An IQ137 Cheerio

Day 24 (30 Aug): The Fringe run is complete! I indulged myself with the best shows and Scotch whisky, navigating the pouring rain. Super glad that I survived this and met lots of talented people! (Note: I found my camera stand, standing in a gap between the walls.)

Special announcement 29.08.2026I will be on the Royal Mile from 2 hours before my show, flyering, saying hello and thank you :D Come find me, then come see the finale!

Day 23 (29 Aug): Last day tomorrow. Can you believe it? Edinburgh has treated me really well: grateful to everyone who helped along the way, and proud of what this show became. One more to go! “I might have dropped my camera stand, but I would never drop my flowers.” Me after my camera stand mysteriously disappeared. (To do or not to do: start social media?)

Day 22 (28 Aug): Lovely morning show with an audience that lifted the whole room, and I love how the new bit plays off the venue itself, The Caves. The restored stone vaults beneath South Bridge, built between 1785 and 1788, right inside Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage Site: a room full of historic character. It even survived the flooding earlier this month. (Note: new batch of books now available, eventually arrived despite an unfortunate delay by the printing company.)

Day 21 (27 Aug): Joyful morning! Received helpful feedback. Venue 2 is larger but a bit warm; perhaps doing comedy there needs more fans. Visited the West End Fair & found some gems! (Practice: voice projection.)

Day 20 (26 Aug): Added a new bit to the show; it is fun to learn more about Edinburgh. Visited the Edinburgh International Book Festival; there were books. (To do: polish the new bit.)

Day 19 (25 Aug): First morning at The Caves. Recorded a full run of the show. See you at 11:30am.

Interval (24 Aug): Tech testing at venue 2, Just The Tonic: loved the theatrical vibe! Happy testing. Went to have the vegan hell ramen; when it was being served, “VEGAN HELL” sounded like an insult that I had ordered, despite not being a vegan myself. (Note: The Caves from tomorrow, 11:30am.)

Day 18 (23 Aug): Concluded the residency at my first venue. Got a lovely piece of feedback from a very kind audience: ‘Brain stimulating’. I truly enjoyed my last day of the show here! Lovely memories. Packed my pink suitcase and flamingo lamp: onto the next chapter. Thanks to those who gave me a hand on the way! (Note: tongue twisted in a long paragraph today, will practise more tonight. Tech rehearsal at venue 2 tomorrow.)

Day 17 (22 Aug): Grateful for a diverse audience today! To save my voice I barely spoke before the show, and learned that the mouth needs warming up too, or suddenly my tongue does not feel like mine. Passed out on the sofa in the late afternoon, last night's commuting collecting its debt. Cutting 10 to 15% of the material: time is precious, and I bear in mind that people are catching other shows. Brought flowers to the venue to say thank you; 18 days together, one more tomorrow, then the show moves to The Caves for the final week. (Note: my playlist app cut off mid-show for the second time; we are no longer on speaker terms, will switch tomorrow.)

Day 16 (21 Aug): Recorded another version of the show. The new pacing gives it room to breathe, though now it runs a little long; some trimming ahead. Treated myself to shows in the city centre afterwards, my little study trip, everything was great until two hours of getting home, sardine crowds, me dodging coughs, squeezes and second-hand smoke as I cannot get sick right now. Properly worn out. (Note: me avoiding the centre after 8pm for the sake of my weak bones.)

Day 15 (20 Aug): Delightful day, with a special guest in the audience. Happy to see significant improvements in time management, delivery and more; still room to grow, but days of morning practice before the show are making a difference. (Note: working on the breath between bits, pacing, reciting, and more.)

Day 14 (19 Aug): Completed a full, recorded version of the work-in-progress show. It has grown so much and now has a clear developmental shape, subject only to further refinement and delivery practice. This feels magical. (Note: check out my flyers on the community boards around Edinburgh, tucked in among the notices at cafés and grocery stores.)

Day 13 (18 Aug): Chill morning; the set flowed nicely. (Note: worked on clear enunciation and silent-letter practice. Also: the second batch of the book, with its new additions, is delayed at the printer.)

Day 12 (17 Aug): Happy to have an audience! A smooth morning and kind words received; feeling blessed. Rainy Edinburgh. (Note: finally set up a public profile on Instagram: @bileej.comedy. Completely new account, social media 101.)

Day 11 (16 Aug): “You think a lot.” Got this feedback after the show. “Yes, I do!” I replied happily. “Does your thinking and study make you happy or sad?” “It makes me who I am; it doesn’t make me happier or sadder.” (To do: find a sweet spot to cut the stories short so the set runs neatly to time for the next act’s set-up.)

Day 10 (15 Aug): Dynamic audience! Lovely, engaging interactions with a creative and supportive crowd! Added some new bits. Happy humming home. (Note: will adjust sound equipment and perhaps tighten intro materials. Research task: Guinness?)

Day 9 (14 Aug): Rejection is part of the training, I would say. Finished a new edit of the book and added 30 new pages of EdFringe 2026 material. On its way to the printer. (Note: Exhaustion. Resting for the second half of the run.)

Day 8 (13 Aug): A slightly clumsy morning to start off, but a great audience, and I received good feedback. (Lesson learnt: always set up the stage first before going out to flyer; the audience might already be waiting downstairs while I am out thinking there is no audience.)

Day 7 (12 Aug): My lamp is on! A private, intimate performance. Lovely to have support from another brilliant performer at the same venue. Very kind; hope our paths cross again. (Later note: Gutted I missed their last show on the 16th, If By Starlight…, but they will be on at the Museum of Comedy; check it out if you are in London!)

Day 6 (11 Aug): Went to have ramen, because “ra-ra-ra-ra-men”, as in the music genius Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance. (Note: perhaps add a water/ramen break mid-show?)

Day 5 (10 Aug): A very sweet audience: a wonderful group of gentlemen! Brilliant, incredibly intelligent, celebrating a beautiful, beautiful lifelong friendship. I learnt a lot. Felt very lucky. (Added: revised music tracks. Research task: Saint George. Perhaps use a prop?)

Day 4 (9 Aug): Lovely audience, all ladies! Chinese sisterhood, plus some valuable audience input that helped verify and enrich my material in the American context. Lots of love. (Added: a portable lamp. Research task: medical journals.)

Day 3 (8 Aug): Went to the Meet the Media event. (Battery dropped to 0%.)

Day 2 (7 Aug): Opening day! Felt great. Timing and delivery are getting sharper. Grateful to have an audience, and hearing giggles means a lot to me. (Gradually recovering from jet lag.)

Day 1 (6 Aug): Full dress rehearsal. The venue’s owner is the sweetest person ever, so helpful and so kind. Grateful to have found a great helper who flyered with me and stayed for the show. Feeling great, and the script is coming together. (Added: galaxy projectors and a speaker. Jet lag.)