I feel like I have a very good show this year.
What differentiates it from other festivals?
As soon as you start stand-up in the UK, you learn about The Edinburgh Fringe being a bit of a rite of passage. It’s been around for longer than any other festival I’ve been involved with, giving it it’s high status. It’s often described as the biggest arts festival in the world and people visit from all over the world to be part of it.
What first motivated you to enter the industry? Who were your inspirations?
I grew up with mainly British television comedy. When I was a child, my two older brothers were teenagers, meaning I was exposed to the work of Armando Iannucci, Chris Morris, Steve Coogan, Vic and Bob, Dave Chappelle, Richard Pryor and many more from a young age. I was about 17 when I started to dream about working in comedy in some way. After completing a media degree at the age of 21 and realising there was no easy way in to the industry, I realised I should be writing things and saying them on stage. I tried it for the first time in 2013 and have just kept doing it.
How has your background, upbringing and education had an impact on your artistic career?
I think it’s everything. Being a working class, Asian Muslim in the UK makes you see the world in a certain way. I always hated school and love that I can do pretty much whatever I want, how I want with stand up and streaming (on Twitch).
What is your earliest childhood art memory?
Possibly aged about 5, seeing Steve Coogan doing a sketch in which he plays a singer representing Portugal in the Eurovision song contest and almost wetting myself laughing. Maybe I did wet myself, it happened from laughing sometimes.
If you didn’t have your current job, what would you probably be doing?
I wanted to be a primary school teacher. I have no idea if I would’ve been good at it so I don’t feel like It’s fair to say I’d be doing that. I like the look of pottery, maybe I would’ve tried to get on the show; ‘The Great Pottery Throw Down’.
Did Covid-19 change the way you create work? Do you approach shows with a different mentality now?
Yes! Lockdown was a very strange time for me. I followed the advice of my friend and famous British Twitch Streamer Brian ‘Limmy’ and started to stream on twitch. It allowed me to find a whole new amazing audience and create the type of work I would never get close to doing anywhere else. This gave me a whole new confidence in my ability to be funny and now I feel like I can take a lot more risks on stage and have a lot less imposter syndrome.
Describe the last year in 5 words or less?
Mostly great to be fair.
Do you subscribe to the idea that art should be exempt from ‘cancel culture’?
To me, cancel culture discussions seem to usually be overblown. I think comedians should be able to say whatever they want, and people should be allowed to be angry at them for it. Comedians shouldn’t be free of consequences. Unfortunately, some comedians seem to go on about cancel culture, censorship and focus on wanting everyone to think they are a victim rather than attempting anything funny. (I’ve noticed this trend in a lot of American comedy podcasts recently.)
If you could work with anybody, from any point in history, who would you pick and why?
Tim Heidecker. I think he’s an underrated innovator and genius and I hope to be creating work like his one day.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to take a show up to the fringe?
Do it because you want to do a show you can be proud of. Do it because you want audiences in and want to improve as a comedian. It’s easy to get caught up in the world of big reviews and awards but that’s not why you got into comedy is it?! If you love it and enjoy it, anything else is a bonus <3
When and where can people see your show?
5.30pm at Underbelly Bristo Square. 3rd -29th (not 15th) xo
And where can people find, follow and like you online?
My handle is Zafarcakes everywhere! xo
Bilal Zafar: CARE
Underbelly: Jersey @ 5.30pm
3 – 25th Aug
For tickets and more information visit edfringe.com.
0 Comments