Jake Mace
Su Mi’s upcoming EdFringe show sees them playing their drag persona THISMOTHERPHUCKER, described as a ‘public nuisance’ and ‘dysfunctional anti-clown’ whose only mission is to ‘destroy ego’. We wanted to find out more about what inspired the character and all about the ‘immersive surreal experience’ we’ll be able to encounter them in from the end of this month and into August, so we caught up with Su Mi for a pixelated pint.
You can catch Su Mi: THISMOTHERPHUCKER from July 31st to August 24th (not the 12th or 19th) at Iron Belly at Underbelly, Cowgate from 18:40 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Jake: Hi Su Mi! We last caught up with you way back in 2023 ahead of your VAULT show Banana Beard. Tell us about what you’ve been up to since then.
Su: Hi Jake! Corr blimey has it been that long? Feels like yesterday I was parading about at the Vaults. Since then that show has played at the Soho theatre! Madness! A lot has happened over the span of two years and I have indeed been a busy bee. I’ve currently been working on an ongoing project funded by the BBC creating comedy with other ESEA creatives called Laughing Matters. Been playing a few festivals including Glastonbury, Latitude, End of the road, anywhere they will have me on! Also working on this show! (seamless transition you’re welcome.) It has been a very hectic yet rewarding year for our Su.
Jake: Your upcoming show features a character called THISMOTHERPHUCKER – a dysfunctional anti-clown whose only mission is to destroy ego – tell us about them and what inspired the piece.
Su: THISMOTHERPHUCKER all began less than a year ago. I entered one of the biggest UK drag competitions called TOPOFTHESLOPS (which is basically like Ru paul’s drag race but WAY more grosser / depraved like real guttural stuff) and needed to think of a drag name A$AP Rocky before my first heat and thought wouldn’t it be fantastic if when the host invites me to the stage, they could say ‘ AND WELCOME TO THE STAGE, THISMOTHERPHUCKER!’. Whenever I am THISMOTHERPHUCKER, it’s all about being the dumbest, raunchiest, almost extra-terrestrial version of myself, acting on every intrusive thought that comes to mind.
I’ve been told quite few times that my stand up reminds of their drunk uncle, which I found oddly complimentary. THISMOTHERPHUCKER is not to dissimilar from that and the great thing about the show is that is so dumb, that it feels freeing. Sometimes I feel like the industry and comedy world is ironically so serious. I want this show to be the place where egos are left to die, where we can just fanny about and laugh at each other.
Jake: Tell us about what the audience can expect coming into the show, and what they might not expect about the show.
Su: Look lads. You’re gonna come in. You’re gonna sit down. I’m gonna rough you up a bit. Maybe we will dance a little salsa (consensually). You’ll wake up. In a ditch with no pants on sure, eating a subway sandwich. Absolutely not my fault but definitely been there, but deep down you’ll know you had a damn good time. You definitely won’t expect it. But in your heart, you knew all along.
Jake: What are you hoping the audience might take away from the experience, if anything?
Su: This may feel a bit formulaic to say, but I genuinely want people to relate in some shape or form, to literally any point of the show. There are barely any British Female Asian stand up comedians represented in TV / social media and zero in alternative comedy. For some reason, people love the Takeshi Castle version of Asian culture or have Asian American comedians or International comedians on a gap year to represent us. But that’s not my story. There’s a huge gap in the market for us that no one has utilized. Beef is one of the great TV shows of all time, and sure there are Asian people in it but its not all the forefront of why its as successful as it is. It’s the heart of the characters and substance of plot.
I’ve always been different and it’s been a long journey of self discovery and self love to knowing that the thing that makes me different is actually low key a super power. The gift of knowledge of being born in two cultures is highly relatable to a grand scale of audience. It just takes one person to listen. (More than one is welcome to , please come to my show.)
I also want more than laughter. I want disgust. I want sadness. I want anything and everything all at once. God I feel like that kid from Willy wonka , but I want everything. Anything you will give me. I want such a visceral emotion. I want you to leave confused but wanting more. But more than anything. I want you to have a good bloody time.
Jake: With Edinburgh Fringe 2025 just around the corner, what are you most excited for?
Su: I want that moment of peace during my show. Where I feel like everything is where it should be. I also want to eat copious amounts of redbox (Best chinese take away in Edinburgh – not affiliated with them but absolutely would love to AHEM – get in contact.)
I just want to give it my all and have a good bloody go at it! I never thought I would debut , I never thought this would ever actually happen, so might as well have a crack at it.
Jake: 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?
Su: I think the last interview I said something like a cocktail with a hair in it (was in my fruity era.) But this show, holy hell.
A strong hard thick honest ale, most likely in a sailor’s shoe.
A reminder, you can catch Su Mi: THISMOTHERPHUCKER from July 31st to August 24th (not the 12th or 19th) at Iron Belly at Underbelly, Cowgate from 18:40 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Image Credit: Michael Julings
Lamesha Ruddock
Jasmine Silk
