The lovable Kentish comedian returns with a coming of age story told via absurdist, chaotic, theatrical stand-up. ‘A crazy show of chaos and laughs… Jaz Mattu has created something truly unique with this show.’ **** (Entertainment-Now.com). ‘Jaz Mattu is a fearless performer’ (Ben Target).
Would you mind giving us a brief insight into what your show is?
A silly theatrical re-telling of an otherwise traumatic family event and its impact on me. This re-telling is done via set pieces, silly stage effects, music, dancing, karaoke, leaf blowers, videos, monologues, animatronics, videogames and stand-up comedy.
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
So I started writing the show around November last year. As I’m getting more and more extended spots at comedy clubs up and down the country, I started trialling bits out from November to February. Although sold-out previews would be amazing, that only happens in my dreams. Club spots guarantee an audience, albeit a confused one, as most of the stuff I was doing at that stage was half-baked. Then I got my Dramaturge involved, Annie Siddons, who helped me shape the story. I met her when I did the Soho Theatre Labs course in 2020. She has dramaturged on lots of shows but the most recent ones have been Julia Masli’s CHOOSH! and HAhahahah! Dan Lees helped me with performance direction. The wonderful Joz Norris helped me as an ‘Outside Eye’, giving me notes on footage. I also met him in November last year, to go over ideas. Mainly as he asked me what the theme of my debut show was in July last year, to which I said ‘I have no idea’. I wanted to avoid that painful July feeling this year. Finally, Ben Target was my creative consultant and also basically a comedy equivalent of Obi-Wan Kenobi (as a force ghost) for me/the show. Be it me on Dagobah (stuck in traffic on the A11 on the way to a gig in Norwich) or me lost on the planet Hoth (stuck in traffic on the M40 on the way to a gig in Birmingham)…he seems to always appear and offer sage advice.
How does it feel coming to the Fringe?
It feels like I never left to be honest. It was September 2023 then suddenly it’s July 31st 2024. I’m wiser now, indeed I think the pressure is off. Well, there is always pressure, but it is less so. I know my way around town, I know what and where to go. Crucially I know what to avoid. I’m also better at flyering, having grown a thicker skin in doing it. I’ve got less of a stage set this time. Carrying that too and from my venue last year was a pain for everyone.
There are over 3,000 shows at the Fringe. So, what sets your show apart?
The goal of the shows is to always create a unique immersive experience. A tiny pocket world for people to step into. Join me.
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
That the balance between responsibility and freedom is always on a knife edge. Never too late to take more of either one on. During a preview in Hastings, someone said ‘Well I didn’t expect any of that, but I really enjoyed it’. If that happens twenty-two nights in a row, I’ll be content.
Your Ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t…?
It’s always tricky when people you massively respect as comedians are in the audience. That has happened to me in comedy clubs, but not at the Ed–fringe. If a few of my comedy idols were in attendance, I would like to think that they would enjoy it, however, a part of me would be thinking ‘ah I hope they don’t think i’ve plagiarised them’.
Harry Hill would be wonderful, as being from Kent, it always amazed me how he could have come from such a tiny Kent village. In fact, I drove through that village the other day. It’ so…well, its just another small quaint English village. One of thousands. The ones where you sort of have to disappear into your own imagination to avoid boredom.
I definitely wouldn’t want certain work colleagues, from previous jobs I’ve had, in attendance. I’ve had some real nasty bosses in the past, who were all strangely huge comedy/ comedy podcast fans. Proper ‘Im going to make your life a living hell’ bosses. Bizarrely they would be quoting ‘comedy’ phrases verbatim during meetings. I’m quite playful on stage, but no doubt them being there would cause that playfulness to be tested. To quote DMX, ‘y’all gonna make me lose my mind, up in here, up in here’.
It’s an intense month, so where you’re able, how do you plan to relax, and are there any other shows you intend to see or want to recommend?
I have quite a big stage set, so I need to pack it all away. Then I have to go home and shower. Then after that, just go for a nightly walk around central Edinburgh. I went to the Zoo last year, so this year perhaps doing that again.
Oh yes, there are loads of shows I am looking forward to. Trygve Wakenshaw is a huge influence on me, so it will be good to see his latest show at the Assembly. Returning shows such as Lorenzo by the Michael Stipe of comedy/comedy Jedi, Ben Target. A work-in-progress show by the Peter Gabriel of comedy, Joz Norris. Furiozo’s (street fighting clown) returning show about the cycle of male rage. All on the must-see list.
Finally, I’m looking forward to seeing shows by the people I really admire on the circuit, who I am always in awe of and, to be honest, look up to. These include Dylan Dodds (high concept theatrical shows…I better watch out), Rob Copland (somehow alternative and club comedy at the same time), Rob Duncan (relatable clown), Bex Turner (a Brightonian Victoria Wood), Katie Pritchard (Musical Comedy powerhouse who should also be a TV presenter), Ollie Horn and Tom Little (the high-quality standup that all those ‘didn’t happen mate’ Twitter people lament is missing in the modern age).
In your ideal world, how can we improve the Fringe, performance, and the industry?
With London’s Vault Festival going under, it was harder to find preview spots this year to test out my show. It would be amazing if the Ed-Fringe had smaller one-week, or one-weekend festivals all throughout the year. Or if it partnered with other festivals within the United Kingdom. Therefore, giving people a taste of the festival before August, as well as helping people preview their shows. Would certainly save having to go to Australia.
This is an incredibly selfish one, but longer get in/load in times. If it was forty mins in between shows to set up and tear down, wow, would I not be a pile sweat before a show. I say this as last year, due to overrunning, I had five mins to set up on some days. Perhaps venues could compensate by making the festival have more late-night shows, that end at 3am or 4am.
Jaz Mattus Returns runs at Venue 88: Just the Tonis at the Caves (Rowantree Bar, EH1 1LG)
Runs: August 2nd-11th, 13th-18th, 20th-25th
Photo credit -Steve Ullathorne
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