Shay Mace
Glasgow-based Canadian comedian Kate Hammer brings her debut hour, Government Approved Comedian, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe next month. Drawing from the stress of navigating the UK visa system to secure her Global Talent status, and outlasting four Prime Ministers in the process, we caught up with Kate to find out how she plans to turn the bureaucratic absurdity and pressure of constantly proving one’s worth into comedy.
You can catch Kate Hammer: Government Approved Comedian at Monkey Barrel Comedy on August 3-30 (except August 19). Tickets are Available Through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Shay: Hi Kate, tell us about ‘Government Approved Comedian‘ and why you have decided to bring this to the stage now?
Kate: They say a trouble shared is a trouble halved, and since getting my visa was one of the most stressful periods of my life, I figure sharing it everyday for a month to audiences will make me so carefree I practically float on stage. It wasn’t funny at the time to have to prove my worth to the government, but looking back on it, I’ve already outlasted four Prime Ministers. Who’s laughing now? A: Everyone who comes to my show.
It’s wild to see the rise of anti-immigration sentiment around the globe, especially in my home city of Glasgow. So I’m here to spread some immigration JOY.
Shay: Tell us about your process for putting together this hour – what do you do to get yourself motivated and what challenges have you found with this material?
Kate: I love shows where everything, or as much as humanly possible, ties together. It doesn’t need to be in a cute little bow – but it scratches a particular itch when a show rewards me as a viewer for paying attention and remembering little bits throughout that come back in new ways. So I’ve been building something that is not only extremely funny and entertaining, but leaves people with a sense of satisfaction. I also want to make people question the idea of having to prove oneself, for anything and everything. If I have to prove my worth to the UK, my audience should have to prove they are good enough laughers to be there.
To keep myself motivated I often tie a piece of cheese to a stick and hold that just above my laptop. This makes me focus on writing excellent material, knowing if I generate enough funny things, I will soon be rewarded by a bit of cheese. I call it mouse writing and I highly recommend it.
Shay: Tell us about your comedy icons – who are they, and how have they influenced your work?
Kate: Stuart Laws is one of my comedy favourites, he’s constantly writing and blending material with crowd work – and I cannot believe he agreed to direct me this year. Can you imagine?! Being directed by an icon? I don’t have to. I’m living it. Meet your heroes, it can never go wrong.
I also loved watching Red Green (Steve Smith) while growing up, a Canadian comedy staple that inspired me to garner laughs with a mix of silly wit and big, slapstick style stunts. I have never before or since witnessed comedy that so deftly utilises duct tape in every gag. He really made the show STICK together.*
*The comedy in my show will contain zero puns like this. I apologise.
Shay: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Kate: I find the nearest person to me and say, “You know what? I’m just going to have fun with this one.” Because I can take comedy very seriously, it’s good to remind myself that I’m essentially a court jester for a living. Though, it weighs heavily upon my shoulders that I cannot pull off the fool’s hat. Cue sad, clown jingling.
Shay: What do you do when you’re faced with writer’s block?
Kate: Whenever I feel as though I’m not writing enough (or enough good bits) I try and go back to the basics and ask myself what the smallest observation is I’ve noticed recently? Or what has really been pissing me off? Once I start complaining about vital and important issues, such as how difficult printers are to use these days, it helps me get back on track. Because why do I need an app to print something off? Why is ink more expensive than race-winning horse semen? How come it keeps saying it’s out of paper when there is SO much paper in that goddam drawer, I could make a paper chain that reaches Shetland and back and you’re saying it’s empty? I get that 3D printing is fun but I really think we haven’t figured out 2D printing yet. Anyway, I rant until my smartwatch signals a stress warning and then I make it funny. Works like a charm.
Shay: Has/will the show be performed anywhere ahead of EdFringe?
Kate: Yes! I’ve done it in Glasgow a few times, have my second preview in Edinburgh at Monkey Barrel on July 18th, as well as heading to Leeds (July 13), Newcastle (July 28), and London (July 29), and then I’m opening for the incredible Paul Black in Glasgow on July 30th. I won’t be performing the show at that last one, but I just think it’ll be a really great time and I’m going to ask what Paul is wearing for it and then show up in the exact same thing. Fun!
Shay: With EdFringe now just around the corner, what are you most excited for?
Kate: Honestly, performing this show everyday from August 3-30th (not the 19th). Yes, I have to do comedy nearly constantly to keep my visa valid, but I also GET to do comedy. And I really love finding any way to make a room full of people laugh as much as possible. I will get you. I will find a way to make you giggle. I am Sisyphus and I’m having a wonderful time pushing this delightful boulder!
Shay: Given the themes of Binge Fringe, if your show was a beverage of any kind (alcoholic, non-alcoholic – be as creative as you like!), what would it be and why?
Kate: Chocolate milk. I used to make fun of my mum for ordering chocolate milk at restaurants while everyone else was having wine and pints, but now – I get it. The world is a complicated, messy, often dark place right now with not a lot of ways to make it feel like we are ever doing enough. It can get me down. But know what’s always there for me? Chocolate. Milk. My calcium levels are off the charts and I am strong. Your constant change of Prime Minister cannot break me. I am strong.
A reminder, you can catch Kate Hammer: Government Approved Comedian at Monkey Barrel Comedy on August 3-30 (except August 19). Tickets are Available Through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Image Credit: Chris Dudley
Lucy Best
