Review: 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)

Ever since I’d blogged about the gargantuan task Kate Smurthwaite had set herself this Fringe, I’d been meaning to get along to her show. Several things have got in the way, and on the day I was finally able to make it, I was going to ask her how it was going – then, I saw there was no need, as she’s just been nominated for THREE Malcolm Hardee awards!

Kate’s show of the day. written in just 24 hours, happened to be named Attenborough’s Guide to Magic Mushrooms. Sounds fun, but I’m still gutted I missed last night’s Wednesday Night Live, which sounded like an absolute blast!

Vibe

The unique vibe of tonight’s show is mainly David Attenborough impressions combined with witty observational comedy about Edinburgh Fringe, a bit of educational mushroom info thrown in, along with and plenty of name dropping and some sex party advice.

Kate reveals her trepidation over doing an Attenborough-themed show, what with the fact we’ve just lost two greats; Dolly Parton and Tim Curry. Attenborough is 100 years old, so is Kate tempting fate? Well, as I’m writing this, so far it seems he’s fine.

The show itself

Kate welcomes us into the Banshee Labyrinth‘s cinema room, and we all take a pew. The show starts with Kate wearing an unbuttoned shirt (the type Attenborough might very well wear) over a dress, and introducing Fringe in her Attenborough voice; an impersonation that works pretty damn well. We go over all the predators we can expect to encounter at the Fringe, and Kate takes a well-earned swipe at the genocide-supporting University of Edinburgh (yesssss, Kate!).

At certain parts of the show, Kate takes off the Attenborough shirt and becomes Kate again, talking us through various name dropping celebrity stories, and the fact she got an environmental science degree mainly as a comeback to people who’d clap back at her in arguments asking where her degree was. We get to hear Kate’s stories about Jeremy Clarkson, John Cleese, Richard Dawkins and Hugh Grant‘s birthday parties – and, sex parties, too (not involving any of those celebs!).

The magic mushrooms aspect of the show is pretty tasteful and respectful towards Attenborough (who Kate loves and whose books and shows contributed to her Open University education) whilst still managing to be funny. There’s not actually any impersonations of Attenborough actually ON magic mushrooms – and that’s fine. Instead, we get to hear about Kate’s own experiences with magic mushrooms, and ponder how great it’d be if they really did (as evidence suggests) aid in helping towards things like anxiety, grief, PTSD, depression and more.

She acknowledges that Attenborough has been following and calling out climate change, what’s happening and why it’s happening for years, when he could just stay in his rich, privileged comfort where it’s safe (like some of his peers do). I share Kate’s respect for Attenborough (who doesn’t?) – however, I can’t personally bring myself to watch any Attenborough shows anymore because I get very upset at seeing animals suffering or dying (so I no longer do that to myself!).

This show was funny, clever, and original – plus, I know I’ve said this before, but Kate is so comfortable and down to earth with her audience that it basically feels like you’ve been welcomed into Kate’s living room and you’re all just there for a relaxed chat and a few laughs.

Overall

Kate seems to be absolutely thriving where a lot of other comedians would most certainly be struggling by now, under the pressure of writing a new show for Fringe every single day! It’s a lot, but it doesn’t show, and Kate brings the energy and relaxed confidence where it just feels like she’s in her element.

I had fun at Attenborough’s Guide to Magic Mushrooms, which felt like a fully fleshed out show and not something the comedian had put together half-assed. I’ll be following to see which suggestions Kate runs with for her next show (I know ‘queer animals’ was thrown in there by one audience member! Brilliant).