Search

Toggle dark mode:

Saved articles

You have not yet added any article to your bookmarks!

Browse articles

GDPR Compliance

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service.

No Strings Attached: Max Fulham is Bringing Home the Bacon in his Fringe Debut

Stuart Mckenzie Stuart Mckenzie
19 Jul 2025

We spoke to native Scot Max Fulham about his upcoming Edinburgh Fringe debut, FULL OF HAM, and the childhood experiences that led him into the world of ventriloquism.

The vibe I like to create is that we are all together in a room and I have some very fun things to show you, so come along and have a laugh!


Max, in the last few years you’ve made colossal strides in your act and are now ready to take on the Pleasance. From childhood memories of the Fringe, how does it feel to be making your Edinburgh Fringe debut – and will you be visiting the old stomping ground in Linlithgow?

It is truly special, and I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if not for the Fringe growing up. The Royal Mile was the first place I saw variety, with its many street shows, and some standup acts my dad took me to (which I was definitely too young for) were the first time I saw comedy in the flesh. It’s perhaps not quite momentous to say it was a childhood dream, given the nature of the Fringe, but it’s undoubtedly one born in the heart of the festival. And it’ll be nice to catch up with various Scottish friends while I’m up – plus it’s useful to know the lay of the land and be properly equipped to handle the temperamental Scottish summer.

You’ve mentioned before that your first puppet was one your parents bought you when you were nine – did it have a name? And growing up, did you have any influences in your routine or in creating your characters?

My first puppet didn’t have a name. It was a little pink sock puppet – simple, but one I instantly fell in love with. Teddy bears are cool, sure, but why not have one that comes to life? Since then, I was hooked on puppets. It sounds a bit sad, but it’s served me well, and it gave me opportunities to perform at school assemblies – some of my first gigs. I used to repeat lines from The Two Ronnies on the Gold Channel, nicking a few gags from them (I was unethical as a child!), but they gave me the much-needed experience of how two people work in tandem for comedy. That’s been intrinsic to my own routine – albeit with the added pressure of tiny me on my shoulders as well.

You have many marionettes in your puppet arsenal – the boisterous Grandad and Gordon the Monkey, to name a few. Can we expect to see any new characters debut this summer?

Oh yes, several – depending on how you count them. There are new characters coming into this show and it’s very exciting, very fun exploring them. I’ve worked with Grandad since he was born because, well, he’s my Grandad. But it’s also been fun getting to know some new characters and seeing where they take the show. There are some new occurrences in this show too – from my wisely or unwisely unleashing of intrusive thoughts, to spiritual awakenings and processed meat. It’s definitely a jam-packed, vibrant act. As soon as one character departs, another will be along in just a moment.

You manage to blend realism with comedy so seamlessly. What can audiences expect to see on the Fringe?

I think it plays with ventriloquism in quite a different way. In some moments, it’s exactly what people think ventriloquism is – but then it takes a new direction. To anyone new to ventriloquism, I’d say come and see it live, as it’s so much more entertaining in the flesh. There are still lingering preconceptions about the art – I had someone ask me recently whether they were coming to a comedy show or a ventriloquist act, as though the two were mutually exclusive. Full assurance to Broadway Baby and its readers – this show not only explores characters but sketch comedy too. The vibe I like to create is that we’re all together in a room, and I’ve got some very fun things to show you. So come along and have a laugh!

Finally – we’re all excited to see your fabled talking ham. But what’s your favourite type of pork?

Well, for nostalgic purposes – and this is a big old hint – I would have to say the hit children’s Billy Bear ham. Is that meat content even legal? These questions and more will be answered in the show.

Stuart Mckenzie

Stuart Mckenzie

Stuart is a freelance journalist with over 13 years of professional experience, writing for various newspapers including The Scotsman, inews and The Student Wordsmith. Since joining Broadway Baby in 2013, Stuart has had extensive encounters reviewing various fields, with a particular focus on comedy, music and theatre. He has worked as the Broadway Baby music editor for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival since 2017.

Related to this article:

Les Miserables
Phantom of the Opera
Matilda
Popular now
Wicked
The Play That Goes Wrong
Lion King