The award winning Gadabouts are back with their mad hatter surreal sketches and daft songs. Following their 2008 Fringe debut, Matt Rudge and Joe Bor unleash their supa-dupa un-PC British comedy show at the Pleasance Courtyard throughout the duration of the Fringe.
Not only talented comedians, Matt Rudge’s documentary on autistic young adults which aired last night on BBC3 was superb and insightful work.
As I try to suppress my giggles I’m so glad we are not filming this interview, anyway let’s cut to the chase and learn more about these two gifted communicators…
1. What inspired you to become a comedian?
MATT: I always saw stand ups on TV when I was a kid – we used to sit as a family on a Friday or Saturday night watching ITV – I remember going to bed trying to write a routine. I met Joe on the stand up circuit and so we started writing together, then joined forces into a stand up/sketch duo.
JOE: I just wanted to dress up a bit more than I could in an office job. They used to look at me funny when I would turn up as a school-girl.
MATT: Let me answer these questions Joe!
2. What’s your show about and what should the public expect from your show at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
MATT: Unlike stand up shows we don’t necessarily decide on a theme or a USP. We try out sketches and characters and keep some and throw away the others, then it all comes together as one pile. Then we argue. A lot! Joe just wants to do sketches where he can dress up and I want to keep it minimalist. However this year it’s noticeable that a running theme throughout the hour is ‘employment’ and the futility of a 9-5 existence. I don’t know if that was because of the economic climate, but those are the sketches that audiences went for.
JOE: My favourite is the tooth fairy sketch. I get to dress up as a fairy!
MATT: Joe. Let me do the answers!
JOE: I get these really nice lacy wings!
3. What was the last Fringe or Festival you performed at and what was it like?
MATT: I was compere at Newbury Comedy Festival in June and July. I like the feel of fringe festivals. You get a certain crowd. Obviously nothing is like the scale of Edinburgh Fringe. Nothing comes close. Nowhere else would you have people throwing deep fried pizza at you at 4am.
JOE: I broke into a costume shop and held my own festival – does that count?
MATT: You aren’t allowed to talk about that until the court case is over.
JOE: Sorry!
4. What are your funniest and worst experiences performing in front of an audience?
MATT: I was once heckled by a drunk burly goth in Leicester. But it wasn’t the kind of heckle I could do much with. It was a long groan during every story. In the end I just said “how the hell are we going to resolve this so I can get on with the show?” he shouted “with a fight” – I joked ”only if its naked” – he then stripped off, joined me on stage, and hugged me. Weird!
JOE: That was me. I dressed up as a goth!
5. What’s the best and worst advice you have ever been given? And did you follow it?
MATT: Worst? When Joe told me “She’s definitely not a man”. But that isn’t Edinburgh related. The best – “Just have fun”. That was the same night!
JOE: Best? Buy a big wardrobe, you can’t have too many sumo wrestler outfits.
6. What are you most proud of and what dreams or goals would you like to fulfill?
JOE: Did I mention my lacy tooth fairy wings?
7. Which three famous people would you invite to dinner and why [dead celebrities included]?
MATT: I would invite Dario Fo, the Italian political satirist – he is one amazing man and sells out stadiums with his one man shows. Harold Pinter and Spike Milligan.
JOE: Long John Silver and General Custer. Just so I could try on their clothes.
8. What is the best book or books you have read and why?
MATT: I’m sure people hate him but I always like a John Le Carre novel. The ‘Absolute Friends’ was my recent favourite of his about two colleagues from The Cold War who are then caught up together again with the launch of the War on Terrorism. It really hammered it home what these wars are politically all about.
JOE: Mine was The LadyBird Book of Costumes.
9. Tell us 5 interesting and unknown facts about yourself?
1. Joe has two bum holes, although one is medically called a fistula.
2. Matt has not got two full testicles after he was injured in a bar brawl.
3. Both of us have been nominated as Comedian of The Year.
4. Joe’s granddad designed Milton Keynes.
5. Joe has not worn underpants since school when he caught his red pants climbing a fence, was left hanging by them, and all the girls laughed at him for an hour until they got a teacher!
10. If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?
MATT: I would change Joe! I think the majority of our global problems stem from Joe! I don’t have the actual science but if Joe was a bit less neurotic I think swine flu would instantly be wiped out! If Joe cut his toenails more often I don’t think we would have war! If Joe stopped talking about costumes maybe we could get more interviews and a better show together!
JOE: I’m not sure there are enough shops that sell dressing up accessories.
Tags: 2009 Edinburgh Fringe, Autism, autistic documentary, Joe Bor, Matt Rudge, The Gadabouts