Alys Metcalf & Roxy Dunn say YOU ONLY LIVE FOREVER at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Name: Viscera Theatre (Alys Metcalf & Roxy Dunn)
Name of Edinburgh show: You Only Live Forever
Venue: Studio Four, George Square, Assembly, Edinburgh
Performance time: 13.35
Show length: 1 hour
Ticket price: £9 (£8) / £11 (£10)

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your performing background?
We’re a producing team and comedy duo focussed on Comedy and New Writing. We met at drama school a decade ago and then founded the company (Viscera) when we left. Our last Edinburgh show, In Tents and Purposes received a 5-star sell-out run at Assembly before transferring to SOHO Theatre and touring the UK. Our web series Habits was recently awarded Runner Up in the Funny Women/Comedy Central UK short film competition, and we have TV projects in development with Hartswood Films and Merman.

Tell me about your show, what it is all about?
Love, life, and death – all great themes for comedy! Someone who saw our preview described it as “Black Mirror’s San Junipero meets Saturday Night Live” which seems pretty apt.

How long have you been working on this show and what is it that makes it relevant to audiences in 2018?
We attempted to start writing it back in January, but invariably we were still finishing the script until mid-way through the rehearsal period. (That’s the benefit of being the writers as well as the performers – we can edit as we go!) Not to give away any ‘spoilers’ but as well as the age old relevant themes of mortality and relationships, there’s the very topical issue of anti-aging drug research currently being done in Silicon Valley – which is central to the piece, whilst being dealt with in a very tongue-in-cheek fashion.

Do you have any top tips for surviving the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – both for performers and visitors to the event?
Visitors – you won’t be able to see everything – avoid the temptation to feel FOMO.

Performers – Go and watch shows as well as performing your own, it’s really easy to get caught up in what you’re doing, so get out there and enjoy what’s on offer.

What has been the funniest or most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on stage?
Probably the fire alarm going off half-way through a performance during Edinburgh last year and having to pile out with all the audience and wait with them ‘in character.’ (It was a false alarm luckily).

Who are your biggest inspirations in the industry and why?
People who write honestly and comically. Big inspirations of ours are Sharon Horgan, Broad City, Tina Fey…people who nail exploring the funny in the day-to-day stuff – friendships, relationships, careers etc.

Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Alys has to say ‘Remember: enjoy it, listen, and have fun’, at least nine times before we go on stage, as we wait in the wings. It’s really relaxing. Oh, and we do a little dance to the pre-show music to get us pumped.

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at Edinburgh Fringe?
Too many shows to name! But particularly looking forward to seeing Kate Kennedy’s show, Hunch and Graham Dickson’s show, Timber.

Why do you think people should come and see your show over the thousands of others on at the fringe?
It’s got something in it for everyone – it’s funny, poignant, and time-hopping. Not to mention – it’ll leave you feeling uplifted.

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