Billy Morton has taken some out of his preparations to chat to me about his new production that he is taking to the Edinburgh Fringe this August.

When and where are you performing at the Fringe this year?

I’m performing at 21:05, 7-31 August at Hoots @ Potterrow (Wee Container 1). For anyone familiar with Edinburgh, it’s by the underpass to Bristo Square. It’s a great spot, and Hoots is run by fantastic people. The evening time slot works well for the spooky tone of the show, and I also hope it’ll allow plenty of Edinburgh locals to come and see the show as well as the regular fringe audience. 

What was the inspiration for your show?

I was originally inspired by more traditional ghost-story-telling shows. You know the type: old bloke in an armchair by the fire, book in hand, smoking jacket… And that has very much inspired the look and feel of the show. But when I started thinking about doing a show like that, I couldn’t resist starting to have a bit more fun with it. A bit became a lot, and now the show is quite joke heavy. But there are still moments of genuine tension and terror! 

More broadly the show is inspired by the humble ghost story. We’ve all heard them; be it literary, historical, or real life encounters friends have had. We also all have strong opinions on them; whether it’s from a believer or skeptic perspective. This show doesn’t fall on either side of that divide, but rather challenges both believers and skeptics on their views. And attempts to make them laugh!

Have you performed at any other fringe festivals before embarking on Edinburgh?

This show began with a work in progress last October at the Faversham Fringe, followed by previews at Chichester Fringe, Brighton Fringe, Vault Creative Arts’ Highlight Fest, and the forthcoming Buxton Fringe. I’ve had wonderful responses from audiences, as well as getting a five star review from Theatre in Brighton. I hope people continue to enjoy it in Edinburgh.

Personally, I have performed at a number of Fringe festivals in my time, mostly with improv groups The Adventures of the Improvised Sherlock Holmes, as well as with The Oxford Imps. Both shows will also be in Edinburgh this year, so do come along. But Every Ghost Story Ever is my first of my own shows to go to Edinburgh. 

When did you first step on the stage as a performer?

My very first time on stage was at school, in the year 2 nativity play. I was supposed to be a camel, but another kid was ill, so I was promoted to wise man. Unwisely, I continued to tread the boards throughout my childhood, doing lots of local youth theatre. My first taste of an adult stage was when I was 16, and was cast as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet in the open air at Oxford Castle. That began a love affair with Shakespeare that has lasted ever since. My first time doing comedy was at university, when I joined the improv society. This lead to me auditioning for the Oxford Imps a few years later, with whom I first came to Edinburgh. That was when I knew I had to bring my own show up some day. And here we are!

Who is your target audience?

My target audience is anyone who is remotely interested in ghost stories, and would like to have a fun evening.

Are you planning on seeing any shows this year? If so, do you have recommendations?

I will be seeing many, many shows over the course of the month. Among my most hotly anticipated shows are Nuns! (very funny people involved with a very funny premise, directed by one of the guys from Police Cops – which I recommend to everyone who goes to the Fringe); Too Clowns (Garry Starr’s WIP, whose show Classic Penguins is one of my favourites ever, which is also up); and hopefully catching some of my favourite stand-ups’ shows for much cheaper than when they tour! I’ll also be on the lookout for any other spooky shows. I must also recommend some of my friends’ shows: Meat Cute or Die!, Did You Hear What I Saw?, Murder, She Didn’t Write, Austentatious, Chloe Jacobs: Twilight: Breaking Down, and My Dead Mum’s AI Boyfriend (for which I voice the AI boyfriend). Sorry to any friends I forgot!

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/every-ghost-story-ever