Opening at the Edinburgh Fringe next month, Sian Clarke’s new show iCON “contextualises the millennial experience as the first generation to become adults in the rapidly digitised post-financial crash era”.
Working with director Ursula Martinez, Sian’s second solo show promises to “leave audiences with ethical dilemmas and a tummy sore from laughter”.
Sian tells us more about iCON below.
Where: Summerhall, Red Lecture Theatre
When: 2-27 Aug (not 14 or 21), 2.45pm
Ticket link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/icon
What are you looking forward to the most at Fringe?
Seeing all the amazing shows and being in Edinburgh. I’m really pleased to have a 2.45pm show so I can relax the rest of the day and wander around seeing things.
iCON takes a world in crisis to make a show about … what exactly?
Meaninglessness, nothingness, and somehow fostering a sense of community.
The show is an existential crisis, complete and utter nonsense, and a search for the joy in all of the above.
If everything is pointless, and nothing means anything and the world is about to explode and we are all about to die… then we might as well TRY and have a good time.
This is a solo alternative comedy show with distressing themes and audience participation. Why should people book to come and see iCON, and what should they expect?
Because I don’t think it’s what people will be expecting, the show is a lot of fun and a huge amount of silliness wrapped up in thoughts about our existence and the meaning of life.
It’s both very deep and not that deep at all. It’s dark but maybe not, clever but completely stupid.
I also want to point out that, yes, there is plenty of audience participation, and we are all in this together, but at no point will anyone be forced to get on stage.
It’s all voluntary, I absolutely can’t do the show without any volunteers, but no one is going to get dragged up and picked on.
“Let’s all have a nice time”, says your blurb, which is something we can all aspire to! What’s your definition of that?
For me, having a nice time is just switching off for a moment from the hellscape of the world around us.
It doesn’t mean you don’t care. It doesn’t mean you don’t want to make a difference. It doesn’t make you a bad person.
I just think it is OK to do something to have a bit of fun, and I hope that is reflected in my show for my audience.
I really do want us to all have a nice time.
The show’s name, iCON, could be interpreted many ways. Where did the inspiration come from, and what does it mean to you?
I like that it’s a popular word to use at the moment and I think it’s quite funny to self-describe as an icon.
I also like that it can have multiple interpretations when written down and people can take what meaning they want from it after seeing the show.
It’s ultimately not up to me, and I like shifting the responsibility even on something as inconsequential as a show title.