‘It makes me feel like Sally Bowles in Cabaret which is, of course, every girl’s dream’: Edinburgh Fringe Q&A – Isobel Rogers

Writer, composer and comedian Isobel Rogers makes her Edinburgh Fringe debut this summer at The Pleasance Courtyard with her musical comedy show How To Be Content.

She’s taking a journey through influencer-ism and girl-bossification, exploring the superficial dilemmas we constantly face through an hour of irreverent, inventive and bitingly witty songs.

Here, she answers our festival Q&A…

How are you feeling ahead of making your Fringe debut?

At the moment I’m feeling good because I’ve just sung along to one of the songs that’s got a piano backing and it’s currently my favourite to perform. It makes me feel like Sally Bowles in Cabaret which is, of course, every girl’s dream. When the music stops and I reflect on ‘what it all means’ I get nervous, but I’m so thrilled to be doing my show every night at the Pleasance; I really love it there and can’t wait to get into performance mode as that’s the best bit. The rewrites and edits leading up are thrilling in a more solitary, caffeine-high kind of way.

What’s your show all about?

I’d say its a collection of extremely fun songs – almost short stories – that explore falling in love under imperfect circumstances, wondering when’s a right time to have a baby, regressing into a teenager when you stay at your mum’s house, and the difference between looking after yourself and having so many boundaries that you don’t talk to anyone anymore.

How did you bring together your musical talents and comedy?

I had a residency as a musician at the Roundhouse years ago which gave me the space and time to write. They were mostly quite ethereal, guitar-girl poetic songs developed from characters in books and plays I liked but I then wrote one called ‘coffee morning with the girls’ which looks at the humour and worry under the surface of throwaway chats, and started writing more in that mode as it felt more real and audiences really respond to it. Now lots of the lyrics cover the ambitions we have for ourselves under the conflicting circumstances we might be in or all the seemingly meaningless thoughts we have. These can be made to feel both important and ridiculous with music, and I love that contrast.

If you were in charge of the Fringe, what changes would you make?

So if we’re in pretending mode I’d want to be in charge of the Fringe under a government that puts money into the arts at grassroots levels, in communities and at early years stages. Where creative pursuits are seen as activities that everybody can participate in rather than as a privileged activity. I think being in charge of the Fringe where arts funding is selective and limited creates a culture of competition, and we’re all at our best when we’re supporting and collaborating with each other. So I guess I’d lobby for structural and societal change as head of the Fringe which would probably distract me from the original job description and I’d get behind on my emails.

What’s your favourite spot to visit in Edinburgh?

I haven’t been in years so ask me again after this year – let’s do a post festival Q&A? But I did go to Mosque Kitchen a lot, Brass Monkey was a fun hang-out and wandering down through New Town into Leith was a calming contrast to the central buzz.

How have your previous experiences of the festival been – either as a visitor or performer?

I had a great year when my theatre show Elsa was on at the Pleasance for 5 days and I did some Work In Progress shows in a pub for most of the month. That felt really fun and free as I’d finished Elsa and I could play with new ideas in the WIPs. It was only high-risk personally as I’d written a very specific seven minute song about someone I’d just broken up with thinking I wouldn’t see him again and then he text saying he was coming to the festival. I remember telling the other comics I was splitting the bill with not to flyer him. I quite like looking back at the Rom-Com drama of it all now.

What essential item are you packing to survive a month at the Fringe?

Ear plugs…I must get my beauty sleep and am living in a possibly quite lively area. My problem is I expect Taylor Swift levels of self care whilst living on a limited budget / in student accommodation.

Who’d be your dream: podcast guest / co-host, wrestling tag team partner, comedian to split a bill with

I would love to interview Tim Minchin on a podcast and talk to him about his approach to writing songs / I’d also be up for supporting him on a stadium tour if that’s an option.

Who else are you looking forward to seeing at the festival?

So excited to see Amy Gledhill’s show, I shared a preview with her back in June and the room felt buzzy with the ideas and jokes she was exploring. I love the honesty of Jessie Cave’s work so I’ll definitely want to see her show. Also, sketch group Sheeps, Kemah Bob, Colin Hoult, Jordan Brookes, Kate Chekha, Jake Roche, Cat Cohen, Sara Barron, Chloe Petts, Lorna Rose Treen, I could go on.

Isobel Rogers: How To Be Content is on at 5.50pm in Pleasance Courtyard from the 2nd – 25th August