An Interview with Sharon Em

Sharon Em is at the Fringe for her third time – we thought we’d see how she’s getting on

Hello Sharon, so where ya from & where ya at, geographically speaking?
Hey – I’m Irish but I live in Amsterdam.

Why Holland in particular, & what is the comedy scene like in that corner of Europe?
I moved there independently of comedy for a job. I moved there before I ever picked up a mic. I started stand up about 6 years ago when the English language comedy scene there was quite small. As a newbie I stared an open mic under the name Weird Uncle Comedy (which has grown since then) to get stage time. In the last few years, the scene has really grown, not just in Amsterdam but all over the country. We are getting a lot of international headliners coming over also as there are also some great shows to play, which ultimately grows the scene for all of us. One difficulty is ensuring audiences are aware of the difference of a free/ cheap open mic versus a professional show which charges a fair ticket price for the level of comedy. It may seem obvious in the UK but stand up is still a relatively new concept in NL and we are still not there yet!

When did you first realise you were funny?
I think I’ve always been told I was funny, it was never a realisation as such, as I was just being myself. I think coming from Ireland – cliched as it sounds – we are generally funny as a nation. The most banal interactions are hilarious, and humour can be found in every situation.

You’ve got three famous comedians (dead or alive) coming round for dinner. Who would they be & what would you cook; starters, mains & dessert?
Id have to cheat and get my boyfriend to cook – he’s a great cook. I’m brutal, Id live off coco pops if I had to cook for myself or just throw cheese and salt on everything.
I would request him to make a Masaman Thai curry as main, fresh spring rolls as starter and his insanely good coffee chocolate cake as dessert – bit heavy but so good.
I’d invite Alexi Sayle, Bill Baley and Kiri Prichard McLean.

When did you first find yourself getting into professional Comedy?
It was something I always wanted to do but never dared, coz it wasn’t for someone ‘like me’. A friend some years ago really wanted to give it a go, so I tried to find him spots etc, he sadly passed away having never done it and in finding some meaning in that grief I realised maybe I should just give it a try. So, I did and I fell in love with it and never looked back… well mostly never looked back. 😊

This is your third Fringe – what are the main impulses behind returning?
Its an addiction! I love it – the buzz of being part of the festival and getting inspired by so many great shows and seeing people you wouldn’t see much over the year. I also think for me, it has made me a better comedian and MC. I see it as a boot camp where if you bring a focus or a goal to work on for the month you can really see the benefits after you get back on the circuit. It’s tough to get through the month but the rewards are huge in terms of growth as a comic.

You’re bringing a new show to this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, what are you adding to the comedy table?
Its my debut solo show called “I Know a Guy” its a compelling and funny true story about getting kidnapped as a toddler! Its about how a mystery illness meant I couldn’t have contact with my parents for a few years after I was born. When I found out (at 30) bad decisions and patterns started to make sense. Its a funny way of connecting who you are as an adult with things that happened when you were a child. Some stuff you may not remember or even be aware of. Ireland is a character in the show too – its a common occurrence that people find something crazy out about a family member after they die or something comes to light years after those involved though it was long buried. People do tell me their uncovered secrets after the show and I love hearing them. I think people leave having laughed at a funny show and in many cases having a renewed curiosity about finding out more about a family member or story.

That is a lot to bind together, what is the common theme?
The common theme is getting on with this thing called life! You are dealt a hand of cards and you get to decide how to play them. The common theme is how family, culture and larger society have an impact on all of us without us often realising. Sometime an awareness of that can make us more resilient.

What have been the biggest obstacles you overcame while putting your show together?
Self doubt. I never imagined this story to be a show, it was an anecdote I told people in less than 2 minutes! One of the people I told (luckily) was the comedian Matthew McAloone and he immediately recognised what it could become. He believed in it as a potential show and he agreed to direct it. That was invaluable as he really helped me see the story from a different perspective, which can be difficult when you’re so used to considering something so subjectively. He had the patience (a lot) to help me unpick the threads and help me overcome a huge amount of self doubt by his trusting in the story and in my ability to write and tell it.

What is your last-minute routine before stepping out on stage?
I try find a few seconds to do a stretch, or maybe a power pose and breath into the ground. I need to feel that I am in my body and not just in my head.

You’ve got 20 seconds to sell the show to somebody in the streets of Edinburgh…
A family secret revealed that I was kidnapped as a toddler – why and by whom is a mad story and its all a bit twisty! Come to UnoMas at 19.15 daily (ex Weds) and hear the funniest kidnapping story ever – spoiler alert – we are all fine!

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