British Comedy Guide

2015 Edinburgh Fringe

Edinburgh Q and A

Katia Kvinge answers 10 Edinburgh Fringe Questions

Katia Kvinge

Katia Kvinge talks to us ahead of her 2015 Fringe show, in which she'll perform 140 characters in one hour.

1. Tell us about your career so far. Are you happy with where you're at?

Had my first stand-up gig in 2011 when I was studying Fine Art at Edinburgh College of Art. While I was at Uni I joined the Edinburgh Revue Sketch Comedy team and would write and perform sketches at our fortnightly shows. After graduating uni I went to study Clowning at Ecollé Philippe Gaulier and then lived, worked & performed in London for a bit before going to America to do Improv at the Second City, Groundlings & UCB Theatre. Two years on I'm back in London and getting my debut hour ready for the Edinburgh Fringe. I'm really happy to be hitting Edinburgh with this mad show after four years of working to get to this point.

2. Describe your show in exactly 23 words.

Just like with Twitter, you can only type in 140 Characters, the show is my attempt at performing 140 Characters within an hour.

3. Why are you putting yourself through this famously stressful experience?

I remember reading a quote that went along the lines of "no one learnt anything while they were content" - it's all a learning process and I know I'll come out of the Fringe a stronger performer with thicker skin and bigger penis.

4. Any cunning plans to get more punters in?

Do an interview with British Comedy Guide.

5. How much money do you think you'll lose/make this year?

I suspect I'll lose a house, visit jail, and make and lose a bit of Monopoly money. But at least I'll own Mayfair.

6. What's your weirdest past Fringe experience?

Every year you see lots of theatre groups on the Royal Mile lying down pretending to be dead but with flyers in their hands for their show, it always looks like someone has gotten fed up of all the people flyering and gone on a killing spree and even the dead bodies of the flyerers are still trying to promote the shows.

7. What other shows are you hoping to see?

There's loads I want to try and see but off the top of my head - Bridget Christie, John Lloyd, Felicity Ward, Trygve Wakenshaw, Adrienne Truscott, Kyle Kinane, Michael Che, Nina Conti, Sam Simmons, Mae Martin & Lazy Susan.

8. If you took over programming a venue, what would your perfect line-up of comedians be?

If it was a U.S. line up it would be - Kristen Wiig, Mia Pharaoh, Will Ferrell, Melissa McCarthy, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Steve Carrell, Chelsea Peretti, Kristen Schaal & Amy Schumer.

If it was a UK/Aussie line up it would be - Bridget Christie, Daniel Kitson, Felicity Ward, Rowan Atkinson, Lou Sanders, Sam Simmons, Cariad Lloyd and the entire cast of Green Wing.

9. Name the one person you'd rather not bump into during the festival.

The mythical beast named Bill Cosby.

10. Why should audiences pick your show over the 1,700+ other comedy offerings at this year's festival?

The show was listed in The Skinny Magazine's 'Top 5 Comedy shows to see in the Fringe', also made it in to Laugh Out London's top character and sketch acts to see! It's also been featured in The List and Edinburgh Festivals Magazine. Where else can you see someone attempt to perform 140 characters within an hour?

'Katia Kvinge: 140 Karakters' is at 7:45pm at Just The Tonic at the Caves on 6-11, 13-17, 19-29 August. Listing


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Published: Tuesday 4th August 2015

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