The title of the show really says it all: Kate Smurthwaite writes and performs a brand new full-length stand-up show every single day for the entire Edinburgh Fringe based on audience suggestions from the previous day (not Tuesdays).
Known for her sharp, frank humour, wit, militant feminism, embracing challenges head-on, getting political without fear, and generally speaking her own damn mind regardless of what anyone else thinks, comedian Kate Smurthwaite is brave, and an inspiration.
A wee while (maybe a couple of months) ago, as the prospect of Fringe began to come to the forefront of my mind a little more, I wondered to myself: ‘I wonder what Kate’s doing this year…’
Well, it’s this. What is this, exactly? Writing 20 completely different shows, one a day, each written in 24 hours, for the Edinburgh Fringe – based on suggestions from her audience from her show the day before. All of this going on from 8th-30th August (not Tues) at 7.40pm at the Banshee Labyrinth Cinema Room. This is a free, non-ticketed show.
It sounds… definitely brave. And definitely a challenge. It also feels very Kate.
As press, I’ve had the privilege of watching the one preview of this show. I liked it, but let’s examine how things could potentially go wrong (or right).
The rules
There are some rules to the challenge Kate’s set herself. Mainly, that Tuesdays are, without exception, her days off. And, quite smartly, that her shows during this run will be predominantly stand-up but may contain small elements of poetry, music, sketch and other performance types. I feel like this can cover a lot.
Another smart clause in Kate’s rules is that she can reuse a total of three minutes’ material from her previous shows.
I also need to mention that absolutely no AI will be used in the writing of any of Kate’s material. And interestingly, each show will have an individual title, e-flyer and blurb which will be on her Instagram page in advance of the show.
Is it actually possible?
This is beginning to sound like a gruelling August setup for the incredible capable (and ambitious) comedian – but can she do it? Well, Kate’s got a lot of writing chops under her belt, and she’s very experienced at writing comedy fast! Having written more than 25 solo shows since she started in comedy in 2004, and taught comedy since 2009 at City Academy.
She’s also written for TV and radio, typically for topical fast-turnaround shows like Have I Got News For You, BBC3’s BAFTA-winning The Revolution Will Be Televised and recently BBC Scotland’s Breaking The News. Not to mention the hundreds of other performers from famous names to up and coming acts, business people wanting to add humour to presentations and events, best men to drag queens.
So, I’d say that if there’s a chance anyone can actually pull this off, I’d say it’d be Kate. But, if there’s some reason she can’t, she’ll announce it and default to a show full of highlights from previous shows until she’s able to resume. Again, smart!
The responses
The idea has also been described as ‘batshit’ by the comedian herself. There’s been some entertaining reactions from fellow comedians to the news, and here are some of the best:
Mitch Benn: “Never let it be said that Kate Smurthwaite has ever made life easy for herself.”
Alastair Beckett King: “What an incredible feat! It’ll be like watching the trials of Hercules, but more feminist. HERcules?”
Daisy Doris May: “Anything Kate puts her deliciously WEIRD AND WONDERFUL brain to… shall be ultimately something we all need to see”
Russell Hicks: “Most people find stand up terrifying. Then there is the kind of stand up that even stand ups find terrifying. This would be the latter. But then again, Kate Smurthwaite can do anything. The smart money is on Smurthwaite. I’ll be watching through clasped fingers.”
Adam Bloom: “This will be very interesting since the best comedian who ever lived couldn’t come close to achieving this.”
Carly Smallman: “This entire concept is my worst nightmare”
Markus Birdman: “I struggle to write a new show every year, how Kate is gonna pull this off, Lord knows. But If anyone can, Kate can! Also, I suspect she’s an atheist, so let’s leave the Lord out of it. Worth going, just to witness this incredible feat! And her incredible feet. Plus, the beauty of this, you can KEEP going every night.”
Lucy Frederick: “That’s deeply courageous, insane and brilliant!”
Friz Frizzle: “Are you okay?”
Mister Meredith: “Please do not do this. I have to share a flat with you.”
James Ross: “This show idea is entirely within Kate’s abilities. Even a minor failing or lapse, a single underwhelming punchline, across the whole run will be indicative of her complete artistic failure, and also a moral judgement on her personally.”
Kate’s own thoughts
Thinking about all of this has slightly melted my brain a little, and I’m not even having to worry about it! So, here’s what Kate herself had to say about it:
My main concerns are if I am unwell or have to deal with major external problems. I also just don’t know what this will do to my mental wellbeing. On the one hand I love challenges and I love writing comedy. I’m excited to do it all day every day. I will take Tuesdays off fully.”
I’m still onboard, however, I prefer to reserve my opinion until I see what Kate comes up with during Fringe itself, and plan to attend at least one of the live Fringe shows at the Banshee.
Kate is also opening up the option of sending in topics by email to [email protected] – for those who cannot attend the show (or are planning to come the following day).
This means that if anything funny occurs to me, and I save that email address, I can and very well may, suggest some random things that come to me throughout my own Edinburgh Reviews Fringe challenge. We’ll see.
Again, you can see Kate Smurthwaite writes and performs a brand new full-length stand-up show every single day for the entire Edinburgh Fringe based on audience suggestions from the previous day (not Tuesdays) from 8th-30th August (not Tues) at 7.40pm, Banshee Labyrinth Cinema Room, free (non-ticketed).
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