"Do it but only do it when you think you really have a good show. It’s too stressful and expensive to do it if you’re not really bringing something worthwhile."

"I have been coming to Edinburgh for nearly forty years now, and it never disappoints."

"I was always told I was funny but had no idea it could be a career. The idea of making a living off of jokes was very intriguing to me."

"When you fall in love with making art, as I did, as a kid, you’re not thinking of being motivated to get into an industry. You just want to tell stories and entertain and make people feel stuff and change the bloody world. Lofty ideals that crash and burn but that I cling to nevertheless."

"The pandemic... also gave us an opportunity to test the show out more thoroughly as well as spend some time redeveloping the script. We’ve definitely had to rethink our “spit handshake” finale!"

"The last 2 years have definitely impacted the way we made our new work. We spent a lot of time on Zoom, talking, writing and creating on our own, a very different approach from Casting Off which was created on the training floor, trying new tricks, letting our lives interrupt and inspire us."

"You could burn down in flames, or your life could change forever. Either way, it’ll be a crazy ride you’ll never forget."

"I used my savings to book two weeks of clown school. It was two of the best and hardest challenges of my life. You go on stage and perform these ridiculous tasks and he’ll tell you “what you did was detestable.” It was hilarious and freeing."

"If you want to feel better about your own dysfunctional romantic relationship, this might be the show for you! We have been married for ten years and have the therapy bills to prove it."

"Being a part of a festival that is so sprawling and has such variety is an inspiring thing. Also, the ups and downs of it forge a bond with your fellow performers like no other."

"There’s been a three-year creative backlog within my loins which I can’t wait to release. That sounds more sinister than enticing, doesn’t it?"

We speak to Dave Chawner about his two solo shows, 'Underdog' and 'Mental', heading off to Edinburgh Fringe