Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?
Hi there, my name is Gráinne Maguire, my hobbies are visiting historic buildings and documentaries about Princess Diana.
Tell us about your show?
It’s about battling between my need to be right and my thirst to be liked. I also have the only bit of material, l that I know of, in defence of sleazy men.
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and is it different from other festivals?
There is nothing to match in terms of size, it’s like getting to live in a weekend arts supplement for a month, which was always my childhood dream.
What first motivated you to enter the industry? Who were your inspirations?
I always really loved Old Hollywood films where the young gal from a small town moved to New York to make it on Broadway. I basically always wanted to be Judy Garland. I’m nearly there- when I’m staying in hotels and can’t pay the bill I do threaten to jump out a window shouting “Do you want to be known as the hotel where Dorothy died?” but it doesn’t seem to work when I do it.
Do you ever feel any pressure to be a social commentator, or constantly update material to respond to events?
There have been so many huge news stories in the past few years, I do sometimes feel like I have to cover them in my Edinburgh shows but ultimately, you’re there to make people laugh not do a roundup of the year. So, I only cover stuff I have an emotional connection to.
Equally, do you feel there has been a shift in public sentiment that has affected your work?
Politics used to just be a fun thing you could take the piss out of but now it feels very tribal and less fun. I talk about political stuff a lot less on stage now. It feels like an area where there are too many opinions. As an Irish person I don’t really understand Brexit. It feels like a national meltdown that I should keep a respectful distance from if anything.
Describe the last year in 5 words or less?
Turns Out Everyone’s A Perv
What advice would you give to someone who wants to take a show up to the fringe?
Have very clear professional goals, be really kind to yourself, buy hand sanitiser.
And what advice do you wish you’d been given when entering the industry?
Sucking up to people more successful than you isn’t selling out, it’s just clever.
When and where can people see your show?
3:15pm at the Gilded Balloon
And where can people find, follow and like you online?
On twitter on grainnemaguire and on Instagram grannymaguire
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