Mark Allen doesn't just want to make his audiences laugh at the Edinburgh Fringe this year; he wants them to leave with an adoptable way in which they can improve their own life... or at least weigh up the pros and cons of slowing it down. Having found himself cursing pensioners for walking too slowly and generally living at breakneck pace, the comedian spent a month actively reducing the pace of everyday life ahead of his fourth show at the world's largest arts festival.

"It's about what happened when I tried to protest against the increasing pace of life by doing everything slowly for an entire month," he tells us. "Turns out you end up annoying quite a lot of people."

Mark doubles up as a talented comedy writer, boasting credits for programmes on the BBC, E4 and ITV, whilst also being a regular on Sky News Review and BBC Radio Five Live. Joining the likes of Five Pound Fringe favourites James Sherwood and Ivo Graham as part of The British Invasion, Mark Allen's Go Slow previewed at the Hollywood Festival Fringe - and went on to be named best comedy show at that festival!

"Winning the award for best comedy at the 2010 Hollywood Fringe Festival with my current show has been a definite highlight," he reflects. "I know I should probably say my highlight is the satisfaction of making a room full of people laugh, but fuck it - I got a shiny trophy!"

Having conducted similar research ahead of previous shows including Pet Project, Mark appears to have found a way of combining his desire to learn with his love for making people laugh. The manner in which he remains true to his own person in his shows brings added pleasure to his career on the circuit.

"It's a bit predictable, but the like of Hicks, Pryor and Kitson are a massive inspiration," he explains. "Not because my style is anything like theirs - it's patently not - but because each of them steadfastly refuses to be anything other than themselves on stage, which is surprisingly difficult to achieve.

The Edinburgh Fringe brings a selection of almost 2,500 shows, so why should audiences come to see Mark Allen's Go Slow? "I am ridiculous enough to think I have the antidote to the rapidly increasing pace of life so if you've ever felt bad about swearing at a dawdling stranger just because you're late for something, my show is right up your alley", he says.

Mark Allen's Go Slow is on at 4:40pm on the 5th-16th and 18th-29th August at The GRV (venue 274). Book tickets at www.edfringe.com