Name: Copstick. Kate only to close relatives.
Occupation: Writer, TV producer, owner of The Erotic Review
Hobbies: Hobbies? Do I look like a woman with the kind of hobbies I would admit to ?
Favourite part of festival: The feeling of a month full of possibilities.
Most Excited to see: Rhod Gilbert (who should have won the if.comedy award last year), Simon Amstell, Dan Kitson’s new play
Most memorable Festival experience: Seeing Adam Hills for the first time in the Gilded Balloon Backstage 2. I arrived at the very last minute, hot, tired, in a bad mood and carrying a load of camera kit. I was met by a bloke I assumed was a Gilded Balloon employee. He had no idea I was there to review.
He asked if I was OK. And if I had a ticket for the show. I said I it was nothing that a large Jack Daniels wouldn’t fix. He offered to stash my kit safely. Then I gave my ticket to the door staff and went in.
There was about five minutes pause and I was about to make a note about the show starting late when the lights went down and the voice announced Adam Hills. In came the bloke who’d helped with my kit. Bearing a large Jack Daniels. He asked where the stressed lady was and gave me the drink.
Later in the show he noticed me scribbling and asked what I was doing. When I told him he fell about laughing. And read out all my notes to the audience to see if they agreed. He entire audience then wrote a paragraph or two of my review for me.
That and seeing Rob Newman’s comeback show. He changed my life.
Top Festival Tip: Spend at least one day going to free shows by people you have never heard of. Be a FRINGE goer,
Experiment. Don’t ever be afraid to walk out of a show if it is crap. AND SWITCH OFF YOUR MOBILE PHONE !
