Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?
I'm Josh Glanc. I'm a comedy boy from Australia doing a show at the Fringe called Josh Glanc: Manfül
How would you describe your show?
A scrawny dweeb turned hyper-masculine has a 90s-music-fueled product launch but it descends into a surreal and strange gender-quest that inevitably unravels. It's fun and stupid and personal and I like it.
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
I've never performed at the Edinburgh Fringe before and I think it's about time I cut my teeth!
What differentiates it from other festivals?
The location, primarily (but I'm sure there are probably some other things...like the cost of accommodation).
Do you think the Fringe has changed over the years? If so, how? Are these changes positive or negative?
It's my first fringe, so I don't really know, but I'm going to say yes, because if it hasn't changed in 70 years then that's pretty weird, like imagine if it was exactly the same festival as it was in 1947.
What first motivated you to enter the industry? Who were your inspirations?
I love seeing amazing work. I love sitting in an audience and being assaulted with sound and music and humour and being challenged and surprised. I love sitting in an audience and being moved by a performance. I've always wanted to create that for others. I had that feeling when I first saw Otto and Astrid from Die Roten Punkte and I hope that some people (definitely not everyone) has that feeling when they see my stuff.
If you didn't have your current job, what would you probably be doing?
I'd be working as a lawyer, which is what I was doing before taking comedy more seriously. I liked law a lot but as a lawyer I didn't get to poo and bleed and vomit and sing on stage, which is what I get to do now.
If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
Make theatre and comedy all day, every day.
What is your earliest childhood art memory?
I remember my first day of kindergarten when I was 4. I remember walking into the class room and my mum pointing out a student painting and I remember wanting to go up and paint too.
Do you ever feel any pressure to be a social commentator, or constantly update material to respond to events?
My material isn't very political, but my current show is about masculinity, which I guess is very topical at the moment, but it's not so much about masculinity generally, it's more about my own masculine insecurities that stem from my upbringing as a musical theatre-loving Jewish dweeb.
Equally, do you think there has been a shift in public sentiment that has affected your work?
I think audiences today expect their comedians to be very politically correct: to be aware of how a joke might be transphobic or misogynistic or triggering. I definitely like to be aware of these issues but I worry about whether we are too sensitive. For instance, I love Borat and I loved him growing up. My brother, who is 10 years younger than me, finds Borat a little inappropriate and not really that funny. He's definitely wrong. Borat is hilarious, but I think the way my 20-year-old brother thinks is how most younger audiences think today. I think they are very sensitive about gender or sexual politics more than other issues at the moment. I find myself often thinking about whether my material is appropriate and it's a real struggle to grapple with these issues.
Describe the last year in 5 words or less?
Milkshake, neutral mask, ah-ha! and pelvis
If you could work with anybody, from any point in history, who would you pick and why?
Sacha Baron Cohen. I love Borat and I would have loved to work with him on the show (in any capacity!).
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?
As this is my first fringe I'm not sure. I suppose there is less pressure when doing a free fringe show. I'm doing a ticketed event because a ticketed venue saw my show and were happy to program it, otherwise I probably would have done free fringe.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to take a show up to the fringe?
As it's my first fringe I'm in no position to give advice, but one of the pieces of advice I was given was to get accommodation near your venue, but I stupidly didn't listen and now I'm in Leith. So, my advice would be to listen to advice.
When and where can people see your show?
It's on at 9.30pm for the whole festival at Gilded Balloon Teviot.
And where can people find, follow and like you online?
- Facebook.com/joshglanc
- Twitter.com/joshglanc
- Instagram.com/joshglanc
Josh Glanc: Manfül is performing at The Gilded Balloon at 21:30 on 2nd – 28th (not 14th). For tickets and more information visit the Ed Fringe website.
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