2015 Edinburgh Fringe

Brendan Murphy answers 10 Edinburgh Fringe Questions

Brendan Murphy

Brendan Murphy is the first comedian to undertake our 10 question interview format...

1. Tell us about your career so far. Are you happy with where you're at?

I started performing comedy in 1994 as Birmingham's premier 7 year-old comedy magician. I mainly worked the living-room circuit at Murphy family gatherings but was soon forced to change my act due to alleged similarities between my performance and Tommy Cooper's.

Consequently, I took a hiatus until 2011 when I relaunched myself as an improviser. I play short-form Whose Line... style stuff with the award-winning BattleActs! and I do long-form narrative improv with The Beau Zeaux (both of which are at Edinburgh Fringe 2015).

Last year I came to Edinburgh as part of a double-act with musical comedian Jenny Bede, but BAGMAN is my first solo effort. It's big and stupid and free. You'll love it.

2. Describe your show in exactly 23 words.

A stupid, surreal, one-man Sesame Street without the puppets. A deadbeat character comedy. A journey through the contents of a forgotten cloakroom.

3. Why are you putting yourself through this famously stressful experience?

Three Words: Get. Rich. Quick.

4. Any cunning plans to get more punters in?

I plan to flyer very intensely. I'll probably only spend an hour or so on it each day, but that hour will be really freakin' intense. Weirdly, off-puttingly intense. Lots of eye-contact, you know? Worryingly intense.

Also, it's a free show at midnight in the Pleasance Courtyard, so hopefully some poor drunken idiots will wander in by mistake.

Bagman. Brendan Murphy

5. How much money do you think you'll lose/make this year?

Well, it's a free show (did I mention that?) so it's really quite hard to gauge. It would be fantastic if people donated enough each night to break even and I'd be particularly happy if I could afford to pay my next month's rent.

6. What's your weirdest past Fringe experience?

Arthur Smith's Alternative Walking Tour of the Royal Mile. There are some things you can't unsee.

7. What other shows are you hoping to see?

There's some great improv in Edinburgh this year with Austentatious, Folie A Deux and The Free Association. Then there's character comedy from Joseph Morpurgo, musical comedy from Jenny Bede, and some pretty great alternative stuff from Phil Mann.

8. If you took over programming a venue, what would you perfect line-up of comedians be?

Louis CK (because obvz) / Sara Pascoe (super smart) / Tony Law (super surreal) / Rachel Parris (super songs) / Lazy Susan (super sketches) / Alternative Comedy Memorial Society (super society).

9. Name the one person you'd rather not bump into during the festival.

Dave Benson Phillips. I ain't getting no gunge on me for no one.

10. Why should audiences pick your show over the 1,700+ other comedy offerings at this year's festival?

It's stupid, surreal character comedy with a couple of songs and sock puppet. It's totally free and in a lovely venue. Also, you get a sweetie at the end which you can either eat or throw in my little Irish face. Oh yeah, and if you come to the show there is a very high chance that the very next day you will meet the man/woman/pet of your dreams and win the lottery.

Brendan Murphy performs 'BAGMAN' at the Pleasance Courtyard at 11:59pm on 7-16, 18-23, 25-30 August. Entry is free. Listing

Published: Thursday 16th July 2015

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