Brennan Reece talks about longing to find 'the one' at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Name: Brennan Reece
Name of Edinburgh show: Evermore
Venue: Upstairs – Pleasance Courtyard
Performance time: 6pm
Show length: 1 hour
Ticket price: £8-10

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your performing background?
I grew up on a council estate in Manchester where you either wanted to grow up to be a footballer or a step Dad. So performing opportunities weren’t really there. But I always knew that I wanted to be on the stage, so I would just do magic and singing for my Mum and Dad and their friends. When I went to college I got into drama, then went to drama school, then became an actor, then became on the dole, and then decided to do stand up once…and 7 years later it has got drastically out of hand.

Tell me about your show, what it is all about?
This show is called Evermore. It is the third part, of a three part trilogy of stories. An hour long story about how I grew up believing that you could never fall in love (because everyone older than me was getting all split up) but having a longing to find the one… Sounds nice doesn’t it…

How long have you been working on this show and what is it that makes it relevant to audiences in 2018?
Most people spend about 6 months of their shows…because I have been busy working on some exciting projects I haven’t had time, so I started it with 40 days to go…

Do you have any top tips for surviving the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – both for performers and visitors to the event?
Make sure you eat properly. You cannot live off crepes for a month, nor can you just eat ice cream. I have tried several times…and ended up ill and with tits.

What has been the funniest or most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on stage?
On my most recent UK tour I was playing a show and when I came out on stage a man wasn’t clapping, just slapping his thigh, I asked him why…turns out he only had one arm!

Who are your biggest inspirations in the industry and why?
I look at the people who have been around forever, the people who have longevity and seem to still love it…The Billy Connolly’s of the world. I love people who love comedy, there are too many people in it for the wrong reasons nowadays.

Do you have any pre-show rituals?
I look at myself in the mirror for about 40 minutes pouting and doing high kicks.

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at Edinburgh Fringe?
The weird shit. I love watching weird weird stuff, people who are just doing it because they think it’s funny. I want to see something I haven’t seen all year round, a man dressed as a goldfish doing puns, or a woman farting into a pint glass and passing it around.

Why do you think people should come and see your show over the thousands of others on at the fringe?
It depends. It depends what you are after. If you want a beautifully crafted hour long story with big laughs and a lot of heart, something that you will think about in 5 months time…come… If you’re after politics or sword swallowing…go and see that.

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