Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?
My name is Loyiso Gola, a 6.5 foot comedian from South Africa. I am vegan and I travel the world doing stand up comedy. This feels like a Miss World contest. I am generally a chilled human , a loner who gets great joy from deliberating about seemingly pointless things.
How would you describe your show?
My show exams popular culture and its influence on us as a society. How pop /sub culture shaped my existence. The good and the bad of pop culture. My show will give nuances about South African history and tons of personal anecdotes.This piece of work deliberates about pop discourse in 2019.
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
It’s the best comedy festival in the world. It’s the only place where you can do 30 hours of comedy in a month. I have done the Fringe Festival five times before and at the end of each one I feel an improvement in my comedy. This festival has grit and I will always come back.
What differentiates it from other festivals?
My story is of a South African background. I have lived in that country for all my life and it has shaped me. It’s a very diverse country. We have eleven official languages. I speak and understand five of them. We come from a history of apartheid. So we are a relatively new country. My perspective is of a contemporary African.
What first motivated you to enter the industry? Who were your inspirations?
I entered the comedy industry as a job-shadowing high school project. I was watching a lot of Bill Cosby/ Chris Rock/ Eddie Murphy at the time.
If you didn’t have your current job, what would you probably be doing?
I have no idea. I have always wanted to be a footballer. I had dreams of playing for the Orlando Pirates (a South African football team).
Or I would be working in a coal mine.
If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
I would be football coach because it seems stressful but seems fun at the same time.
Or a coal miner…
What is your earliest childhood art memory?
There were two paintings when I grew up. One of a mother holding a baby and one of my grandparents.
Do you ever feel any pressure to be a social commentator, or constantly update material to respond to events?
I try to tell the audience interesting shit about my life all the time. Besides being really funny on stage thats my only other obligation. Without the funny it’s just a TED talk.
Equally, do you think there has been a shift in public sentiment that has affected your work?
No I work without any constraints in my mind. I will not let any liberal/left/communist agenda stop me from speaking my mind.
Describe the last year in 5 words or less?
Rainbow coloured box of chocolate.
If you could work with anybody, from any point in history, who would you pick and why?
I would never want to be anyone at all. I am content with my existence.
Why would a performer opt to do either a ticketed event or participate in the free fringe? What are the benefits and limitations of both?
I have only done paid Fringe so I can’t speak about the latter
What advice would you give to someone who wants to take a show up to the fringe?
Make a trip to the Fest a year before just to see how it is. It’s an overwhelming festival if you come through without a clue as to what to do, you won’t enjoy it.
When and where can people see your show?
31st JULY-26 AUGUST PLEASANCE DOME
And where can people find, follow and like you online?
Twitter: @loyisogola
Instagram: @loyisogola
Loyiso Gola’s new stand up show ‘Pop Culture’ will be at the Pleasance Dome 10 Dome for the month of August for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
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