Jake Mace
Fusing pounding techno, personal footage and humour, queer performance legend Katy Baird’s upcoming EdFringe show Get Off explores her journey ‘chasing pleasure’ and trying to make sense in the chaos of it all. Katy is aiming to offer up a raw, funny, painfully honest trip through desire, distraction and survival. We caught up with Katy for a pixelated pint to find out more about the show.
You can catch Get Off from August 20th to 25th from 22:50 (60mins) at Main Hall at Summerhall. Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Jake: Hi Katy! Your upcoming EdFringe show Get Off explores what we crave, what we hide and the lengths we’ll go to feel something in a world that won’t slow down – tell us about what inspired the show.
Katy: Hi Jake! I made Get Off while trying to work out how we’re all surviving day to day without completely losing it.
I was thinking about how we’re constantly chasing something – stimulation, distraction, validation. We’re told to hold it all together, stay productive, stay positive… but that’s not real life. Life is chaos. It’s shame and joy, collapse and craving.
Get Off is a chance to be together and feel something in a world that rewards individualism and disconnection.
Jake: Tell us about what the audience can expect coming into the show, and what they might not expect about the show.
Katy: Expect a proper night out – loud music, bad behaviour, and no one pretending to have it all together. It’s part rave, part confessional, part public meltdown. It’s messy, alive, and sometimes a bit gross but in a good way of course!
What might surprise people is how much of it is grounded in care. Underneath it all is a real attempt to connect. I think people come in expecting something wild (which it is), but leave having felt something a bit deeper.
Jake: What are you hoping the audience might take away from the experience, if anything?
That it’s OK to not have your shit together. That we don’t need to tidy ourselves up to be seen.It’s not a show that hands out answers but I hope people leave feeling a bit more connected – to themselves and to each other. You might laugh or cringe. But you definitely won’t leave feeling nothing.
Jake: With Edinburgh Fringe 2025 just around the corner, what are you most excited for?
Katy: My show’s on late this year, so I’m hoping I’ll actually get to see loads of the other amazing artists performing in Edinburgh. There are some brilliant things at my venue, Summerhall – I’m especially excited about SLUGS by Sam Kruger & S.E. Grummett. I’m also really interested in the new venue Shedinburgh and what they’re doing this year. And I’m a big fan of SERAFINE1369, who’s performing as part of the Here and Now showcase.
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?
Katy: A flat Diet Coke you find next to your bed in the morning – and still drink.
A reminder, you can catch Get Off from August 20th to 25th from 22:50 (60mins) at Main Hall at Summerhall. Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
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