One of the most anticipated newcomer comedians to attend this year’s Fringe, Krystal Evans (Leicester Mercury Comedian Award Finalist, Scottish Best Newcomer Finalist) is debuting her new show The Hottest Girl in Burn Camp at Monkey Barrel Comedy. In the hour-long show, Evans finds the humour in some of the most defining moments of her life, and, with her vicious wit, weaves those moments into comedy gold. I recently had the opportunity to ask Evans some questions about her experiences, and about her new show.
Olivia Fischer : You describe how this period of post-natal depression led to the re-emergence of traumatic memories of surviving a house fire and this is the basis of your show Krystal Evans: The Hottest Girl at Burn Camp. Can you talk us through how you found the funny in some of what sounds like your darkest moments?
Krystal Evans: As for finding the funny in the dark stuff, the first thing I did was talk through the experience of the fire with a comedian friend of mine, Heather Jordan-Ross, and as I would go through the story, she’d chime in with a possible joke or funny angle. It kick-started my writing for sure. I realised that the best way to make fun of something is simply to make fun of it. And to come from a real, honest place. Honesty is hilarious. Once I got in the zone and found the voice of the show, the writing flowed easily.
Even though my childhood had very dark periods, my family is very funny. Jokes always felt like a light in a dark place. They always seem to make everything okay. The women in my family were the funny ones; I remember my aunt Kelley especially would always make the darkest, most inappropriate joke at a time when most people would think it’s totally uncalled for and we would be laughing in a moment that should have been scary or depressing. This is surely why I’m a comedian.
OF: When I became a mom myself, I was really shocked at how much it altered my sense of self and that transition was personally difficult for me. You mentioned that you had a pretty severe episode of post-natal depression and I’m wondering what that journey has been like for you, coming out of that period to now?
KE: I can really relate! I should say, I don’t talk about my postnatal depression in the show at all but since it spurred me writing about it, I’m happy to talk about it as I think it’s relevant.
The birth of my second child coincided with the pandemic, which exacerbated the situation hugely. I think some of what makes having a baby special and manageable is having community around you and socialising with people. And for me, having stand-up comedy as an outlet for my creativity and sense of self away from my children has always been huge but lockdown took that all away and I felt isolated times a million.
One of the ways my postnatal depression impacted me was very intense intrusive thoughts. In therapy (over zoom of course!) we worked through a lot of stuff about my childhood that my therapist felt was directly related to what I was going through. Things came out that I hadn’t thought about in years; but this is what made me want to talk about them on stage!
Even though PND and the pandemic sucked, the silver lining for me was that it put into perspective what I wanted to do creatively and share with people.
OF: What can an audience member expect from your show, especially for any newbies to comedy?
KE: This show is very personal. I talk about things that might make some people uncomfortable, and to be honest, things that I never thought I’d talk about on stage. The themes include mental illness, growing up poor, trauma, and death. BUT- crucially- the joke rate is very high. I keep the laughs going throughout (hopefully). And I think that if you can hang in there and make it through the tough stuff to the end, like I did it makes the laughter that much sweeter when you get there.
OF: Who and what are some of your comedic influences?
KE: David Cross is a huge one. He spoke to my snarky rebelliousness as a teen. Maria Bamford is another; everything she does is so honest and layered. I loved Jim Gaffigan and Brian Regan growing up – their pure, observational style seemed like witchcraft to me. Finally, even though she’s not a stand up, Lucielle Ball was a huge influence on me. Seeing a woman be the silly one and using her body and face in her comedy was something I hadn’t seen any woman do.
OF: Any pointers for how to get your start as a comedian, especially here in Edinburgh?
KE: If you’re in Edinburgh, sign up to do five mins at the Stand Red Raw. The books open up in April and October, you just fill out a form on their website and you’re in. Also Monkey Barrel runs an open mic night called Free for All once or twice a month on a Monday, and the owner is almost always there. If you do well, you get moved up immediately to a spot at their Wednesday show. From there, it’s all fame and fortune. If you’re outside Edinburgh, Google it, I guess? Or go to a comedy show and ask the local comedians where an open mic night is.
OF: Last question, any pointers for a DILF magnet in training?
KE: Honestly, I think men (especially dads) really appreciate directness. Tell them straight up you’re DTF and I think something in straight men’s DNA says they can’t pass up an offer for sex. Or do what I do and try and win them over with jokes (caveat: this hasn’t worked for me yet).
Catch Krystal Evans: The Hottest Girl at Burn Camp at Monkey Barrel Comedy (The Hive 2) from Aug 2-14 and Aug 16-27 at 19:35 at this years Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Image via Krystal Evans