Interview with comedian Catherine McCafferty

"I have been told not to come to Edinburgh with expectations and to try and be present and understand my job is to perform every day, not to read reviews and obsess about certain things that will fluctuate like attendance."

Interview with comedian Catherine McCafferty

Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?

Hi, I am Catherine McCafferty queer stand-up from the US. I’ve been performing for over 8 years and this is my first hour that I have written and performed at Edinburgh! 

How would you describe your show?

(Not) That Bad is a show about grief, heartbreak, and IBS. It is a dark comedy that explores the underlying theme in my life which has been to turn anything that has ever happened into a joke, no matter how tragic. I think comedy has been an excellent coping mechanism and I share my jokes, my stories, and eventually my truth with the audience throughout the show. 

What is your favourite part of your show?

Honestly, near the beginning, I mime giving a handjob in the backseat of a van and that is my favorite bit in the show. 

If your show had a theme song, what would it be and why? 

My theme song would be This Year by the Mountain Goats. I love the chorus and it reminds me of my older brother who would play it constantly in middle school and high school. “I am gonna make it through this year if it kills me” That sentiment resonates so much with the show and what I am trying to say with this hour of comedy... we do make it through terrible things and we are resilient. 

Are there any particular themes or messages you hope the audience takes away from your performance?

I would like people to think about the many stories we tell other people about our lives. I noticed I would downplay a lot of what happened to me because I thought if I acknowledged the heaviness of some events they would swallow me. No one experience defines a life, we are made up of a tapestry and when we deny part of our truth we deny the world and ourselves our wholeness. 

Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe? What differentiates it from other festivals?

Edinburgh Fringe is the largest international performing arts festival and it has always been a goal of mine to be able to perform an hour of my material every single day. No other festival, especially in the States, provides such a profound opportunity to perform over and over for an entire month! 

What do you hope to learn or achieve from your first Fringe experience, and how do you plan to apply it to your future work?

I have never had the opportunity to perform this much time consistently and I hope it makes me a better tighter performer. The lessons I learn from performing will inevitably inform my future work. 

What would you say has been (potentially) the most useful piece of advice you’ve been given about taking a show to Edinburgh Fringe?

I have been told not to come to Edinburgh with expectations and to try and be present and understand my job is to perform every day, not to read reviews and obsess about certain things that will fluctuate like attendance. 

How do you plan to balance performing and exploring the vast array of other shows and events happening at the Fringe?

Since my show is in the afternoon I am very happy that I can explore and support other artists in the evenings! 

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

My entire sense of humor comes from my background and upbringing. I was raised Irish Catholic and I have a very sarcastic and quick family so to be paid any attention you had to keep up with them. My mom’s father was from Ireland and growing up my best friend’s father was from Ireland and the Irish have a very particular sense of humor. It is dry and steeped in tragedy. I feel like dark humor was born in Ireland! Developing a sense of humor to cope led me to stand-up and stand-up led me to a broader interest in writing and acting so it has all informed who I am as an artist. 

Can you describe your creative process and how you develop your ideas into a full-fledged performance?

Generally, my creative process involves a lot of me talking to myself, that is how I end up writing new material, but where the material comes from is observation. I observe people, and I have developed an interest in why people do what they do. Observing humans is always funny. We are all unique and also so similar. A lot of our core fears are the same and I like to write about that. After I have crafted jokes I try to look at if there are themes in parts of my material so that I can start weaving the different bits together into a more cohesive performance. 

What is your favourite thing about performing for a live audience?

Every night is different even if the material is the same and I love that. I love that the energy of people shifts the energy of the performance- it is exciting. 

What is the strangest thing that has ever happened to you while performing?

I had a host bring me up as a “waste of space”. That was very odd because he thought he was being funny he said “She’s gay so she is a waste of space give it up for—” I was like oh... no. 

What's the most challenging or unconventional venue you've ever performed in, and how did it impact the overall experience?

I have performed in so many strange places. I performed at a bar- not weird- that was playing a basketball game at full volume during the show. I would say that impacted the overall experience negatively because we were really just ruining this sports bar’s night.

Who are some of your artistic influences, and how have they shaped your work?

I love Mike Birbiglia and I studied some of his early specials to understand how to craft longer sets. I respect how he has a theme, a core story that he starts, lots of jokes in between, and then finishes that core story at the end. I also look up to Maria Bamford. She has a unique voice and I am in awe of her performance style and how open she has been about mental illness on stage. Maria Bamford influenced how I talk about my darker material. 

Is there a piece of feedback you've received from an audience member or critic after a performance that’s stuck with you?

Someone told me to know when to move on stage and I held onto that. I used to play around a lot more with movement, but I noticed it would dilute some of my punchlines and now I am more aware of when to use my body on stage as a prop for comedy and when to stand still. 

Is there a show you’re excited to see when you’re up there?

I am thrilled to discover new comedy crushes but so far I am looking forward to seeing Olivia Levine’s solo show about OCD, Demi Adejuyigbe is a comic I have followed online for years and he will be at the fringe, and BritaNick is an American sketch duo I love and met in the UK a couple of years ago when I was visiting. 

When and where can people see your show?

I will be performing at Just the Bottle Room at Just the Tonic Mash House at 3:30 pm August 1-25 (not the 12th). 

And where can people find you online?

I am @catherine_mccaff on IG and Tiktok and I am also on Patreon @PrettyGay 

Header Image Credit: Lee Jameson

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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