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[title]Everyone loves as 30-second character sketch video. These days, short-form clips are a language in their own right: an art form, a cultural currency. They appear in your DMs and creep into your brain when you’re trying to sleep. They just get you in a way that few actual people can.
London-based comedians Jack Skipper, Abi Clarke and Christopher Hall have built up huge followings online with their relatable spoofs popping up on our FYP, Insta reels and WhatsApp groups. It’s therefore no surprise that they’re also making moves IRL and taking their debut stand-up shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The day before they made the journey up to the Scottish capital, Time Out caught up with them to find out more.
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Jack Skipper
‘People think as soon as you get a bit of a following that you’re automatically minted. That just ain’t the case. With this debut show I say: this is me, this is where I’m from, this is me now. I grew up with working class roots, I’ve been a tradesman my whole life, then during the pandemic, I started doing videos online and it sort of accelerated. But I wanted to be a stand-up before that – for me, a comedian has always been someone who stands on stage. This show is about growing a following and what comes along with it.’
Jack Skipper: Skint is at Pleasance Courtyard, Baby Grand. August 2-11 and 13-25 at 8.20pm.
Abi Clarke
‘The show is me asking: am I a bad person? Do other people think these things as well? It’s hopefully a very relatable and observational, especially for young women. It’s my stand-up coming out show: so far, I’ve kept my live comedy and online comedy very separate, so I feel like I’m about to introduce my work friends to my home friends. It’s a whole show of me asking, ‘‘How did I become someone that people would call a role model? And am I even qualified because I’m not even sure if I’m a good person?’’ I want it to be like an hour with your toxic best friend.’
Abi Clarke: (Role) Model is at Pleasance Courtyard: Beneath. August Aug 2-11 and 13-25 at 7.40pm.
Christopher Hall
‘More than my other shows, this one is a bit more nostalgic, a bit more about me. It’s about growing up queer, the ’90s and the early noughties and the laughs that came with it, as well as some of the barriers and obstacles that came with it as well. I started writing it when I got back from Edinburgh last year – so it’s taken a full 11 months, with different periods of productivity. Last year I went to seven weddings, so there’s a big wedding part of it.’
Christopher Hall: Girl For All Seasons is at Gilded Balloon at the Museum. August 2-25 at 9.10pm.