Name: Simon David
Name of Edinburgh show: Virgin
Venue: The Space @Surgeons’ Hall
Performance time: 10.05pm
Show length: 1hr
Ticket price: £10.50, £9.50
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your performing background?
I am a comedian, musician and idiot who’s been annoying his family for over two decades. I graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts a few years ago and have been living a camp, ridiculous life performing in shows, musically directing and drinking Pinot Grigio.
Tell me about your show, what it is all about?
So, I am the next pop superstar but I’m missing a record deal. So to entice important record executives, I’m exploiting my unique selling point: that I’m a virgin! It’s a high energy, pop music, comedy spectacular with original songs about my pathetic love life with my fantastic live band. New pop music from an unpopped cherry!
How long have you been working on this show and what is it that makes it relevant to audiences in 2018?
The show has been three years in the making. We first performed it in 2015 and since then we’ve done the Camden Fringe and Pride In London Festival, each time with big changes to the score and comedy – I always like to keep the stand up fresh or I’ll get bored!
And I think the show is particularly relevant to young people right now. After our first show last Friday, a girl in the audience approached me to say she was still a virgin! I don’t think people are feeling the pressure to lose their virginities as soon as possible anymore, so it’s great to have a show celebrating celibacy that people can relate to!
Do you have any top tips for surviving the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – both for performers and visitors to the event?
Drink lots of water, make friends with other companies, get really drunk the night before your day off.
What has been the funniest or most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on stage?
My god. We have a banging song in the show called ‘Are You Fucking Kidding Me?’ and one night I thought it’d be cool to throw my wireless microphone in the air and catch it before singing the final line of the song. I ended up throwing it at one of the cabaret tables in the front row and knocking a candle off the table and onto the floor. Thank god it didn’t hit anyone in the face and we avoided a lawsuit!
Who are your biggest inspirations in the industry and why?
Chris Larner, who co-wrote the show, first directed me while training at Mountview. He’s a world class lyricist, with his songs appearing in the West End, at Soho Theatre and shows on BBC Radio 4 and touring the UK. He continues to elevate my work and I’m very grateful. Pass the tissues!
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
I do some breathing exercises lying on the floor in the tiny corridor behind our back-drop while the audience stumble in from the bar.
What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at Edinburgh Fringe?
Our pianist, Lauren Ronan has been playing for drag band, ‘Denim’ which I’ll be seeing on my day off. Chris Larner is performing his Spike Milligan celebration, ‘Sockful of Custard’ at Pleasance Dome, and I’m definitely booking a ticket for ‘Shit-Faced Showtime’, purely to see my friend Elizabeth Rowe sing ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ while off her tits!
Why do you think people should come and see your show over the thousands of others on at the fringe?
Virgin has everything you could ever want! Stand-up, banging pop anthems, heartfelt ballads, an incredible live band, audience participation, and if that doesn’t thrill you, a pair of pasty legs that you can have a good laugh at for an hour!
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