The Groggy Squirrel

Geraldine Hickey is off to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to perform her highly acclaimed debut show “One Week in Paradise” as part of the Free Fringe program. I talked to Geraldine about her feelings as she embarks upon this experience that for some is a rite of passage, others a financial disaster and for a happy few, the beginning of global success.

Have you been to Edinburgh or Overseas before?

I’ve never been to Edinburgh. I’m rather excited, a little bit nervous, but very excited. I did go to World Youth Day in Rome. I was a good Catholic girl then, things have changed from that time.

Was it hard to organise accommodation?

Luckily Lou Sanz is looking after most of that. Lou produced my and Celia Pacquola & Alison Bice’s show at this year’s Melbourne Comedy Festival and she’s looking after Alison and I in Edinburgh.

How did the plans for Edinburgh Fringe come together?

It was my one goal for this year. My plans fell apart during the Melbourne Comedy Festival this year and I thought that was it, but then the next day Lou told me she had organised a room with the Free Fringe people. She’d emailed them and sent off the proposal and stuff, and they said they were insistent that I came. Then Bicey, who was originally going as a tourist, was offered a spot and decided to come and do her Wizard of Bice show and it all just came together. So although I’d hoped and planned to go a lot earlier it didn’t really come together till April this year.

Why did you choose to perform your debut show “One Week in Paradise” at the Fringe?

It’s a good show! Its just a stellar show and its my first solo show, with a really good story to tell. We’ll be making a doco about it, so that’ll be exciting. It was Lou’s idea and it’ll be about me and the show. You know, here’s a girl that was depressed and suicidal 10 years ago and was institutionalised and now she’s making this kind of Mecca journey to Edinburgh. We’ll show the ups and downs of the journey and interview other comics about their experiences with depression and what not. How you can use comedy as a tool to communicate things that are kind of taboo, that people wouldn’t normally talk about, though we’re not doing it in a wanky way.

Have you received any interesting advice from comedians who’ve been to Edinburgh before?

Everyone says “Oh you’ll have an amazing time – but it’ll be the worst time in your life.” I’ve had so many contradictions from people; “ohhhh… it’s horrible, you’re flyering, it’s exhausting, but Oh My God, its Amazing!” So I kind of don’t know what to expect. I imagine that if you get through it, it’ll be rewarding, so I guess that’s where the amazing thing comes into it. The reward at the end, of having achieved what you wanted to do.

Are you planning to go anywhere else while you are overseas?

We’re spending two weeks in London first. I’m really tempted to move to the UK. I might suss it out. We’ll see how it goes.

Geraldine performs “One Week in Heaven” at Nicol Edwards (29-35 Niddry Street). Visit the Fringe Festival Website for full details.