Would you mind giving us an insight into what your show/event/performance is?
Leo Hincks: Emotional Cowboy is a one-man show which sees a stand-up set go very wrong. I perform as an exaggerated version of myself trying to pull off his debut comedy hour, after losing the Chortle Student Comedy Awards in 2024. The stand-up show turns into a surreal nightmare as I try to find what will make me important to an audience. It’s filled with pop-culture references, performative monologues, movie parodies, diary confessions, slapstick clowning, grief and of course, jokes!
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
Not to pat myself on the back too hard but the show is written, performed and self-directed by me. I promise I’m not a full blown narcissist (despite the contents of the show), I just didn’t want to inconvenience anyone else with the making of the show. The process involved me writing down random gibberish from my head and piecing it together until it made a coherent story.
My wonderful friend Rosa Melvin helped produce the show in Bristol and London and now the amazing InterTalent comedy are taking it to Fringe!
How does it feel coming to (back to) the Fringe?
I came last year for a week with my uni drama society for a show called ‘Thirsty’, it was a proper coming-of-age fun time. The downside to a one-man-show is I don’t have cast-mates to eye-communicate with when a show is going badly. I also came in 2024 for the Chortle Student Comedy Awards which was so surreal.
I’m excited to be coming back, because this is my debut show and I’m here for the whole month, it feels like my first proper Fringe.
With shows from all over the world at the Fringe, what sets yours apart?
My show really comes from my heart, however irritating and intense it is. I’d be extremely surprised but also very excited if another show contains a dramatic monologue about never being cast in Matilda the Musical. It’s a distorted stand-up show that stems from my own specific fears, insecurities and nightmares.
On that, is there anything in the production or production team’s backgrounds which influences the way the show is performed or told?
Whilst there isn’t an extensive production team, there is a long list of people who kindly donated their voices to the show. I didn’t want to feel too alone doing the show, so my friends play various voice lines. My friend Cici Hughes does a wonderful Graham Norton impression that I got to utilise for a great scene. As for myself, I grew up obsessed with Comedy and Film which becomes very evident in the show, I’d say there’s probably a pop-culture reference every ten seconds,
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
I honestly hope the audience leaves feeling better about themselves. Whether that’s in a ‘he’s awful, I’m so glad I’m not him’ way or in a ‘that made me laugh and wait… maybe I connected to the underlying themes’ kind of way. As long as there’s an audience I’m happy.
Your Ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t…?
The show is for any of the following: People who love alt-comedy, people who are upset they never got to be a child star, people who overshare on their notes app, people who think everyone hates them for no reason, anyone who just wants to laugh at Fringe.
The show is not for any of the following: The guy who tripped me up by laying on the floor when I was in year 7 – that hurt so bad.
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?
The show is for any of the following: People who love alt-comedy, people who are upset they never got to be a child star, people who overshare on their notes app, people who think everyone hates them for no reason, anyone who just wants to laugh at Fringe.
The show is not for any of the following: The guy who tripped me up by laying on the floor when I was in year 7 – that hurt so bad.
Leo Hincks: Emotional Cowboy runs at Venue 14 Turret at Gilded Balloon Teviot
Runs: 5th – 31st August at 15:50pm
Photo credit – Rebecca Need-Menear
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’