UK Pun Championships winner Darren Walsh debuted his thirty minute show I am a Giant at last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe to rave reviews. This year he brings show of new jokes and daft nonsense where the ultimate question will be answered: Chicken or Meow? Martin Walker converses by email.
It’s stuff that sometimes doesn’t have a beginning or end, just a middle bit and there’s loads of puns in between.
Tell us about your 2014 Edinburgh Fringe show.
“It's called Chicken Meow! (The exclamation mark is part of the title; I didn't put it there out of excitement).
“It's a thirty minute follow-on from last year’s show I am a Giant and it’s another fast-paced collection of gags, drawings, music and surreal nonsense.
“I’m also doing the Big Value showcase at Just the Tonic and an improvised pun chat show called Atella the Pun, with Leo Kearse. I’m going to be busy.”
Tell us about your involvement with Heroes of Fringe/ Bob & Miss Behave's Bookshop
“Last year was great and, well Bob said I had to do it. I think it’ll really take off this year as they have a front of house/ticket person, so it has all the benefits of both the Paid-for and Free Fringe.”
How do you describe your comedy to people who haven’t seen you before?
“It’s stuff that sometimes doesn’t have a beginning or end, just a middle bit and there’s loads of puns in between.”
If you were to write a book of your life so far, what would it be called?
“It's funny you should ask that, I have just signed a book deal. It's a Joke Book, which encompasses about 1000 1-liners, and 300 drawings, coming out in November.” (Link below).
If you were curating a stand up show for television, who would be your guests?
“I'm not going to list any new acts as most of them are my mates and us comedians get sensitive. You can't help thinking, Why didn't they mention me? when you read this sort of stuff.
“But as far as established acts go, I’d have Kevin Eldon, Tony Law, Sam Simmons and Stewart Lee with maybe Frank Skinner as compere.”
Broadway Baby Listing and Edinburgh Fringe Box Office: http://www.broadwaybaby.com/shows/darren-walsh-chicken-meow/701543
Website: http://iamagiant.co.uk/
Twitter: @theGiantTweets
Facebook: https://facebook.com/thegiant
YouTube Clip: https://youtube.com/watch?v=myulPiIkE1g
Book link: http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/editions/pun-book/9780099599548
