Show: Angela Bra: Life Lessons Venue: 32 Below, Side Cellar (August 4th - 14th) Venue Bar 50, Upstairs (15th, 18th-19th, 22nd, 25th-28th) Time: 11:30am Show: Annie and Angela's Disco Divorce Party Venue: Bar 50, Upstairs (4th-8th, 10th-15th, 17th-22nd, 24th-28th) Time: 4pm Links: Profile and Social Media
Tell me about your 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, Angela Bra: Life Lessons.
Angela Bra: Life Lessons is a musical comedy hour of original songs, parodies and pun-based stand-up loosely following part-time primary music teacher Angela Bra’s attempts to become a “social media sensation”. It’s a culmination of a year of in drag, where Angela has gone from primarily an idea online to a regular host of party bingo nights across Greater Manchester and a 2022 finalist in three Manchester drag competitions. As a result, it’s energetic, diverse, inclusive and – thanks to my actual experience as a former full time primary school teacher – clean enough for a 12+ audience.
Tell me about your previous Edinburgh experiences.
In 2017, 2018 and 2019 I performed as comedy rapper of first world problems Andy Quirk alongside my lead back-up dancer (and real-life wife) Anna J. I enjoy Edinburgh for the experience and the opportunity to meet up with like-minded people. Anything else is a bonus.
Who inspires you?
The real-life characters I meet every day – pupils, parents, friends, family.
Why have you chosen to perform as part of Alex Petty’s Free Festival?
Alex is a great organiser and the facilities are as good as, if not better, than many paid-fringe options. The Free Festival makes it possible to create a show where the performance is the focus, rather than the endless slog of ticket sales and marketing in a hopeless quest to break even.
Finally, ask and answer a question of your own.
Why the move from Andy Quirk to Angela Bra?
Friends and family have always known about my gender-fluid side, but thanks to my wife, Drag Race and a general shift in society’s views I’m finally – at the grand old age of 33+10 – able to express myself fully. Fortunately, it turns out Angela is a much more natural fit for my comedy than Andy Quirk ever was, and I’ve already seen a lot more success with her than anything I’ve done previously!
