Making her Edinburgh Fringe debut with her show Squeaky Bum Time, triple threat and Ted Lasso star Sapphire McIntosh chats to Pepper&Salt about her new hour, writing process, hope and realism as well as what artists might make the cut for her pre-show playlist.
How would you summarise your show?
Distorted, truthful, funny, revealing, political, inspired by my real life, that touches on my love for football and the trial and tribulations I’ve overcome.
Come and support a working-class comedian who grew up in Leeds and has supported herself from age 16 in becoming the artist she is today. I’ve dedicated my whole life to my artistry.
I hope you don’t mind me asking this, but the new season of Ted Lasso is premiering during the Edinburgh Fringe as you’re making your debut. How are you feeling about all of it?
So so excited, I cannot wait to see it. It was a very wholesome experience and brought my passions together in football and comedy. I also met some of my heroes working on that show, including Tracey Ullman.
How have your various experiences influenced or informed your particular approach or comedic voice?
All my comedy is influenced by the life I’ve lived, I’m not sure I would say I’m influenced by many other comedians as my favourite comedy of all time is The Simpsons.
What is your writing process like?
It consists of my notes app on my phone and years of writing down stories, looking back at them and combining them with current stories. When I have a new idea sometimes, when I feel confident, I’ll drop it into a show and see what happens when I riff with it. Eventually after time the joke becomes more solid.
How did you first become involved in comedy?
I started making sketches 10 years ago at university and would upload them onto YouTube. I also used to do funny voxpops where I’d ask funny questions that sometimes had deeper meaning, and in the comments of those voxpops people used to always suggest me dong stand up comedy. At the time, I was nervous about trying it. I’ve always wanted to do comedy but never felt confident to get on stage. Five years ago I did though and have never looked back. Best decision I’ve ever made.
What is the main throughline of your hour that links all of it together?
Football, resilience, overcoming life’s hardships when things haven’t always been easy. How football saved my life, and how I overcame homelessness.
What is a must-have song(s) for you on your pre-show playlist?
Ooo good question! I love music, and want to add it more into my shows as I develop. I tend to put on high beat energy music. Rrecently I’ve been playing some Peggy Gou before my previews. I also love a bit of Doja Cat and I love house music. I actually need to sort out a playlist for Edinburgh and choose a final song for the finish.
“Well, you’ve got to believe In something, haven’t you.”
What has been the trick of balancing the more grounded moments of realism with perhaps something more hopeful?
I’ve found that natural, to be honest.
Is there a moment in this show that you particularly enjoy reaching?
Yes, I love my spam joke, there’s sound added to it, the joke starts me discussing that my grandparents are from Jamaica and they moved to Yorkshire when they were quite young so they’re a hybrid of being both Jamaican and being from Yorkshire. Then it develops into a bit about spam. The development of this joke – it’s very absurd, weird and dark and it’s an entire embodiment of my comedy.
What are you looking forward to about making your Fringe debut?
Showing people what I’ve written, created and and procured, putting everything together and sharing my story. I’m so proud of my show and I love it so much. It’s the perfect reflection of who I am.
What is your opinion on the saying, ‘it’s the hope that kills you’?
Well, you’ve got to believe In something, haven’t you.
By Katerina Partolina Schwartz
Photo Credit: Michael Jullings
Sapphire McIntosh: Squeaky Bum Time is at the Underbelly, Edinburgh Fringe, 5:45pm. For tickets visit https://underbellyedinburgh.co.uk/events/event/sapphire-mcintosh–squeaky-bum-time
Pepper & Salt 
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