Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?
Hi! My name is Kuan-wen. I am a Taiwanese comedian who lives in south London (Bermondsey to be specific. Not the gentrified bit; the still dodgy bit). I am a tiger mum escapee, an ex military officer, an obsessive teddy bear hoarder, a chartered accountant as well as a chartered tax advisor in the UK.
How would you describe your show?
It’s a show that allows me to introduce myself and by extension, a show about my home country Taiwan. Taiwan is great! But I still moved away. I left partly because of the geopolitical threat (I served in the army for 19 months) and partly because of my very controlling tiger mum, who is a logical product of Taiwanese culture and traditions. I love my island and my mum dearly, but I could only love them both from a distance.
I joke about these complex relationships and my journey emigrating from Taiwan and settling in the UK.
Western media have a tendency to only mention my island when China is concerned. In writing this show, I want to take the agency back and to debut with my home country in this show together. Any mention of our powerful neighbour would just be ancillary.
What is your favourite part of your show?
When I took my teddy Nounours out and hold him while doing the bit about him (and his siblings).
If your show had a theme song, what would it be and why?
Definitely not Kung Fu Fighting.
I will go for Latto’s Big Energy (Remix) featuring my true diva Mariah Carey. It’s camp, fun and I am big.
What is one thing you hope audiences will take away from your show?
That I mean it: Taiwan needs everyone’s help when China invades us. Don’t listen to whatever crap Macron is spitting out.
If you could add a surprise celebrity cameo to your show, who would it be and why?
Liz Truss, and I will commission a couture gong decorated with iceberg lettuces (like one you’d expect to see on a Drag Race sewing challenge) just for her. She is such an “embarrassment ambassador” for the UK, wherever I did the preview of this show, I never had to change my reference to Madame Truss. EVERYONE KNEW ABOUT HER.
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
Not to deny the many benefits of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, but I don’t really think I have much of a choice when it comes to this decision. The UK entertainment industry has such a fixated obsession with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, that if you’ve not done it, it feels like you’ve not completed the ritual or something. So here I am doing it *shrugs*. But once I am committed to it, I am determined to bring hell of a good show to it (and I have!).
What differentiates it from other festivals?
I think the organiser has a certain sense of entitlement and arrogance that they can get away with many blunders unthinkable in other industries or trades. I am sure they work hard in some respects, but they let themselves off the hook maybe a bit too easily sometimes. How was it acceptable that more than two decades into the 21st century, the largest art festival did not have a functioning app yet all participants had to pay full fees? I am a tax accountant by trade. It’s like when HMRC comes in for a tax audit, you shrug and say, “sorry! We just cannot log on to our accounting system.”
What is one thing you would change about the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
I would introduce a penalty on over-enthusiastic American theatre kids belting out “defying gravity” (out of tune) on their student accommodation’s balcony at 2am. That crossed the line, even if it was the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
How has your background, upbringing and education had an impact on your artistic career?
They certainly have. My upbringing is Confucian which places a lot of weight on academic achievements but very little on having fun and being kind to yourself. I describe my mum as a tiger mum but that is pretty much an understatement. Whilst it gives you the push to always think - maybe I am not good enough, gotta try hard - but a perfectionist attitude can be quite unhealthy. Where the output is artistic, this does not necessarily guarantee the best product.
What is your favourite thing about performing for a live audience?
Performers are like vampires. We feed on the energy channelled back by the audience. Some of my best lines came from reacting to the crowd when I really felt I was in my moment on stage.
What is the strangest thing that has ever happened to you while performing?
It’s technically not while I was performing, but once after I did my set at a gig in Leicester, the MC came back on stage and said with a certain level of disdain, “That was the gayest ‘THING’ I’ve seen in my entire life.”
Quite a few people in the crowd did not react to that, but still a good portion of them laughed. Some might say, “It was clearly a joke!” “It’s comedy!” But that tone just felt nasty. So to those people thinking there’s no prejudice for LGBTQ people out there – especially those who shout “where’s my parade” – I sincerely hope they burn in hell.
What's the most challenging or unconventional venue you've ever performed in, and how did it impact the overall experience?
I was once invited to perform at the Lambeth Libraries staff party. The library has a high ceiling and was echo-y beyond belief. Then the staff rolled out tasty buffet trays. I think I half-danced and yelled through my set to get it done.
Is there a piece of feedback you've received from an audience member or critic after a performance that’s stuck with you?
When I hosted the final of LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year back in 2019, a well-known reviewer criticised me for making it all about myself. I guess it’s differences between us in artistic vision. For me, having a big ego is often a quintessential trait of a gay act, so I brought an exaggerated stage persona to host the competition. The funny thing is that review was incredibly mean and catty. I thought, if the reviewer happens to be one of us (I don’t think he is or that he claims to be public. But it’s sooooo catty), surely he’d understand?
What is your favourite thing to do in Edinburgh when you're not performing? How do you relax and look after your mental health?
I go to the charity shop to find good stuff - cowboy hats, floral shirts, scarves. Edinburgh is such a posh city with some old gay residents. I don’t know whether the previous owners are still alive, but they certain had great tastes (and high purchasing power).
Another thing I do is to go swimming in the morning. I love the Royal Commonwealth Pool.
Is there a show you’re excited to see when you’re up there?
I interviewed South African comedian Schalk Bezuidenhout for my own podcast recently and watched his show in Soho Theatre in London as part of my research. He is such a naturally funny act. I would recommend people to go watch his show (he’s not always in the UK!).
Quite a few people I know are debuting or bringing their second shows to the Fringe this year. It feels like whoever I mention here, it’d be disrespectful for the rest. So I will just say someone I’ve never met in real life. I follow Laura Ramoso on Instagram and her impression of her German mum or someone who just came back from Berlin/Australia are hilarious. I can’t wait to watch her show.
What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone thinking about taking a show up to Edinburgh? If you’ve never been before, what would you say has been (potentially) the most useful?
I have not completed my solo full run yet, so I don’t know if I have the full picture on which my advice is based. Spend time with positive people that cheer you up. Protect your voice when you perform.
When and where can people see your show?
It’s at 5:40pm every day (except the 15th) at Gilded Balloon, Teviot House. It’s in the Lounge room. I am quite high up there so I will basically be Rapunzel without the hair. Teviot house is the building that looks like Hogwarts where things are happening on the old town side.
And where can people find you online?
I upload clips most regularly on Instagram @kuanwencomedy. I do have a twitter account but that platform is such a cesspit …. alternatively, people can learn more about me on my website http://kuanwenhuang.com
As a Taiwanese, I don’t have a TikTok account ‘cause I honestly don’t trust them. (Neither should you really, but your personal data your choice).
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