The Herald is taking a look at some of the artists performing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival - and getting to know the people behind the magic.
Izzy Mant
Tell us about your Fringe show
Polite Club is about the ridiculous things we do out of 'good manners', and the costs of being too polite. It follows my journey to overcome politeness addiction and reclaim rude.
How does it feel to be playing the Fringe for the first time?
It's extra weird for me as I've been to fifteen Edinburgh fringes, as a TV comedy producer and as a director of shows, but never as a performer. It makes it feel like my first ever visit. I'll probably party like it's 1999.
Why did you decide to perform at the Fringe?
I've got an hour's worth of stuff I want to say. And it's the best festival in the world for saying an hour's worth of stuff.
If you were not a performer what would you be doing?
What I've been doing whenever I've visited for the last decade: seeing five or six shows a day in search of people/projects with TV potential, meeting my favourite writers/performers for a chat, and finding out a big famous production company has signed them up the day before I got to them.
Best/worst advice you’ve been given ahead of your debut show?
Everyone will have opinions on your show, and everyone's certain they're right - even though their opinions completely contradict each other. So you've got to find your own path through what you want to say.
Favourite thing about being in Edinburgh?
It's beautiful, it smells of Shreddies and you get tight buns from going up all the steps.
What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?
I learned to dance the Highland fling at ballet school aged 10. I blame ballet for my over-politeness.
READ MORE: Kate Lucas explores advertising and its impact on everyday life in second solo show
Perhaps I'd have done better to stick with the highland fling: it's like ballet but with much more potential to kick someone in the face.
Favourite Scottish food/drink?
No contest. Haggis. The one with three types of bird in it.
Sum up your show in three words
Very little puppetry.
Izzy Mant’s debut stand up show ‘The Polite Club’ will be at the Underbelly Dexter Room Bristo Square at 2.50pm from 31st July – 26th August for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
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