After an amazing response last year we have once again resurrected our Brighton Bites mini-interviews. These short and snappy Q&As offer an, occasionally witty – often hilarious, insight into the acts strutting, sailing, surfing (insert preferred form of transport here) in to join the line-up of England’s largest arts festival, Brighton Fringe. 2018 was a record-breaking year for the Fringe with over 575,000 people attending the festival; and with 2019 promising to be more inclusive than ever, our Bites aim to give you a taste of what’s in store across the 4,500+ events and performances that are on offer.
Next up, Luke Rollason tells us about his work-in-progress show Infinite Content which he’ll be performing at The Warren: Theatre Box.
Describe your show in one sentence?
A slapstick Black Mirror which will feel exactly like sticking your head inside the internet, and where I may or may not really be a robot trying to harvest your personal data to sell you mouthwash.
Why Brighton Fringe?
Because the people of Brighton are absolutely unique Fringe audience members, in that they are simultaneously A) in general, unaware a Fringe Festival is happening where they live and B) absolutely fine with the fact that a Fringe Festival is happening where they live. They are sweethearts.
How did the show get to where it is today?
The show began when I managed to fill a 20 minute Sofar Sounds gig by pretending to be in VR, making silly noises with my mouth. I started the set inside a giant Amazon box, humming the 2001 Space Odyssey Theme Tune. I got paid a disproportionate amount of money and thought, I reckon I could make an hour-long show here. Not much has changed, except now the show is a life-changing piece of slapstick satire. Who knows what it will be tomorrow, however.
What do you think sets your show apart from all the other festival offerings?
As a clown show about algorithms, the show will change massively every day. Who knows what people will find entertaining!? (Me. At least, I should. That’s meant to be my job.)
What show do you not want to miss at this year’s Brighton Fringe (apart from your own!)?
Tom Curzon’s Map Man. He’s the tallest, sweetiest, beardiest idiot I know. And Christian Brighty is Grandad in Grandad: Grandad’s Grandad-Themed Family Reunion. He’s not tall, sweet or beardy but he is wearing an inflatable fat suit and waving hands made of baguette at the audience at close range, so he’s got that going for him.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given, or would give, for performing at a fringe festival?
Wash your costume, sometime.
With the theme of this year’s festival being ‘DARE to Discover’, we’d like you to tell us a TRUTH – something about you or the show that fans may not know.
My phone’s screen is in black and white to make it less distracting. But now I am performing with my phone onstage all the time, I’m constantly having to take it on and off this setting, which probably leads to me wasting more of my time than I would being distracted by my phone.
Infinite Content runs at Brighton Fringe from 3-6 May 2019. Brighton Fringe takes place between 3 May – 2 June 2019; www.brightonfringe.org
Nicole Craft | Image: Contributed
