Amy chats to Nathan D’Arcy Roberts as he prepares to take his show Present/Tense to the Fringe.
Hey Nathan – here’s your chance to give an elevator pitch, can you give us a brief synopsis?
My show’s about the time I found out a parent was in jail after getting stoned and watching a BBC Three documentary. It’s an hour of storytelling/observational stand-up about how we reconcile our pasts with our present and face up to the things we could spend a lifetime avoiding.
What inspired you to create this show?
I don’t think I had much choice. It’s the story that I found myself thinking about more than any
Have you performed at the fringe before? What are the best and worst parts of performing at the fringe?
The best part of the fringe is getting to perform several times a day every single day for a month. The worst part of the fringe is having to perform several times a day every single day for a month.
What are the main themes within the production, and what can audiences expect?
Masculinity, identity, and fear of the past and their big three themes addressed. Whenever each of these themes is addressed a strobe light will flash and I ring a huge bell just to make sure everyone knows to sit up and focus on those bits.
Finally, with so many shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, why should people book a ticket to this one?
The story at the centre of the show is a genuine one-of-a-kind. You’re not going to see anything like this anywhere else. Also, it’s v funny.
Present/Tense is on at Gilded Balloon Teviot from the 2nd – 27th August at 4.20pm – find out more here!
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