Simon Shaw returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with a comedy-horror cabaret, I’m Not Myself Today: A Villainous Cabaret, on the psyche of villains.
“A bullied eccentric suffering from past traumas creates a machine to ruthlessly survive and to create a masterful future. The one problem is… he believes he’s a monster. Featuring a soundtrack almost entirely of villain (or connected to villains) songs, this show explores themes of bullying, classism, identity crisis, self-hate, defence mechanisms, and the battle between reality and fiction.”
Where: Space 3 at theSpace on the Mile
When: 7-15 Aug
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/i-m-not-myself-today-a-villainous-cabaret
What can you tell us about your show? What is it about, and where did the idea come from?
The show is about someone who is suffering from quite horrific trauma and picks an unorthodox way of thinking to survive through it, resulting in a breakdown of blame, self-hate & fear. It’s a love letter to (fictional) villains and a warning against becoming a villain. The idea really came from a dance teacher at school who told me, ‘Simon, it’s great to see you leading the character instead of the character leading you.’ Add that with my love of villains and a life story that is eerily similar to the makings of a villain, and you have this show.
How would you sell it to audiences in one paragraph?
It’s a cabaret, it’s a one-show man, there’s magic, there’s gore, there’s intensity, there’s regret, there’s excitement, there’s madness, there’s clinicalism, there’s sarcasm, there’s fear…just like the villains in shows or films, the ones we stare at with astonishment, this show comes in many forms and questions the moral compass.
Do you enjoy participating in the Fringe? And do you have any moments you particularly remember?
I love it! The atmosphere is one of a kind, and a real sense of love and community among the artists, in the venues and on the streets. I did a show in 2019, where I played the killer Ed Gein, and I was out on the Mile, flyering, and a couple past me and said, ‘We came last night and loved it! Well done!’ I was left speechless.
What are you looking forward to the most in Edinburgh?
Apart from the bagpipes, haggis & shortbread, I’m looking forward to the intoxicating and vibrant energy of the Fringe! I cannot wait to see all the talented artists on show this year, to hear and be transported by their stories!
What’s next for the show?
We’ll see how audiences respond to the show in London & Edinburgh and go from there.