Words: Caroline Whitham
Are you excited to be bringing your debut solo show to Edinburgh?
I am indeed. I live in Edinburgh, and every day since the end of the last fringe, I have woken up, looked about the city and just imagined and pictured what my debut show would be like. And finally, after a full year of picturing and imagining, the time has finally come. Of course, I did other things besides daydream about this fringe. Along the way I also cooked a couple meals, ran some errands, called my parents, spoke with one (1) Irish person, high-fived a different Irish person (without speaking to them), and saw three or four dogs (it could have been the same dog every time, but I’d like to think that I was fortunate enough to see more than one). It was a busy year for me, but no more. It’s time for life to become very restful as I perform my debut show every day for a month. It’ll be very relaxing, I suspect.
“Fifteen Pints With a Wax Figure of Renowned Painter Pablo Picasso”: that title seems self-explanatory. Should the audience be expecting a literal interpretation?
Picasso himself was generally non-literal, while also being incredibly literal depending on the context. You could wager a guess that I would be doing something similar, in trying to weave a narrative through my work that is both clear and obvious, while also being completely understated at the same time. You could guess that. It would be an incorrect guess, but it is a guess you could make. The title initially had very little to do with the content, and since then, the show has gone through several iterations that have made the title less and less relevant to the show as it’s grown and changed. I’ll be honest: This show isn’t about Mr. Picasso, and it’s especially not about the wax effigy of him that I met in that Sex Museum in Barcelona. This show is hardly even about me, and it’s especially not about the wax effigy of me that you met in that Sex Museum in Barcelona.
You wear crocs in your show, are they important to your persona and the performance?
My eyes are up here, thank you.
Any Fringe recommendations for our readers?
This will be the second year of my late night compilation show with Pete Carson called “Touching Tips (with friends)”. It’s always a good time, and is oftentimes very stupid in the best way. I’m also doing two days of a solo, improvised stand up show called “Big F*cking Cobin F*cking Millage F*cking H*ll Yeah It’s Cobin (the show)” and I promise it’ll be something.
Outside of my own selfish promotion, Jin Hao Li is doing his debut hour, which is going to go dumb stupid dumb and probably change the world of entertainment. The aforementioned Pete Carson is also dropping his debut as well. Larry Dean and Jordan Brookes are doing some class shows that I’ve seen previews of, and they’re both going to be hits. Ruth Hunter and Chris Thorburn are two locals doing a few shows of their own that I really couldn’t recommend more. Lastly, Ollie Horn is doing a solo show which is a blast, but if you miss his concept show “Most Toast“; you’ve disappointed yourself as well as your immediate and extended family members.
What do you love about the Fringe? Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is really cool, and I always enjoy pointing at the castle and saying “Would you look at that? It’s a castle.” I also enjoy pointing at the bin men and saying “Those folk work really hard and do a particularly important job. I hope that The City of Edinburgh Council pays them what they’re worth so they don’t have to engage in an lengthy strike”. The fringe is also fun because there’s far too much going on all of the time and I think there’s nothing better than that. Yeehaw as f*ck.
Cobin Millage: Fifteen Pints With a Wax Figure of Renowned Painter Pablo Picasso
Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters, Wee Room
18:15
Aug 1-12, 14-25
Pete Carson & Cobin Millage: Touching Tips (with friends)
Scottish Comedy Festival: Beehive Inn, Attic
22:45
Aug 2-12, 14-26
Cobin Millage: Big F*cking Cobin F*cking Millage F*cking H*ll Yeah It’s Cobin (The Show)
Hoots @ Potterrow – Big Yurt
15:00
Aug 13 & 14