Interview with Jennifer Irons about her show Bad Immigrant at Assembly, George Square Studio 2, Venue 17; 18 – 24 Aug 15.35 (60 mins)
What’s your show called for Edinburgh Fringe 2025?
Bad Immigrant
How long have you been doing the Edinburgh Fringe?
Long enough to know where to get a cocktail in a glass skull and when to cry behind a portacabin.
Tell us about the show.
Bad Immigrant is a roller disco about immigration. Obvs.
It explores what it means to be an outsider; with glitter, German techno, and dancing salmon. I was told after Brexit I should ‘go home’ back to Canada. But turns out they don’t want me either. So, I do what any sane person with an identity/ nationality crisis does – I take up roller dancing.
There are creative captions throughout, so it can be read as well as heard.
Audiences have called it “important,” “hilarious,” “thought-provoking,” “stupid,” and “ridiculous.” Honestly, we’ll take all of it.
Some of the ticket proceeds go to the Skates4Mates project, which brings the joy of roller skating to migrant and refugee communities across the UK.
How do you cope with the overwhelming chaos that the Fringe brings?
Fruit, alcohol, earplugs, positive affirmations, and Bros bagels—not necessarily in that order.
What sort of shows will you see if you have the time?
Anything funny, furious, or a bit weird. Definitely seeing Do All The Things by A&E Comedy, Vic Melody’s new show Trouble, Struggle, Bubble and Squeak, and Pub Grub by Luke Wright. One year I saw a show called Dinosaur Pirates and I still think about it more than I should. Bring on the nonsense.
Have you performed at any other fringes? If so, which has been your favourite so far?
I feel like I live on the fringes, but technically no, this is my main fringe squeeze.
Any advice to newbies about flyering?
Save your soul and print one flyer. One. Get a QR code on it and let people take photos. Go to places where people might actually be interested in your kind of show, targeted flyering works better than blanket bombing the Royal Mile. Think less AirDrop, more thoughtful matchmaking.
What are your plans for the show after the Edinburgh Fringe?
We’re booked to do a mini tour to Cities of Sanctuary, including London, Portsmouth, and Sheffield, and after that, the world (obviously).
Anything else you’d like to add?
If you like chaos, heart, skating, and stories that shouldn’t work but somehow do, Bad Immigrant is your show. And yes, there is a tiny bit of crime. www.jenniferirons.co.uk
Theatre, Art and Film Reviews 
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