Edinburgh Fringe 2022
Interview
Macho Macho Man
Kempner
Luke
Venue 33: Pleasance Courtyard - Pleasance Above
Aug 4-16, 18-29, 18:40 / Tickets
Aug 4, 2022
Luke Kempner has found out he is to become a father, but can he be the macho macho man he believes he needs to be? With a razor-sharp roster of contemporary impressions from Piers Morgan and Bojo to Ted Hastings and Paul Hollywood, Luke is bringing his highly anticipated show to Edinburgh.
Hi Luke, thanks for talking to The New Current, how have you been keeping?
I’m great thanks! Just had a baby, well 10 months ago now, but still feel like I can say ‘just’.
What does it mean to be heading back to the Fringe and to the Pleasance this summer, any nerves or is that a stupid question to ask?
I am always nervous, but I love doing this show so much. It’s my most personal, my funniest and most energetic.
What your first Fringe like?
It was wonderful. I played a 50 seater and it sold out every night. It was the absolute dream.
Can you tell me how Macho Macho Man came about, what was the inspiration behind this show?
Well I started writing the show in 2020, it was all about me struggling with my masculinity and whether or not I was ready to become a father. Well we had 2 years off so it feels like my child is 16 now haha. The show is very much the journey from me finding out I was going to become a dad to the birth. Me worried I wasn’t man enough to be dad. All the stories from show are told through the medium of stand up, songs and impressions. From Bojo to Ted Hastings, from Harry Kane to Greta Thunberg.
When creating a show like this do you ever draw inspiration from your own life or experiences?
It’s pretty much all from my own life experiences. I love being honest on stage but I also love being silly. I also LOVE showing off.
What are the biggest challenges you faced bringing this new show to life?
I always face the challenge of trying to show everything I can do. I don’t want to just do stand up. I want to sing, I want to do sketches and impressions. All with laughs at the heart of it.
When a show is running do you allow yourself much flexibility with your material or do you prefer to stick to what your planned?
I stick 90% to what I’ve planned, but I always enjoy when things go wrong and we have to go off script a bit.
"It was almost like a play in my first show. The Only Way Is Downton. Now I have developed myself as a comic in my own name."
Have you always had a passion for comedy?
ALWAYS. My sister (Sooz Kempner) and I are both comedians. We were always watching Blackadder, Marx Brothers. Everything. Recreating scenes from the fast show with our own unique twist. Probably making it worse. Or adding a solo from Les Mis for no reason.
What has been your most memorable experience on stage?
Got attacked by a moth once. Absolute giant of a moth. Couldn’t believe it. Had to keep going but then just fend off this moth.
How much has your style and the approach to your comedy changed much since you started out?
It’s changed loads. I used to just do impressions. It was almost like a play in my first show. The Only Way Is Downton. Now I have developed myself as a comic in my own name. I still love doing everything though.
Do you have any advice, tips or suggestions you would offer anyone making their debut at the Fringe this year?
Enjoy every second of it. There will be ups and downs. Just take the small victories and the larger ones will follow.
And finally, what do you want your fringe audiences to take away from Macho Macho Man?
I want them to have laughed a lot. I want them to have been impressed. I want them to think I’m a nice bloke. My constant quest in life for everyone to like me continues.