Shay Mace
Dee Allum returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year with a new stand-up hour, leading with the fascinating declaration that ‘football is, of course, gay.’ Common knowledge, says Dee, but important, nonetheless. But could it also be – transgender? Following her triumphant debut hour Deadname, we caught up with Dee for a pixelated pint to talk all things football, genitals, and her new show Raumdeuter.
You can catch Dee Allum: Raumdeuter at Upstairs at Pleasance Courtyard on August 5th – 30th (not the 18th) from 16:10 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Shay: Hi Dee, tell us about the unique combo of themes you’ve put together for your EdFringe hour this year.
Dee: The show is about two things: the World Cup and transgender surgery, and turns out it’s a year for both. In the show I try to tie in my own story to England’s wider story, and figure out whether it’s still okay that I want England to succeed even if it doesn’t always seem like that feeling is mutual.
It’s also got a lot of jokes about genitals, so we’re going high and low here.
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?
Dee: This is such a good question, as whenever I am sitting down to write something I struggle to see how anyone ever does. I am told this is pretty universal, and honestly thank God. I think making anything from scratch is always going to be tough, and until it exists in real life instead of just in your own head it’s always hard to be absolutely certain you’re having good ideas. But the audiences for the work in progress shows have been so kind, and it’s such an indispensable part of the process. The audience is always right!
Shay: Tell us about your comedy icons – who are they, and how have they influenced your work?
Dee: Is it to basic to say Stewart Lee? It’s always Stewart Lee. The first comedy set I remember really properly losing it at Marcus Brigstocke’s Live at the Apollo set from about 2009 (truly a gorgeous joke about bitumen). And the first piece of live comedy that truly shook me to my bones was Sheeps’ first show in I believe 2011. They did a sketch about an on-location reporter talking to the studio with a delay that fundamentally altered my brain chemistry.
Shay: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Dee: I try to remember to shake my arms, legs and jaw, just to remind myself that they’re there. I have a bit of stuttering when I get nervous so I go full drama student and say some tongue twisters into a mirror. I also get horrifically anxious, which is less a ritual and more of a debilitating mental health condition, but would be remiss not to mention it.
Shay: Has/will the show be performed anywhere ahead of EdFringe?
Dee: I have some work in progress dates just before heading up: 24th July at the Oxford Comedy Festival, 25th July at KH Comedy Fest in Birmingham, and 31st July at the Pleasance in London. If you’re not heading to Fringe, come on over to any of those (or all, if you’re a superfan).
Shay: With EdFringe now just around the corner, what are you most excited for?
Dee: I love the Fringe! It’s such a nice place to spend time, and the more you can make of it the better. It’s easy to do too much, and it’s a long month, but I’ve never left at the end of the month and felt anything other than joy for having been there.
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?
Dee: Vanilla vodka and root beer. It’s an odd combo, but the more you drink the more you say ‘hey, this could have been much, MUCH worse.’ It’s also surprisingly sweet! Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it!
A reminder, you can catch Dee Allum: Raumdeuter at Upstairs at Pleasance Courtyard on August 5th – 30th (not the 18th) from 16:10 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Image Credit: Matt Stronge
