Interview with JoJo Bellini

JoJo Bellini takes some time to talk to Voice about the show, inspirations, and to give advice to young people.

Interview with JoJo Bellini

Hello! Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?

Well, hello there. I'm JoJo Bellini, 5'3", curvaceous, salacious and veracious. Prosecco is my tipple of choice if you want to butter me up on the right side and I do enjoy a delightful dalliance with karaoke.

How would you describe your show?

A hilarious romp about car accidents, kink and cucumbers

Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?

It is such a fabulous place to be! Not only are you on the world stage, you have the opportunity to have peers, industry people and promoters see your work.

What differentiates it from other festivals?

The sheer enormity of it all. There is so much going on 24 hours a day that no matter how niche your performative needs, the Fringe will be able to deliver.

Do you think the Fringe has changed over the years? If so, how? Are these changes positive or negative?

Over the 70 years of course it has changed! It went from a small selective group of performers to the largest Fringe festival in the world! Although over the last eight years I've been attending as a punter/promoter/performer, it hasn't changed that much.It takes time to build up a reputation, to find your audiences. And it's a very expensive exercise as a performer. It can also be not about what you know but who you know – in any case crepes and Prosecco at 4am are never a bad idea…

What first motivated you to enter the industry? Who were your inspirations?

A complete seachange was in order. I had recovered from a horrific car accident and got as far in my field as I was going to get and I still wasn't happy. So, I decided to do what makes me happy, which is singing songs while being ridiculously silly and making people smile.

If you didn't have your current job, what would you probably be doing?

What I am doing now. Being a performer.

If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?

I would love to travel the world performing for people having paid off all my debts.

What is your earliest childhood art memory?

Being onstage as a blue fairy in a pantomime of Cinderella.

Do you ever feel any pressure to be a social commentator, or constantly update material to respond to events?

Not really. Current events and political climates will always be a part of my material.

Equally, do you think there has been a shift in public sentiment that has affected your work?

This year my show is from the heart. I think we all need a little happiness and joy in our lives.

Describe the last year in 5 words or less.

Amazing. Sexy. Fabulous. Challenging. Awesome.

If you could work with anybody, from any point in history, who would you pick and why?

Bette Midler. She has an amazing voice, the best comic timing, political savvy, and doesn't give a shit. I love that.


JoJo Bellini: Crash-Bang Cabaret! is performing at The Stand Comedy Club 2 at 2:05 until 27th August. For tickets and more information visit the Ed Fringe website.

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.

We need your help supporting young creatives

Recent posts by this author

View more posts by Tom Inniss

0 Comments

Post A Comment

You must be signed in to post a comment. Click here to sign in now

You might also like

West End Actor Interrogates Stereotyping Faced by Latinx People in Soho Theatre Solo Show

West End Actor Interrogates Stereotyping Faced by Latinx People in Soho Theatre Solo Show

by Daniel Miller

Read now