ED FRINGE 2023 INTERVIEW | James Carroll and Alex Mentzel, Ed: The New, Totally Unofficial, Ginger-Inclusive Parody Sketch Show

In preparation for the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Emmie chats with James Carroll and Alex Mentzel who have created Ed: The New, Totally Unofficial, Ginger-Inclusive Parody Sketch Show.

1. Let's begin by pitching your show at the Ed Fringe, tell us about it?

Sheeran lawyers look away now. Fresh from two sold out runs, Ed: the sketch show is 50 minutes of tight sketch comedy and Sheeran-adjacent remixed pop hits, with a glittering live band and Rosie Parrish as Ed! Gingers and non-gingers are welcome (though gingers get a G.I.P. lane at the theatre for fast track entry). Can Ed deal with fame, fortune and being ginger? We chart the story of a ginger pop sensation, champion auburn culture, and satirise the music industry. Edinburgh preview audiences loved it ('First class... So clever... Didn't stop laughing') and Varsity newspaper said we were 'a reminder of the comedy songs of Bo Burnham ... Hilarious lyrics ... Instantly in stitches' - we'll take that! They also said ‘Don’t miss out on this Perfect production’ which even for us is maybe one pun too far. 

2. Where did you draw your influences from for this piece?

We wanted to create a cheeky and raucous night out and we thought a 9.50pm comedy show with a woman playing Ed Sheeran and an ensemble cast playing 30+ other parts (with lots of gender-swapped characters) was the way to go. Bullied on the playground as a ‘carrot-top’ and ‘orangutan’, Ed laments the ‘terracotta jail’ of his unfortunate hair, and reaches out for support from the ‘two percent with an auburn heart’ to overcome the spooky growing pains of adolescence. And who can't relate to that? We love Fringe stalwarts like Frisky and Mannish and wondered if anyone had yet done late night musical cabaret comedy on the topic of our ginger superhero.

3. What are the challenges of bringing a piece to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?

The fact that even when you know you have a great show - you've still got to find an audience! We've done two sold-out runs including at a really good theatre for fringe work the Canal Cafe in London (which has a resident sketch company). We'll be pounding the Royal Mile, offering lots of discounts and promotions, and generally being shameless self-promoters while trying to see as many other comedy shows as we can. And obviously there's the finances. Lots of our company including 19-year-old Rosie Parrish, who plays Ed, are making their Fringe debuts - so in a way not knowing what to expect makes it slightly easier! (We think...)

4. What can audiences expect from your show?

 A laughter-filled night out, slammin’ the music industry’s peccadilloes and celebrating Ginger Pride, through the medium of a 50-minute sketch show about Ed Sheeran, in the iconic venue of ZOO Playground. With pop music. And some adult humour. Basically, come along! It'll be fun! And there's a VERY special surprise for a certain someone, as well as mystery guests. It's a riot. 

5. What are you most looking forward to during your time in Edinburgh for the festival?

Connecting with Fringegoers and other shows. There are always hidden gems and you never quite know where the night is going to end. 

6. What are the main things within your piece?

Our full title is Ed: the new, totally unofficial, ginger-inclusive parody sketch show. It's fast-paced, scripted sketch comedy with plenty of short musical numbers thrown in with a 3-piece band. Will Ed avoid the rat-pack Music Mafia trying to co-opt his talent? Can he outsmart the boffins at Streaming HQ? How do his loop pedals feel when they get crushed! (It gets surreal.) And what’s going on with his feather-jacketed ‘rocketman’ mentor? These are all common, everyday problems we all face.

7. Where can people come and see your show?

9.50pm for 50 mins at ZOO Playground 2, 4-19 Aug 

Further ticket information can be found on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe website.