Sheeps return to the Fringe with their first new show in 6 years

Mischievous trio Al Roberts, Daran Johnson and Liam Williams - otherwise known as Sheeps - are back at the festival after a 6 year hiatus. They've been pursuing solo projects on and off television. We attempted to talk to them about their new show The Giggle Bunch (That's Our Name For You) and, well... this is what happened...

Boys! We thought you'd gone forever! We're so glad you're back...it's been 6 years since you last performed at the Fringe. Why now? Why 2024?

This was actually always the plan. Before we did any other shows, we had our eye on this one. I'll tell you a story we haven't told anyone.

I am in a dive bar - this would be 2007, or at the absolute earliest 1994. And I'm five foamers deep, with an eye on the sixth. A guy sidles up to me, maybe two seats over and a little behind. Tall guy. Taller than me, in any case. I'm thinking I'll pay him no mind, long as he pays me the same. It isn't a talkin' kind of night. Soon as I know it, the bartender (now very very famous, as it happens - almost as famous as she was back then), slides another cold one my way. I tell her, "do you mind if I order one first?".

I figure if I'm on the highway to hell, I'd sooner be at the wheel than in the passenger seat. Any case, she tells me the beer's on the stranger. The tall one. I turn to look at him but he's halfway out the door. So I stands up and follows him out into the parking lot. He's got one mean lookin' hog between his legs and the helmet's already on. I guess if you put a helmet on a pig it looks a little bit more like a horse, so maybe just slightly less weird that he's riding around on its (fuckin') back. I ask the guy straight, I says "you buy me a beer, friend?" He laughs and admits it. Tells me it's the first of many.

"You know something I don't know?" I ask him. "Giggle 24," he says. "You get me one back in the courtyard some night. It's a long enough month, you won't be short of chances." And off he rides. Slower than a guy could walk, I figure. But off he goes all the same. I head back into the bar (it's 2007, or at the absolute earliest 1994) and I suck down that wet one still foamin' on the counter. "Who was that guy?" I ask the bartender. "Either Al or Liam or Jonno," she tells me. "And you're either Al or Liam or Jonno, as well. And soon enough there'll be a third one, and you'll do Edinburgh a few times, and then in 2024 you'll do The Giggle Bunch: That's Our Name For You." I'm freakin' out at this point, but then she tells me this isn't really happening. And I settle. And I know. This was 2007 or at the very earliest 1994.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to a sketch group just starting out?

Make so hand am pank. Make so hand (I'm rucking here but ferp) am pank. Put so it go but anywane over the hurp. If you have what it takes, that will make sense to you. If you don't have what it takes, find the door, and keep on walkin'.

If you could perform on any stage in the world (obviously apart from the Pleasance Two at 8pm) which one would it be?

Queendome at 8pm. Much better room.

What's one item each of you must have in your dressing room / on your rider?

Huel (flavour free).

Finally, each of you, give one of the other Sheeps a compliment...go on...

Jonno/Liam/Al to Jonno/Liam/Al: You're the best one in Sheeb.