The Edinburgh Fringe is 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 Linus Karp about Linus Karp Was Hit With An Umbrella.
Can you tell me a little about your show and what audiences can expect?
Linus Karp Was Hit With An Umbrella is about a hate crime I was the victim of, where a man I’d never seen before hit me with an umbrella (surprise!) in the head with such force the handle fell off, and shouted how he would’ve killed me. The show talks about the incident, the aftermath and the following police investigation. It may sound heavy, but I feel like it’s, somehow, a really funny show centred on queer joy.
Besides that, I am also bringing back Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story for the final week, which is a ridiculous celebration of Princess Diana, especially as a queer icon. It will be the fourth time it returns to Fringe, the love that show receives in Edinburgh is unreal!
What drew you to this specific story, and why does it belong at the Edinburgh Fringe?
It’s a lived story that I felt important to share, especially in times like these, where queerphobia is on the rise and LGBTQ+ hate crimes have risen 112% in the last five years.
What has been the biggest challenge in bringing this production to life?
Because of the topics it has been a challenging one to write, I’ve had to look closely at experiences around queerphobia – both my own and others. It has felt scary to do a show that is so deeply personal.
How does the design of your show (set, sound, or lighting) impact the presentation of your story?
The set is unreal. Damien Stanton has designed a queer version of Soho in the style of courtroom stencil, full of details and the odd Easter Egg. Composer and Sound designer Kate Marlais has made some very sexy sounds for this, and James Appleby’s LX design is beautifully queer (esp for a straight man!).
If you could sum up the show in one word or phrase, what would it be and why?
A hate crime comedy
Linus Karp Was Hit With An Umbrella runs at Underbelly Bristo Square (Venue 300) from 5th – 30th August. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/linus-karp-was-hit-with-an-umbrella
