King of Crumbs: Inside Alasdair Beckett-King’s Wonderfully Weird Edinburgh Show

In King of Crumbs, comedian Alasdair Beckett-King rummages through the flotsam of millennial childhood and the rising tide of adult anxiety, finding comfort in surrealism and silliness. His Edinburgh Fringe Show is at the Pleasance this year until 11th August. The show blends nostalgic reflections with sharp gags and just enough existential dread to keep things British.

How would you describe your comedic style for someone who hasn’t seen your work yet?

It’s observational comedy, but I can’t guarantee that we’ve observed the same things. As a travelling whimsy merchant, I try to approach stand up from the perspective of a medieval apothecary or warlock. I tell true stories, of course; in this show I talk about my childhood, but every real detail is going to be served with a bit of nonsense on top.

King of Crumbs is described as a rallying cry for uplifting nonsense. Why did you feel it was important to create a show about whimsy and silliness right now?

A comedian's job is to make people laugh, and the great thing about stand-up is you can do just about anything you want in pursuit of that. My favourite kind of comedy is offbeat, imaginative and full of weird and memorable images. So that's the kind of show I try to write.

Many of your jokes have a timeless, surreal quality. Are there particular artists or writers who have influenced your comedic style?

I try to avoid too many topical references in stand-up, because I want my shows to feel vaguely retro or out-of-time. But I'm not sure I do such a good job of disguising my influences. It would be too embarrassing to list all the comedians, but I grew up loving Terry Gilliam’s Monty Python animations and the sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf. And you can't shake the things that really grabbed you when you were 13.

In a time of cultural fatigue and constant crisis, what role do you think comedy plays in helping people process the world?

I'm not sure comedy can really tackle the global crises we face in the 21st century. Being a comedian can feel a bit like cracking jokes on the Titanic. It's true, laughter is probably not going to stop sea levels from rising. But then, crying won't help either. If anything, tears will make the situation worse, a la Alice in Wonderland. So, l say, let's make a few jokes.

You work across comedy, writing, animation, and more. How do you keep your creative energy focused (or do you enjoy the chaos)?

I don’t keep my energy focused at all! Everything is a terrible mess all the time. But in a cool twist, I also don’t enjoy the chaos. My computer desktop is an icon graveyard and I lose pens like nobody’s business. But I feel lucky that I’ve spent most of my adult life doing the kind of work I dreamed of doing as a kid. It turned out to be a lot more stressful and less remunerative than I expected, but you can’t have everything.  

How does performing in Edinburgh compare to touring elsewhere in the UK - is there something special about the Fringe?

During the Fringe, Edinburgh becomes like the Olympic Village. But instead of being full of athletes, it’s full of comedians with appalling diets and messed up sleep patterns. As much as I love the comedy circuit and touring my own shows, it’s wonderful to be in a city full of comedians - several of whom are not bastards. It’s a unique opportunity to watch loads of great shows and get inspired. Or really, really envious! (Often both.)

Alasdair Beckett-King will be taking “King of Crumbs” to the Edinburgh Fringe this year from 30th July – 11th August

For tickets and more information, visit: https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/alasdair-beckett-king-king-crumbs