My Festival: Darren McGarvey
The author, musician and social commentator answers our Edinburgh festivals Q&A
There are thousands of shows in Edinburgh this month. Please tell us why we should come and see yours.
Performative Male explores the well-worn topic of masculinity through a new lens: performance. That’s the thread that connects all men, good, bad, indifferent. Media focus tends towards extreme male behaviour. This is a show for ordinary men who aspire to lead healthier, happier and more accountable lives.
What will we learn from your show that we didn’t know before?
That most men already know where they need to improve, they just don’t feel safe getting honest about what’s broken inside them. My events aim to create a space where that process doesn’t feel so daunting.
Who or what was the biggest inspiration for your show?
The ongoing discussion about masculinity occurring in media bears little resemblance to the struggles of ordinary men. Adolescence, Inside the Manosphere, Half-Man – cultural touchstones to be sure but very little to say about how men change. I’m inspired by the murkier questions of male transformation, and everyday men like me who don’t always fit neatly into a moral binary of ‘good’ and ‘bad’.
What’s the best review you’ve ever had, and the worst?
Arts Desk said I was ‘up there with the best stand-ups’, as a Fringe performer. That was a buzz! Daily Mail said I was a terrible rapper. Hard to take given their undeniable street credentials.
Who or what are you most excited about seeing this year?
I’ll catch a few comics while I’m through, maybe some burlesque with my sexy wife. But I’ll be travelling back and forth, so not likely to hang around too long.
Who do you most like spending time with in Edinburgh?
The people who actually live there. People in Pilton. Muirhouse. Wester Hailes. Dumbiedykes. Leith - though they would rightly dispute being part of Edinburgh.
Tell us something about you that would surprise people.
I am purveyor of the finest scented candles, and I cuddle a pillow when I sleep.
What are the best and worst things that have happened to you at a festival?
My debut Edinburgh Fringe run in 2018 was thrilling. Many sold out shows. A real feeling I had finally ‘arrived’ after many years of hammering away consistently to no avail. The toughest time was the post-Covid return. The Fringe hasn’t been the same since.
What’s the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night?
Upon awakening, I click on the kettle and feed my cat. Last thing I do is blow out the candles, lock the doors, and cue up a longform YouTube video – something Communism-adjacent – to fall asleep to.
Thanks for the interview! We’d like to buy you a drink. Where are we going and what are we drinking?
Flat white, Toppings Book Shop. Real milk.
Darren McGarvey: Performative Male, Stand Comedy Club, 2.35pm, 5-16 August.
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