'I did a gig in a van to a Norwegian family'

Sam Lake recalls a weird Fringe gig as he returns to Edinburgh

Sam Lake is a former winner of the Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year award, who also set up the comedy night Joy Multiplication with fellow comics Chloe Petts, Olga Koch and Huge Davies.

Fringe folk answering questions

What have you learnt about yourself and your comedy during lockdown? Has it changed anything?

I never realised how much I needed to expel all my, let's call it comedic energy, at a few gigs a week. For the best part of a year I had to make do with telling my new bits to my partner who quickly found it adorable then really annoying.

Did you do any Zoom or drive-in gigs? How did you feel about them?

I did try a few Zoom gigs, even put one on with my beloved comedy troupe, Joy Multiplication. It did feel good to do something that was vaguely like being back on the stage but I couldn't handle the judgement from audiences for not having a ceiling to floor bookcase,

What does the Edinburgh Fringe mean to you?

The Edinburgh Fringe is like going to a theme park but you're the ride. You're so keen to get audiences in, you will do almost anything. One year, I did a gig in the back of a van parked in Grassmarket to a small Norwegian family, who asked for my spiciest material for their two primary school aged children. Weirder than that, I did that gig like four more times.

What would your perfect Fringe day be, in a normal festival year?

I'd get my show out of the way at around 3pm, grab a Mary's Milk Bar scoop, sit in one of the artists’ bars for a few hours just putting the world to rights, then I'd go to a cabaret mixed bill. Home by 10. Glass of water. Done.

What's the best experience you've ever had doing comedy?

Definitely forming Joy Multiplication with superstars Chloe Petts, Olga Koch and Huge Davies. We all started comedy at the same time and have kept our little quarter intact and even put on a few shows this last year (when legally permitted)

What does your show reveal about you?

That I don't trust men unless they're willing to wear a tiara

If you have special walk-in music for this show, what is it, and why did you choose it?

I don't. but if I did I think it'd be Who's that Girl? by Eve. There's a chunk of the show that talks about how we make ourselves feel empowered and the beauty of those female anthems, plus the song does get me pumped.