EDINBURGH 2023: Mervyn Stutter's Pick of the Fringe Q&A

BWW caught up with Mervyn Stutter to chat about bringing Mervyn Stutter's Pick of the Fringe to Edinburgh this August.

“It is the best TV show never made about the Fringe” The Independent

Tell us a bit about Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe.

“Oi Merv! Seen anything good?” That's how it began. It was 1991 and I was flyering for my solo show. I'd been working on the Fringe since 1987 so people assumed I knew things.

So the next year 1992, I started hosting “Seen Anything Good” as it was known then. Three quid to see seven quality reviewed shows of all genres, theatre, comedy, music, dance, circus – the lot. They'd perform a five minute extract from their show, have a short interview with me, then give out their flyers as the audience left.

How do you find the acts you want to showcase?

From the very beginning I've always had a team of researchers who will,  every day, choose and watch four to five shows from all over the festival. The real quality shows – be they Fringe famous or Fringe virgins – are then invited to join the showcase on a mutually convenient day.

This guarantee of quality was fundamental. For the showcase to be a success the audiences had to trust me – and trust the show.

What is your own history with performing at the festival?

My first ever Fringe performance was in fact in 1982 with John McGrath's 7:84(England) Theatre Company in a play called SUS. (I'd been working extensively in theatre for the previous 12 years)

But my first ever solo comedy show was in 1987 making this year my 35th consecutive Fringe year. I got great reviews and great audiences. I think this is because I'd been a regular satirical songwriter for many years on BBC radio (eg Stop the Week) and BBC TV (eg Open Air the first ever UK Daytime TV show.) So I was known to many of the Edinburgh Fringe audiences. I did five years of solo shows before hosting the lunchtime Pick of the Fringe showcase.

What makes this year particularly special?

Well here we are in 2023 some 35 years since I started and 30 years since the first showcase SEEN ANYTHING GOOD? - and it's still the perennial Fringe question of course. Why has it lasted? Because the show really works. I started presenting Fringe talent to 50 or so in Pleasance Cabaret Bar and now we perform to audiences of 300 in Pleasance One.

Thirty years of Pick of the Fringe and 35 years of performing on the Fringe. Is this a triumph or just me being old? Bit of both of course!

Tell us a bit about the charity the proceeds are being raised for.

Imibala Trust is a Cape Town charity working with township kids from impoverished circumstances. The main work is to Sponsor a Child through school – fees, uniforms, sports kit etc. About 730 kids are bussed in each week to attend the Imibala art, drama, dance and music classes – as well as their thriving IT section.

My South African wife Moira is a trustee in the charity and I have sponsored kids myself over the years so when I hosted my 20th and 25th Charity Gala shows, it was obvious to me to nominate Imibala.  I raised £5000 for Imibala at each of these two Galas to spend on tutors for talent, studios, trips to theatre shows and a whole range of musical instruments.

In fact in this my 30th year, Imibala has been crowd funding furiously to finance a troupe of teenage township performers to bring their dance based show Yes-Ya-Yebo to the Free Fringe. For me it's a fascinating trilogy. 20th 25th and 30th and here they are actually performing on the Edinburgh Fringe. Remarkable and very rewarding.

And that's my Pick of the Fringe experience over the 30 years really – remarkable and very rewarding.

Tickets are available at: Mervyn Stutter's Pick of the Fringe | Comedy | Edinburgh Festival Fringe (edfringe.com)

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