“Middle-aged and newly single, he’s spent the salary of an NHS nurse in Decathlon and he’s on the verge of a breakdown.
Get to know this absurd and deeply flawed man as he gets to know himself. Goofy drag king show from award-winning character comedian Kathy Maniura.”
Where: Attic at Pleasance Courtyard
When: 30 Jul-24 Aug
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/kathy-maniura-the-cycling-man
Kathy talks about working as a drag king in character comedy in our interview.
Without saying too much, what can audiences expect from your show?
It’s a drag king character comedy show about a middle aged man in lycra. He’s newly single, he’s unhappy, and he’s spent the salary of an NHS nurse in Decathlon.
Expect masculine posturing, unsightly bulges, and emotional songs as this absurd man spirals into a breakdown of his own making.
Where did you get the idea to create this show and bring it to Edinburgh?
I used to cycle to work in London (wearing jeans like a normal person) and I would be constantly overtaken by middle-aged men in lycra. And I always thought… where could you possibly be going?
Do you need to be in full sportswear in Zone 1? Why won’t you put your feet down at the lights? I started doing an impression of who I thought that man might be as I cycled, and The Cycling Man was born…
How did you get your start in comedy? Do you find Fringe festivals inspiring?
I started out doing sketch comedy at university (having done theatre as a teenager and always been cast in comedy parts).
I found myself drawn to silly, character-driven stuff which I continued after university with my comedy partner Derek Mitchell and started performing solo in 2019.
I find Fringe festivals hugely inspiring – it’s amazing to see such a range of work and meet your peers. It was seeing Emma Sidi, Lolly Adefope and Anna Mann at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2016 that opened my eyes to character comedy in the first place.
They’re also an amazing training ground for performers – it’s special and rare to be able to perform a show every day for a month. I wouldn’t be the performer I am today with Fringe festivals!
What are you looking forward to the most at Edinburgh?
Doing the show every day for different audiences is a treat – finding new things in the character that I don’t expect is so much fun.
I’m excited to hang out with my comedy friends & peers – watching their shows, celebrating and commiserating together. It’s really like one big comedy school trip.
And I can’t wait to discover new comedians, see mind-blowing stuff that inspires me.
Where can we see your work after Fringe?
I’m based in London, so I’ll be performing a bunch there – I’m hoping I’ll do some sort of tour around the UK so keep your eyes peeled for that!
And you can always find silly videos on my Instagram and TikTok @kathykathymm.
Like this:
Like Loading…