With cardboard cut-outs of The Undertaker and Bret Hart for tag-team partners on stage, brought professional wrestling to last year’s with Chokeslam. The Canadian is back for a rematch this year with an even more heavyweight version of her show which details her love of the art of sports entertainment and some of its history. Here, she lays the smackdown on our festival Q&A.
.. I’m feeling good! I’m feeling excited! I’m feeling slightly terrified, but I think that’s to be expected.
I think overall, though, I’m really looking forward to being back in Edinburgh, surrounded by all the beautiful creative people that fill up the town every August, getting to do what I love most every day. The second the sound of bagpipes hits my ears, my heart explodes. The Edinburgh Fringe is pure magic.
‘Chokeslam’ is about my love of pro wrestling. I would say it’s part oral history of the Attitude Era, part Wrestling 101 for people who have never seen a single match, part me divulging my deepest darkest secrets. It’s more storytelling than stand-up or theatre, but you will definitely laugh.
And potentially cry. And hopefully leave a wrestling fan. I was honestly so touched.
Last year’s show came together fairly last minute and I was worried people would hate it (and me) but I had audience members coming up to me afterwards and hugging me and telling me how much the show moved them. The volunteers at my venue last year (Paradise in Augustines) became Chokeslam evangelists a.