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‘It often felt like an elaborate prank being allowed to work on Starstruck’: Edinburgh Fringe Q&A – Nic Sampson

Nic Sampson
Nic Sampson.

Having co-written and starred in the hit comedy series Starstruck alongside fellow New Zealander Rose Matafeo, the latest project for Nic Sampson is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe.

He brings his second solo hour Yellow Power Ranger to the festival, detailing how, when he was 18, he stepped into one of the famous suits and played the Yellow Ranger.

Now, years later, this shy and humble star is inviting his fans to a never-before-attempted cast reunion…

Here, he go goes and answers our festival Q&A…


How are you feeling ahead of this year’s Fringe?

I’m feeling strong and supple. I’ve subscribed to the highest tier of the Joe Wicks app where he comes to your house and sits on your shoulders while you do squats. A word of advice though: sometimes he refuses to get down and will stay up there for hours shouting about mental health and occasionally asking for a handful of nuts or dried fruit.

What’s Yellow Power Ranger all about?

When I was 18 in New Zealand I was cast as the Yellow Power Ranger in the 14th series of Power Rangers. This sounds like a weird lie, but it’s true!

My show is about me at a comic convention nearly two decades on, trying desperately to organise a cast reunion in front of the show’s biggest fans (that’s you). Everything is going to go perfectly to plan.

How much are you looking forward to the improv shows you’re doing too?

A lot! I adore improv, it’s my favourite thing in the world to do and you also don’t need to prepare for it. You literally just make it up! The group of improvisers Kiell Smith-Bynoe has got together for his show Kool Story Bro are the best around!

You starred in and co-wrote Starstruck – how was that experience?

Apart from the fact that Rose and Alice Snedden (who also co-wrote and co-directed) were both horrible to me, and would often hold me by my ankles and shake me upside down until coins fell out, working on Starstruck was a dream.

Since the three of us are old friends from New Zealand, it often felt like an elaborate prank being allowed to work on this big UK show. Still not sure how that happened but it was the best job I’ve ever had.

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

I’d move the cafe that does those incredible African wraps slightly closer to the Pleasance Courtyard. I would also make it about a thousand times cheaper to put on a show and stay there. Would I do a bad job of running the Fringe? Undoubtedly. It would crash and burn on my watch!

What’s your favourite spot to visit in Edinburgh?

The cafe that does those incredible African wraps.

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

My first time performing at the fringe was in 2022 with my show MARATHON, 1904, about the 1904 Olympic Marathon. I had a brilliant time, even though I got Covid and there was an apocalyptic rubbish strike the whole festival.  This year I’m hoping neither of those things happen!

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

My phone. I think it would be really annoying if I didn’t have my phone.

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

I’d really love to sit down and chew the fat on a podcast with Mike Wazowski from Monsters, Inc.

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

There are some really truly brilliant New Zealanders coming over this year: Alice Snedden, James Roque, Two Hearts, Ray O’Leary, Melanie Bracewell, Guy Montgomery, Paul Williams. All incredible! All must see!


Nic Sampson: Yellow Power Ranger, Assembly Roxy, Outside, July 31-Aug 16, Aug 18-25, 17.45