After an enforced sabbatical, Eric Meat is back at the office he calls home. Between water cooler gossip, trips to Honkers (everyone’s favourite post-work pub) and a looming appraisal, his loyalty faces its final test. Hilarious, heartfelt and absurd, it’s a story of loyalty, nostalgia and knowing when to let go. How can you come back if you never leave? Best Show Nominee Comedians’ Choice Awards 2022.
Would you mind giving us a brief insight into what your show/event/performance is?
Eric Meat Gets the Chop sees Eric Meat (played by, me, Ali Brice) at the end of a 3-month sabbatical and incredibly excited to get back to work. He has missed all his friends or, as they would prefer he called them, colleagues.
It’s an absurd character comedy show with a lot of crowd work. I get distracted very easily and love talking to the audience. Sometimes I abandon the show completely for what is happening in the room. It’s genuinely thrilling and means that no two shows are the same. I always manage to tell the story, just about.
As much as I love all the shows at the Fringe, I find a lot of them very formulaic.
Come to my show and see some real jeopardy!
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
I am the writer, performer, director, sound director…everything. Although I have had some help from Adam Larter and Sam Bailey, and Beth Story along the way.
This is the first show in a long time that I haven’t had a director, and it’s made the process quite hard and quite lonely.
But I set out to do a crowdwork show, so there’s only so much that can be directed. The rest is up to the alchemy in the room.
How does it feel coming to the Fringe?
Tiring, terrifying, exhilarating, exciting and expensive in equal measure.
With shows from all over the world at the Fringe, what sets yours apart?
Anything can happen. Genuinely. When I say I talk to the crowd and the show goes off on tangents, I mean it. The show is in the audience’s hands.
A lot of the time, things are orchestrated, and the looseness of a show is actually meticulously planned. Cowards.
Come see a man who lives on a thin tightrope between complete success and utter failure.
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
Just that they’ve had great fun and enjoyed an unrepeatable experience.
Your Ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t…?
David and Carole Chapple. They are the best audience members.
I hope Bruce Dessau isn’t there. I spent years inviting him to my shows, but he never came. I’d now like him to know he is banned from my performances.
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?
Nap. A lot.
In your ideal world, how can we improve the Fringe, performance, and the industry?
Stop performers leaving with debt, while the venues, promoters and other people have made a profit. That doesn’t make any sense.
Interested in being featured on our Have a Gander page? With many previews and Q&As lined up, we’re always happy to chat about including your show in future articles. Please do get in touch through the contact page to feature in an upcoming ‘Have A Gander’