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From warehouse worker to Fringe joker – Jacob Nussey on turning Amazon shifts into stand‑up gold

James Macfarlane James Macfarlane
13 Jul 2025

Jacob Nussey talks about his debut show at the Edinburgh Fringe, Primed, and its roots in working at Amazon.

Everyone uses Amazon, so there’s a weird curiosity – I’m in the position to tell people what it’s like from the inside and make them laugh while I’m doing it

Jacob, what made you want to build your first hour around your time working at Amazon?

Every time I mentioned I used to work in an Amazon warehouse, the first question people asked was, ‘What was it like?’ We all use Amazon, so there’s a weird curiosity about it. Everyone has a picture in their head, usually based on headlines, but most people don’t actually know beyond that. I’m in the position to tell people what it’s like from the inside – and give them a laugh while I’m doing it.

Primed lifts the lid on warehouse life with a lot of sharp humour. Was it cathartic, exposing or just hilarious to finally write about it?

It’s definitely a bit cathartic. Obviously there are a lot of jokes you can’t make when you work somewhere. So much of the writing was sifting through ideas I’d been mentally collecting for years. It’s satisfying to finally poke fun at Amazon’s expense – though there are plenty of jokes at my expense too, to be fair.

There’s a real stealthiness to the way the show tackles working‑class aspiration and wealth gaps. How conscious were you of weaving those ideas in alongside the jokes?

I wasn’t trying to make a point – it’s an hour of jokes, not a TED talk. I don’t really talk politics on stage, so it was never going to be overtly political. When you come up with jokes about a topic, themes naturally rise to the surface whether you plan it or not. The show is about my life and experiences and I am working‑class. Working at Amazon was never my dream, so it’s almost unavoidable to touch on that, and it ends up shaping what the show is really about.

You describe the absurdity of job interviews and being rejected before ending up at Amazon. How much of the show is about finding dignity and comedy in places people overlook?

I was never any good at interviews; they’re a mystery to me. But there’s something inherently funny about the fact that nobody really knows what they’re doing and everyone tries to blag them. We’re all in the same position.

Your delivery has been called “hilariously nonchalant”. Does that deadpan style come naturally, or did it develop over time?

My friends and family say it comes naturally. I’ve always had that dry, deadpan way of talking, even before stand‑up. It wasn’t something I consciously developed, but over time I’ve learned to lean into it. The straighter I play something, the funnier I find it. I’ve been told I’m unassuming, so people wouldn’t think I’m a comedian – but I promise I am. Don’t listen to what they say in Mexborough.

You were part of Best in Class in 2023, and now you’ve got your own full run. What did you learn from that experience that helped shape Primed?

It was my first time at the Fringe. Being part of Best in Class made it feel less overwhelming. It’s given me a support network and taken the edge off what can be a daunting experience. I learned so much from the way other comics handled their shows, and it gave me an idea of what to expect from a full run.

You’ve done tour support for acts like Russell Kane and Jack Carroll. Has anything from those gigs influenced the way you’ve approached your debut hour?

They’re some of the best. The way they structure their shows and how polished everything is – I’ve picked up a lot. I haven’t done loads of tour support, but it’s always nice to play to someone else’s audience and adapt. Even though it’s my show, I still have to bring people in and keep them with me the whole way.

The title is clearly a dig at Amazon’s culture, but it also suggests something ready to go. How “primed” do you feel for this next stage of your comedy career?

It definitely started as a dig at Amazon, but I hope it also hints that I’m on the edge of launching. You can prepare as much as you like, but you never really feel ready until you’re actually there and doing it.

James Macfarlane

James Macfarlane

Broadway Baby's Comedy Editor and Scotland Editor. In a previous life James did the same thing for ScotsGay. But we poached him.

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