The Edinburgh Fringe is almost upon us and to get prepared for another Scottish summer Read About Stuff is running a ‘Five From The Fringe’ interview series, where creative teams answer five questions about their upcoming Festival shows.
In this interview, I chat to Tom Johnson about their new show Armageddon Outta Here.
Can you tell me a little about your show and what audiences can expect?
Armageddon Outta Here is a fast-paced sketch comedy about the end of the world as an asteroid hurtles towards Earth. As civilisation unravels, the polite disguise drops and we begin to see humanity at its most depraved, ghastly and dense. We’ve just come off the main stage at the Rik Mayall Comedy Festival, where we performed with a 24-piece brass band.
What drew you to this specific story, and why does it belong at the Edinburgh Fringe?
I’ve always been drawn to theatre that pulls comedy from bleak or difficult situations. The apocalypse is a handy backdrop because it lets you push everything to the extremes while still being truthful to the sorry and strange moment we’re living through.
The Fringe feels like a suitable host for it because most audiences are open to risk, chaos and being part of an experiment. And this show thrives on all three.
What has been the biggest challenge in bringing this production to life?
Admin. Burdensome admin and paperwork. I’m not built for it.
How does the design of your show (set, sound, or lighting) impact the presentation of your story?
You’d have to ask Rhys, our technician. Assuming we pay him on time, it should all make perfect sense.
If you could sum up the show in one word or phrase, what would it be and why?
Vaudevillian. It’s theatrical, absurd, slightly dangerous. Not dangerous in a pretentious drama school student way by doing a play tackling late-stage capitalism through the medium of chairs, but dangerous in a way where my head gets used as a battering ram, Rob and I do punch each other, and there are DIY pyrotechnics in my trousers.
Armageddon Outta Here runs at The Saloon Bar at Just The Tonic at Westside Rodeo (Venue 25) from August 6th – 17th. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/armageddon-outta-here
