Ellie Taylor brings her Edinburgh Festival debut show to the Fringe, all about looking at love, life, Matalanand other such hard-hitting issues, like Russian foreign policy. Martin Walker talks to Ellie via email.
The best experience would be any gig where you feel the comedy stars have aligned. A night where everything for whatever reason, just works - you were great, the audience was great, the atmosphere is magical.
“My show is about all the big issues: Russian foreign policy, cats and how to get a sparkly finger decoration to prove a man owns me. “
Why did you choose to perform as part of Laughing Horse?
“I’ve been part of the Laughing Horse Fringe for the last couple of years - it’s always been well organised and I’ve always really enjoyed it, so it seemed to make sense to take my first hour up there with them.”
Why did you get into performing comedy and how did you get started?
“Boring office job plus lust to show off plus wanting to impress a new bloke I was dating equals signing up to an open mic night.”
Tell us your best and worst experiences as a comedian.
“The best experience would be any gig where you feel the comedy stars have aligned. A night where everything for whatever reason, just works - you were great, the audience was great, the atmosphere is magical. Those are the gigs where I want to stay on stage forever. You leave feeling like you can do anything, that you love comedy, that you are a rock star, that life is amazing and you have the best job in the universe!
“...Then there’s the flip side when you are on stage and you know you are absolutely dying. The audience doesn’t relate to anything you’re saying, they kind of hate you, you kind of hate them and you both struggle through for 20 minutes with a mutual disdain. Leaving a gig knowing that a room full of people have the firm opinion that you suck balls is pretty horrid, but I find a long train journey and a few gin in a can's can help you through. Plus you usually have a gig the next night any way so you soon eradicate the memory. It’s like when you break up with someone - the only real way to get over them is to embark on a new relationship with someone else. So if you die in Stoke on Friday, a steamy session with Leicester on Saturday can cheer you up a treat.
“Soaringly high high and plungingly low lows. Thats the weird game that we play.”
If you were curating a stand up show for television, who would be your guests?
“Victoria Wood, Tim Minchin, Joan Rivers, David O’Doherty.”
Broadway Baby Listing and Edinburgh Fringe Box Office: http://www.broadwaybaby.com/shows/ellie-taylor-elliementary/701443
Website: http://www.ellietaylorcomedy.com/
Twitter: @EllieJaneTaylor
Facebook: Ellie Taylor
