EDINBURGH 2017: BWW Q&A- Nathan Cassidy

Tell us a bit about Watch This. Love me. It's Deep.

It's a one-man theatre show, a true life perfect love story in a swimming pool. Well it starts in a swimming pool which is where I met the love of my life aged 15. I tell you how a perfect love is possible. People think that a perfect relationship isn't possible, I hope to change their minds - if you can imagine something then it's possible. Some of the comments I've had after watching this have been thrilling; it will make you laugh, but judging by what a few people have said, it may just bring to the surface feelings, thoughts you've had about love but have repressed. The point is, I think sometimes we are scared of our imaginations.

What was the inspiration for the show?

Something happened to me in the last year which made me think that the perfect love story that has happened in my life is one I should tell, and as it didn't sit naturally with stand-up I thought I'd do it as theatre. There are things I've told no one in this show, emotions I've never shown. I can tell an audience about something far more easily than I can tell people I know - that either means I'm totally messed up or an incredibly complex, amazing performer. I'm messed up.

And you have a second show as well? Why would you do this to yourself?

I always do two shows - if I'm in the steam room more than I'm working that seems a little bit lazy. And this being theatre I think it's going to be a little bit easier than two stand-up shows. The idea of doing the same stand-up show twice in a row would quickly leave me completely bored, which is why I've tried to make no two shows the same in the past. But now it's theatre that's what you're supposed to do isn't it, make every show exactly the same? So that's what I'm going to do, every day will be the same - and it feels incredibly relaxing! Every show will be a carbon copy, and if you don't believe me please book tickets to every single performance. God, can you imagine that? You may think you've got it hard but can you imagine being my Edinburgh tech? Poor bastard.

Tell us a bit about The Man in the Arena.

It's a show about bravery - who is brave and how we can be brave in this sometimes horrible world. 'It's not the critic who counts, it's the man in the arena' - the Roosevelt speech from 1910. Similarly as Donald Trump recently tweeted, 'I'm amazed how all the haters keep calling me F**kface Von Clownstick'. They are both essentially saying the same thing.

Who would you recommend comes to see either show?

Anyone over 15 that isn't drunk or on coke.

What's next for you after the festival?

I think this Edinburgh will be one of those overnight success stories for me, come September 1st off the back of these shows I'll be on every panel, chat and magazine show in the land. I'll basically have to rent a room to sleep in at BBC Television Centre and I'll be on The One Show every day. But then one day I'll get drunk and I'll smash Gyles Brandreth in the face live on air. They will forgive me but the audience never will. Also next year I'm going to do two live shows that will hopefully shake up a little bit of the world - I'm going to do a one-man show to lift the lid on one of the biggest scandals of our time - I have an inside track, I have a genuine scoop, I have a big secret I'm about to reveal.

Timings and ticket information for Watch This. Love Me. It's Deep. and The Man In The Arena are available on the edfringe website.

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