
CB: What is your show about?
BR: It’s about an hour. In length. It’s also about an hour that completely changed my life. From comfortably drifting through life and not even contemplating adulthood, to being forced right into the deep end of life! Although, it’s not as serious as I just made it sound. Like no one died.
CB: Why did you want to write this show?
BR: When you first start comedy your goal is to do 5 minutes. Then maybe 10. If you are lucky enough, you get to do 20. And once you have hit that goal, it is all about writing your very first hour. And I wanted to write a show that was a proper show. That felt worth of a ten quid ticket. So I have pushed myself, pulled my finger out, and tried to make it as good as it can be.
CB: What comedians and comedy writers have impacted the way you develop your show structures and material?
BR: I remember the first Edinburgh show I saw, which was Terry Alderton. And we are no way anything like each other, but seeing him do what he does (if you haven’t seen it…it’s bonkers) and thinking…OH WOW, I DIDN’T KNOW YOU WERE ALLOWED TO DO THAT! So having that allowance to know you can do literally whatever you want with an hour was incredible. Other shows I have seen that I feel have influenced me are the tremendous story telling from the likes of Sarah Kendall and Mike Birbiglia…the absolute showmanship from people like Nick Mohammed and Bo Burnham…and the pure creativity of Trygve Wakenshaw.
CB: What is your advice for new comedians and writers who want to write their first show?
BR: I am not one to give advice…but my advice would be – do what YOU want. You can soak up ideas and techniques, but stick with what you want to do with a show. It is so expensive to take your first show up (average £10,000) so why not risk that money properly and do the show that you feel is best!
Brennan Reece will perform his new show Everglow at the Edinburgh Festival. Tickets