Drew Michael makes his Edinburgh Fringe debut

Drew Michael already has two HBO stand-up specials under his belt and is now making his UK debut at the world's biggest open-access arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe.

Drew's Adventures is centred around his lifelong journey with progressive hearing loss, employing a trademark confessional, enigmatic style to chart his journey to self-acceptance in this emotionally charged show.

Having also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and written for Saturday Night Live, we couldn't wait to ask Drew about his first UK appearance.

You've performed on huge stages, appeared on some of the biggest talk shows and recorded major specials in the US - how do you think the Pleasance Dome will compare?

The first time I ever performed, it was for one person. There was this variety show at my university, and in order to get on it, I had to perform my set for the person who booked it, one-on-one. Looking back on it, it might have had low-key casting couch vibes. Either way, it's all relative. I like an intimate space, especially for this show. If the audience is attentive and locked in, the size truly doesn't matter.

You use some different technology used in Drew's Adventures. What can audiences expect?

During Covid lockdown, I bought a vocal processor and just played around with it. I figured if I was going to spend a year talking to myself, it would be better if it wasn't my voice all the time. That led to me just talking to myself for a while through different effects and I started to find some stuff I thought was interesting. That became the foundation for a chunk of Drew's Adventures. Then I added a looping station, which is basically a tool for beatboxers and DJs (I do neither in the show, or ever), and gives me a bit more flexibility. I don't like set expectations for the audience, but they can know that there is tech and that I've put more into this than anything I've ever done.

Is Drew's Adventures a sad story? Does it have a happy ending?

Whoa, spoiler alert! I don't like to give things away, but I will say that as much as I am inspired by what's funny, I am just as inspired by the full spectrum of emotion, the depths of our nature, what moves us, that sort of thing. So, you can take that as you will and hopefully that answer is the perfect balance of cryptic and enticing. I assume some might find it off-putting and I'm ok with that.

If you had to describe your style of comedy to aliens, what would you say?

I see things about humans and say them to humans. I am human.

Where can audiences find more about you, do you do the social media thing?

Haha. I love the cynicism built into the question. I can't tell if that's tailored to me or if that's just your own personal intonation. I do exist on social media. You can find me on Instagram (@drewmichael) and I post all my old stand-up to YouTube (drewmichaelcomedy) and TikTok (@drewm1chael). This answer hurt me to type.