SHAPPI KHORSANDI
No more donkey work
Shappi Khorsandi is finally enioying herself. Goaded by friends into entering the BBC New Comedy Award in 2000. the Iranian-- British comedian got through to the final. despite her objections (she finds the concept of being compared to a tap-dancing donkey slightly bizarrel. She then toured the USA With her brother and their show. How to be llama/i. But now. after years of trying to 'SingIe-handedly eradicate female circumcision'. she admits: “I'm Just haVing fun.’
She is pleased \vith positive feedback from the media. but says. 'l'm always slightly taken aback when I am referred to as a "female". Oh yes! So I am.‘ Her one-woman show at the Fringe this year is all new material.
got an opinion about a show?
'lt's stand-up. it's personal. It's about me
and what's in my head.
really.’ But. sadly. despite how she imagined comedy to be as a child. ‘there is
32 TH! LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE 3‘ J...—‘ Aug 533;?
no taprdancing donkey'. (Anna Shipmani
I P/ei'isarice Courtyard. 556 (3550. 7—25 Aug (not 73).
8. 75pm, {iii—$39.50.
Mike Gunn shoots up
MIKE GUNN
Smoking Gunn
Mike Gunn is a pessimist. 12 years of heroin addiction can do that to you. But under his lugubrIOLis demeanour there might be a sliver of optimism. Depends how you look upon a man bringing a show about drug addiction to the Fringe and calling it comedy. 'But who said I thought it was going to Succeed anyway? he says. So definitely a pessimist. then.
Gunn‘s anecdotal tale meanders through the ‘before. during and after“ of 12 years of addiction. from hanging around the gutters of Piccadilly to rehabilitation (he's been clean for 15 yearsi. ‘I now even have credit cards With my Own name on them.‘ he qus.
But Surely a tale of drug addiction is mOre Kilroy than comedy? ‘There's loads of humOur to be found in drug addiction.‘ he says. reaSSuringly. And also Quite an apt SUDJGCI fOr Edinburgh. 'lt is like going to Mecca.‘ says
Edinburgh or Busted? Allen Chalmers. Sandy Nelson and John Ross reach for the stars in Stand Up: The Musical
Gunn. 'And I'm sure if it wasn't for whisky, methadone would be the most popular drink at the Fringe' More than a few hardened festival goers w0u|d drink to that. (Edd McCracken) I Pleasance Dome. 556 6550. until 25 Aug (not 5. 72). 9.350m,
£‘5—£‘ 10.50.
TINA KIM
News anchor to stand- Up
Former news
anchor reporter Tina Kim is making her festival debut With Single 8 Available. HaVing swapped the newsroom for the stage. she says: "Working as a YOICVISIOH news reporter has given me some great stand-up material.
‘l'm happier not being hugely overrated.’
for
see non—festival magazine
It's amazing how white people think I'm always some other ASian they saw.‘
Tina says her show is about ‘being an Asian- American woman grownig up in America. It focuses on my loony family. and the dumb guys run into
. I guess you could compare me to the American Bridget Jones. but sriiarter. more honest and funrner.’
Tina moved from Korea to Seattle when she was four years old. As a female. Korean stand-up she's something of a rarity. but what's truly unusual is she's also a Robbie Williams fanatic. ‘lt really sucks when y0u are the only American in love With Robbie Williams. If Robbie came to my Show I ir/Ould probably faint Or have an orgasm on stage.‘ (Carolyn Rae) I Gilded Balloon Tewot. 226 2757, (—25 Aug. 17.45pm, [9—00 (EB—£39).