Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?
Hi, I’m Jena Friedman, I’m a writer, political-satirist and comedian, currently based in the US but open to changing that.
How would you describe your show?
It’s an hour of stand-up comedy that’s a little person and a little political and hopefully relevant and enjoyable to a UK and international audience.
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
Partly because the crowds are always so great in Edinburgh, they’re international but also sophisticated since they see so much comedy, so they are really great audiences to test out jokes and work out material in front of. Also, performing every night in the same venue helps me discover more things about the show as I’m performing it and improve it in really interesting ways.
What differentiates it from other festivals?
The endurance aspect of performing an hour show every night for a month is what makes Edinburgh feel unique to me, that and then getting to meet and hang out with comedians from around the world doing the same thing.
What first motivated you to enter the industry? Who were your inspirations?
I got into stand-up comedy from a paper I wrote about improv-comedy in college. Improv is this amazing art form that has only recently become a punchline but has roots in jazz and avant-garde theatre. When I first stumbled upon it, I was immediately obsessed. It’s kind of the gateway drug to comedy. Stand up came out of my love of doing improv and wondering if there was a way I could do comedy and also get paid.
If you didn’t have your current job, what would you probably be doing?
I ask myself that every day.
If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
I love what I do. I don’t think I would be happy doing anything else. I think a lot of comedians will tell you that, it’s too hard of a career to go into otherwise. You really have to love what you do and not see any other alternative paths, otherwise at a certain point, you’d probably take them.
What is your earliest childhood art memory?
What a weird question. I remember cutting up construction paper into many tiny pieces with safety scissors and getting yelled at for making a mess. I might have been 3 years old at the time.
Do you ever feel any pressure to be a social commentator, or constantly update material to respond to events?
No, it comes naturally. The news is what inspires a lot of my work and since it’s insane at the moment, commenting on it feels cathartic.
Equally, do you think there has been a shift in public sentiment that has affected your work?
I think people in the US are sick of hearing about politics right now, just because it’s all consuming. That said, politics wasn’t really something Americans cared about prior to 2016, whereas now people really do care and for good reason, it just doesn’t make them laugh. So, I think it’s been challenging, at least in the US, to create comedy that is political but also funny. As far as internationally, I haven’t performed outside of the US much since Trump was installed into office and the shows I have done have been well received so I do think there’s increased interest from international crowds as to hearing an America’s take on what is going on in our country at the moment, I just hope I can also make it funny.
Describe the last year in 5 words or less?
A mess, but nothing new.
If you could work with anybody, from any point in history, who would you pick and why?
Elaine May, she’s been a comedy icon of mine forever and I would love to work with her before one of us dies.
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 don’t know, ask my agent.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to take a show up to the fringe?
Just do it. That’s the best advice I have ever gotten. It was from a talent manager, probably reading off of his Nike but it stuck with me.
When and where can people see your show?
The Assembly Room George Square 5, 9:20 pm.
And where can people find, follow and like you online?
Twitter, but follow at your own risk. @JenaFriedman
Jena Friedman’s new stand up show ‘Miscarriage of Justice’ will be at the Assembly George Square Studio 5 at 9.20pm for the month of August for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
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