Performer: Naomi McDonald Photograph by: Joshua Bilton Show: Stardumb Venue: Fireside Promoter: Indie Online: Box Office Facebook YouTube
Tell me about your Edinburgh show.
Stardumb is an impressions show which reveals the secret lives and longings of famous names including Cheryl Cole, Kim Kardashian, Sharon Osbourne and Bjork. Nigella Lawson defrosts meals in her bathtub, Melania Trump hits the bottle hard and Adele sings her heart out over a custard cream.
Tell me about your first gig.
My first gig was five minutes at the Betsy Trotwood in Farringdon. I spent the 24 hours leading up to it- pacing, sweating and weeing constantly. I was so nervous and really didn’t think I could do it. Alas I did do it, but all I remember is coming off stage and immediately saying to my sister ‘What just happened? Did I do all my jokes? I feel like I only did 30 seconds’. I was then approached by a talent scout from Britain’s Got Talent in the bar, who’s first question was how long I’d been going for… a very surreal night indeed.
Do you have any rituals before going on stage?
Weeing. I literally cannot wee enough times before show time.
Tell me about your best and worst review.
I’ve yet to be professionally reviewed, but I’m gonna be super optimistic and say my best review will be of this show at Edinburgh fringe 2018.
During this Edinburgh run, do you plan to read reviews of your show?
I said I won’t and I’m absolutely sure I will.
How do you feel about reviewers generally?
It’s their job. But I do think on occasion they feel the need to critique something just to look like they’re doing their job properly. And if you’re a reviewer reading this – hey I love you, you’re beautiful xx
In April 2018, YouTube comedian, Markus Meechan (aka Count Dankula) was fined £800 for training his girlfriend’s pug dog to do a Nazi salute with its paw, in response to the phrase ‘Gas the Jews’. Do you believe Meechan committed a criminal offence, and why?
I’m not totally clued up on what’s considered a ‘crime’ these days, but I would say what I do believe is Meechan is a total prick.
Are there any subjects that are not suitable for comedy?
Nah. I believe if done tastefully there’s room for all subjects in comedy. Sarah Silverman in particular manages to mock the most sensitive of subjects in the most perfect way.
Have you ever gone too far?
I do an impression of Rihanna singing about pooing herself and when I performed it to a room of OAPs in a golf club in Seaford I did feel I may have gone too far.
Looking back over your time as a comedian, tell me about the best gig of your career.
My first 20-minute set at the Caroline of Brunswick, Brighton. The audience were absolutely adorable and the sheer sense of achievement for having remembered my entire 20 minutes of material lingered for a good few days after. I felt like Albert Einstein.