Performer: Paul Williams
Photograph by: Paul Williams
Show: Santa Fe
Venue: Underbelly Cowgate (Iron Belly)
Promoter: Berk's Nest

Tell me about your Edinburgh show.

It’s very fun. Since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to be in a Western so this show is kind of me fulfilling that dream. There are a few songs and I don’t want to spoil it but there might even be some time travel.

Tell me about your first gig.

It went surprisingly well and sadly nothing noteworthy happened.

Do you have any rituals before going on stage?

I usually listen to music and remind myself to have fun.

Tell me about your best and worst review.

I haven’t really had any bad reviews (humble brag) but I guess my worst review was from my Aunty who right after my set, asked me if it was my first time doing comedy. I was like “No. I’ve been doing it for about 4 years.”

During this Edinburgh run, do you plan to read reviews of your show?

No, but if someone was to tell me I got a positive one I would probably read it.

How do you feel about reviewers generally?

My opinion fluctuates. If I was to get a negative review I’d be like “reviewers are the worst!” but if I was to get a positive review I’d be like “reviewers are important and good”.

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?   

Absolutely, I would’ve fined him for calling himself Count Dankula.

Are there any subjects that are not suitable for comedy?

I think you can talk about anything on stage as long as what you say isn’t awful. I think it’s not the subject but the content.

Have you ever gone too far?

No, (humble brag).

Looking back over your time as a comedian, tell me about the best gig of your career?

It was at the Melbourne festival earlier this year. I left my house super early because I wanted to go to this Italian restaurant. I ate a massive plate of pasta and then decided to walk to my venue an hour early so I could relax (I’m usually always running late). On my way there I got a phone call from my manager Craig. He’s like “Hey man. Where are you?”. I instantly remember that it’s a Sunday and shows are an hour early on Sundays. I was like “I’m on my way!”. I hung up and sprinted to my venue. The audience were already lined up outside. I frantically got changed behind the curtain while they came in and then launched straight into the show. I was crazy bloated with pasta and kept having to pause mid-sentence to do these gross pasta burbs. During the grand finale (a Michael Jackson dance number), I accidentally unplugged the projector with my foot, then tripped while running up the stairs and fell flat on my face. While trying to stand back up I knocked my projector screen which crashed off the front of the stage and nearly killed an audience member. Genuinely the most fun show I’ve ever done.