INTERVIEW: Sarah Southern: Scandalous!, Edinburgh Fringe

The biggest arts festival Edinburgh Festival Fringe is back for 2022 (and it's also the 75th anniversary!) The Fringe runs for three weeks, ending on the August bank holiday weekend. This year it starts on Friday 5 to Monday 29 August. 

The last few years show the importance of celebrating the diverse selection of work on display at the Fringe. There is theatre, dance, circus, physical theatre, comedy, music, musicals, opera, cabaret, variety, children's shows, spoken words, exhibitions, and events. There is literally something for everyone in that vast range of work you can enjoy. The 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe features 3,171 shows from 58 countries! There's a full programme available here.

In preparation for the festival, I have some great interviews coming up on Theatre & Tonic to showcase just *some* of the exciting work which is heading up to Edinburgh in August. My last interview was with Abey Bradbury who is bringing a new original musical JULIE: The Musical to Edinburgh in August. You can read that interview here. 

Next up we're chatting with Sarah Southern who pulls the curtain back on gossip and political scandal with her show 'Scandalous!' 

So to begin with, tell us where your interest in comedy came from?

Growing up I always wanted to make people laugh. Being silly was so much fun so why wouldn’t you want to? I loved watching Spitting Image and imitating the political characters on that. Have I Got News For You was firmly appointed television during my teens. 

What is really interesting is you worked in Westminster for a decade. What made you want to create a comedy around political scandal?

There is just so much of it! Feels like we have a new bit of scandal every week at the moment. But maybe a new Prime Minister might bring a close to this almost golden age of scandal. I wanted to write a show about my time in politics so it had to include a bit of scandal. 

Do you have the same political views of the Conservative Party now you do not work in government? 

It has been a tough time for many in politics in recent years for all sides. Friends in Labour couldn’t support under Corbyn and for me I haven’t been able to support the Tories in recent years.  Maybe a change in leader might move my view. 

Do you think it has helped to use your previous role to make comedy out of the scandals? 

My show pulls back the curtain of what happens with scandal. The scandal doesn’t end when the News at Ten finishes. I want to give all the pieces that you don’t normally get to hear about when something hits the headlines. 

You worked for the Conservative Party - is your comedy influenced by those specific political views or have you drawn on a more open minded conversation? 

Not really. Although I worked for the Conservatives I have been distanced from them for some time. My show is more about the trials and tribulations of working in politics rather than policies and encouraging a specific viewpoint. This show is for everyone - no matter their political stance. It is definitely not a political party broadcast for the Tories! 

Have you used any recent government scandal in any of your material to make it relevant? 

There have certainly been some rewrites as some scandals have faded away and new ones have come to the forefront.  A Prime Minister being ousted from office also led to some rewrites and restructuring of the show. Any scandals that come out during the Fringe will be weaved into the show, I’m sure. 

Do you think people may not gravitate towards your show because you were part of the Conservative Party? Or could it have the opposite effect and attract people to have a politician discussion?  

In 2019 I brought a work in progress show to the Fringe called Tentatively Tory.  It focused on whether I could still be a Tory.  I was so delighted when people from the SNP, Labour and many other political persuasions came along and enjoyed the show. It was great chatting with them after the show on their political experiences and the similarities with mine. My shows are about my time in politics not for me to tell people how to vote.

You are performing in an exceptional arts festival but the Conservative party has made huge cuts to the arts over the years - do you agree with the cuts? What would your message be in supporting festivals like the Ed Fringe to the government? 

Having worked in arts fundraising post my political life I know the importance of government support to the arts.  I would like to see a more even distribution of money to the arts. Currently it is still too London focused and the regions can often miss out.   

How do you feel about performing in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year?

It will be great to be back. In 2021 I popped up to the Fringe for a couple of days and saw some shows which were excellent. But the streets were too quiet for the Fringe - it didn’t feel right. I am excited to see busy streets and feel the buzz of the Fringe again.

Besides your show, are there any that you’d recommend that people go and watch during the festival?

So so many but ones I will definitely be seeing will be Jayde Adams, Rosie Holt, Sarah Keyworth, Lauren Pattison, Phil Green, Isabelle Farah, Tom Little and Ada Campe. Sadly I won’t get to see my pal Ayesha Hazarika’s show (it clashes with mine) but people should definitely go see her too.

What do you hope for audiences who come and see Scandalous? 

Of course I want people to enjoy it! But I guess that they feel they’ve seen a show and heard something that they weren’t expecting or haven’t heard before. And if they have a bit of scandal they want to share with me, that would be great. 

Where can people come and see you during the festival?

You can find me at the French Quarter at the Voodoo Rooms at 1.40pm from 6 to 28 August every day (except 25 August. I have to pop to a wedding that day!)

You can purchase tickets for Scandalous! at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival by visiting the website.