Alex Kealy is taking on the big tech firms

Big tech firms have all pivoted to business models involving advertising, surveillance, addiction and monopoly, reneging on their previous idealistic visions of what the internet could achieve. Alex Kealy is determined to document this in his show Winner Takes All because it's the big political tussle of the 21st century and, crucially, not because he recently had a break-up and his ex works at Google.

Tell us about your show, including how you came up with the title?

It's a show about Silicon Valley tech monopolies - how they are too big, need to be reined in and how their advertising-based business models have led to addiction and radicalisation. Plus a bunch of observational comedy about my personal life over the past 3 years that I've retrofitted to seem structurally relevant to the show's theme; wait am I meant to be this honest about my "process"?

The original title of this show was Monopoly but I felt it was a bit dry so I've switched to Winner Takes All, and the title is also one of the punchlines which is always A Bit Of Fun.

What are you looking forward to most about coming back to the Fringe?

The return of the ability to perform comedy 4 or 5 times a day: Edinburgh is the only place you can do that for a month. I want to do so many gigs that by the 14th August I am a little Bruce Bogtrotter, with jokes staining my rosy cheeks and yet I power on.

What other shows - including any non comedy ones - are you most looking forward to seeing?

I can already recommend Sara Barron and Pierre Novellie's shows, which were both sickeningly slick at Machynlleth in late April.

I'll also be watching singer-songwriter Cassandra Jenkins at Summerhall on the 21st of August, as her 2021 album was a stunning piece of work that relaxed and invigorated me amidst the grim depressive atmosphere of Lockdown 3.

What was the moment that you knew comedy was for you?

I was on a school trip to a New York-based pharmaceutical company, when I was bitten by a radioactive punchline. I spent 48 hours profusely sweating and vomiting in my aunt and uncle's bedroom, thinking I may not ever be well again, but then emerged with the ability to subvert and misdirect audience's expectations. Sadly, I once chose not to stop a masked robber with a pithy putdown which led to my uncle's murder so now generally trying to use my powers for good etc.

What does there need to be more of in comedy/at the Fringe?

Physical exercise. I'm going to try to do more this year rather than treat every evening as a license to drink late. So if anyone wants to play tennis, hit me up.

What does there need to be less of at the Fringe?

There's a genuine danger the fringe doesn't survive because of the financial risks and pressures artists undergo to attend and perform. Edinburgh council and the university need to think about this in terms of providing affordable accommodation for acts / considering reducing their ground rents for venues, because the overall economic gain the city gets from hosting the festival is massive and they're in danger of collapsing it by making it unaffordable for many acts, who are the draw in the first place, to perform.

What's the joke or quote that you live by?

"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by" - Douglas Adams.