La JohnJoseph's Fringe theatre performance, a Generous Lover, will be on at the Anatomy Lecture Theatre, Summerhall,from August 3 - 26.
- What is your Fringe show about?
“A Generous Lover” is a show about queer psychosis, it’s sort of a mythological descent into mental illness. I wrote it when I was in a psychiatric hospital, where my (then) boyfriend had been sectioned. It sounds dreadfully dour, but actually it’s a very funny show, if bittersweet at times. And I have a great new hairdo.
- How many times/many years have you appeared at the Fringe?
I came up in 2012 with my show “Boy in a Dress” in 2012, and a few years before that I was at the festival for a week as a guest in Scottee’s show, Eat Your Heart Out.
- What’s your most memorable moment from the Fringe?
Taking shrooms at the Botanical Gardens maybe? On the one day off we had in 2012. That was a great life decision I never came to regret.
- What’s the worst thing about the Fringe?
Well it’s pretty exhausting isn’t it? I guess the hardest thing is trying to deal with everything that comes at you, the ups and downs of performing daily in a very competitive market. That and all those wasted flyers - flyers, flyers everywhere you go. Sodden in the gutter, spilling out of bins, under every seat, and inexplicably hibernating in your handbag.
- If you were not a performer what would you be doing?
Zumba instructor, no question, the flexible schedule is ideal for a young mum (which I’d also undoubtedly be).
- How do you prepare for a performance?
I sing “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now” in front of the mirror, in a variety of demonic voices and/or in the style of cartoon characters from cereal commercials. Tony the Tiger and Lucifer for example. I find it really revs me up.
- Favourite thing about being in Edinburgh?
Not being in London? No, but seriously guys! I love seeing my friends who are in town with their own shows, especially those who live in the US whom I rarely have the chance to see. 8 What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve ever done? I went out on the lash with Nicola Sturgeon, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and the Loch Ness Monster once. That was pretty rad.
- Favourite Scottish food/drink?
Cranachan, every time!
- Sum up your show in three words
Great New Hairdo
Show summary
A Generous Lover is the true and very queer tale of one soul's journey through the wasteland of mental illness, to deliver their lost love. Brimming with psychedelic proletarian prose and trenchant wit, it recounts the pandemonium of navigating mental health services on behalf of a loved one, whilst being transfeminine (and occasionally being mistaken for a patient).
Drawing on epic poetry, classical mythology and queer modernist literature, A Generous Lover fuses psychology, euphonic prose, and song to create an intimate and beguiling world. Somewhere between a seance and a recital, it delves into psychosis with compassion.
La JohnJoseph's Fringe show, A Generous Lover, will be on at the Anatomy Lecture Theatre, Summerhall,from August 3 - 26 (not 13 and 20) at 16:10 (17:10). Suuitable for ages 16 and over.
For tickets, please visit www.edfringe.com
You can follow La JohnJoseph on Twitter via @lajohnjoseph or visit the website at www.lajohnjoseph.com and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/la.johnjoseph
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article