Edinburgh Fringe preview: Anyone for Tennis

Pauline Eyre brings her passion for tennis and comedy to the Edinburgh Fringe this year.

“A Wimbledon line judge for 20 years, comedian Pauline Eyre is ready to spill the Pimms on tennis gossip from the fragrant royal box to the musty locker room, and why line judges are OUT!

Expect smashing stories, ace anecdotes and a 40-love letter to the game. And there’s nobody to say ‘quiet please’. She cannot be serious… can she?”

Where: Hoot 4 at Hoots @ The Apex

When: 1-23 Aug

Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/anyone-for-tennis-pauline-eyre

Your show spills the Pimms on all things about Wimbledon line judges. Tell me more!

It’s a memoir of 20 years working in professional tennis, and a love letter to the game.  

The courts at Wimbledon were weirdly naked this summer; it was like they’d photoshopped out the weirdest-dressed (but most brilliant) officials in sport.

This show is a response to this travesty, I tell you, travesty!  But it’s also an opportunity to share some gossip & stories about what it was like being right at the centre of some of the finest moments in sport.  

And what one particularly fanciable Swede kept up his shorts…

Without spoiling the show, do you have a favourite moment from your 20 years in service?

I’m tempted to mention the really unpleasant player who double faulted at match point down in the Olympic finals, but I’m nicer than that!

I’ll go with the times we played Truth Or Dare when it was raining, and being dared to do something absolutely outrageous on Centre Court.  

You’ll have to see the show to find out what.  And whether I did.  (Of course I did!)

Are you sad to be replaced by an electronic beep? And what made you turn performer?

It’s proper sad.  I feel like a discarded lover, who’s been cheated on with an AI replacement.  She can’t love you like I did, Wimbledon!  

I wanted to sew prawns into the curtains at Wimbledon, but instead I wrote this show.  

I’ve been performing comedy for 10 years (brought my debut show to the Fringe last year, got a 5* review & an Ish Award nomination) so I’m excited to combine my 2 passions.

What are you looking forward to the most in Edinburgh? 

So many things.  I will be prancing around like a prick in the old uniform flyering for the show (come and say hi), trying to avoid spilling curry sauce on my white trousers at the Mosque Kitchen and seeing some cracking shows.

Particularly looking forward to Ben Van Der Velde’s Van Der Laugh Generator, Alice Fraser’s A Passion For Passion & Leslie Gold’s Tall Girl Energy.  

Ooh, and playing tennis on my days off.  And visiting the Fudge Kitchen.  Can’t wait!

Where can we see your show after Fringe?

At a tennis club near you! I’m taking the show on a tour of tennis clubs around the country – if you’d like me to come to yours, contact me through my website (paulineeyre.co.uk)

Game, set & match!