EDINBURGH 2016: BWW Q&A - Phil Dunning

We speak to Phil Dunning about his 2016 Edinburgh Fringe show The People's Prince.

What can you tell us about The People's Prince?

It's basically a culmination of everything I love. Drag, Disney, songs, campness, character comedy and wigs. It's sleaze mixed with spoofs, mixed with musical numbers. It's sordid glamour. Does that make sense? Probably not. It's really hard to describe. I wanted to get in as many characters as possible to make the show more colourful and fast-paced, so no character is on stage longer than four minutes. Just think of a glittery brothel with catchy tunes and skimpy costumes with a hairy comedian and you'll be halfway there.

How many characters will we see in the space of an hour?

There will be 20 characters. Some men, some women, some non-binary, some non-human.

How would you describe your comedic style?

It's loud, strange and camp. Think of a weird cross between Portlandia, Mighty Boosh and Summer Heights High with more songs and wigs. Too many wigs. I have a separate suitcase for wigs. I'm an idiot.

You've performed before at the Fringe as part of a group - do you think it will be different performing solo?

It will be so much scarier. When I was part of Oyster Eyes we could all sit and cry together when we had a bad show. We pretty much lived together in London at the time, and then we would travel up to Edinburgh together and live in the same bedroom for a month for the festival. It sounds incestuous but it was actually quite comforting. It will feel weird being on my own. But I'm sure I'll find a nice corner to have my solo breakdown in. Can't wait!

Who would you recommend comes to see The People's Prince?

It's for anyone who wants to see camp comedy that is surreal and ridiculous. Anybody who wants to escape for an hour into a world that has cabaret undertones mixed with idiotic characters. Anybody who has an open mind and who wants to have a really nice time. Also loud laughers are particularly welcome.

Timings and ticket information for Phil Dunning: The People's Prince are available on the edfringe website.

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