Please tell us about your brand of comedy- what can audiences expect?
Kate Lucas
I do musical comedy so the majority of my set is funny songs. Usually anything slightly naughty that you maybe shouldn't say.
Which comedians have been your biggest influence?
I'm influenced by little quirks or phrases from lots of different comedians rather than any one in particular. My favourite comedians are usually nothing like me. Victoria Wood must have influenced me a little bit because I grew up watching her - and I wasn't aware of much other musical comedy - but I'm not much like Victoria Wood. A twisted Victoria Wood maybe...
What random things make you laugh in everyday life?
I find outrageousness really funny. I love it when very confident people have no sense of boundaries or propriety. These people have the freedom that I desperately want and they definitely influence my comedy. I love a sharp wit but I also watched a child on 'You've Been Framed' bounce on a trampoline and accidentally launch her little sister over the garden fence. I laughed for longer than was appropriate, so all sorts really.
Please tell us about your best and worst moment on stage so far.
My best moment on stage was probably at Spank in Edinburgh. It's just raucous and a joy to do but I have a very fond memory of a tiny gig in a pub with my friend Harriet Kemsley (a great comedian by the way) where there was no equipment and she had to step in as my microphone stand. She just stood in front of me hunched and giggling for 20 minutes and it was just bizarre and funny.
I've had people vomit on the table, fight and tell me I'm a slag, so it's hard to choose a top spot but I once did a gig in Watford where I was just singing to a room full of people who were just talking loudly to each other as though I wasn't there. When I left the MC said "Kate Lucas, give it up" and I thought "I probably should..."
Do you still get nervous when you do a gig?
Yes. I'm always nervous. Sometimes I get nervous about not being nervous or nervous about whether I'm the right kind of nervous or the wrong kind of nervous. Yes. I get nervous.
Why is Edinburgh Fringe Festival such a great platform for comedians?
Edinburgh Fringe Festival is a great platform because it's a place where you have total control over what you create, how you present it and a certain amount of control over getting an audience in which gives people the opportunity to do something that is uniquely them. It's an easy place for people to go to seek out rising talent and see it when it's raw and not moulded to fit some other format.
Who are you looking forward to seeing as an audience member?
I'm looking forward to seeing Tom Allen, Tony Law, Johnny Cochrane, Sophie Willan, Harriet Kemsley, Tez Ilyas...I could go on.
What is your advice to aspiring comedians?
Persevere. There will be many obstacles that you have to overcome on your journey so you have to be almost stubborn in your belief. Although if after about 5 years people are coming up to you going "You're rubbish mate, not funny!" then stop persevering ... It's over... Unless you enjoy it then do it anyway. Also it's very important to find your own voice on stage and that can take a while.
What is the oddest heckle you've ever received?
An old lady once shouting out during a pause in a song "NO. NASTY. WRONG." I like how concise she was.
What is next for you?
Ideally I'd like Tim Minchin's career so I guess... kill Tim Minchin? I'd like to tour my own show one day but I'd like to produce some scripted comedy too.
Kate Lucas premieres her debut Edinburgh Festival comedy show WHATEVER HAPPENED TO KATE LUCAS? at the Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker Two for the month of August for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
Tagged in Edinburgh Festival Fringe