Michelle Brasier returns to EdFringe with new musical comedy show Legacy

One evening, Michelle Brasier arrived at a cinema box office expecting to pick up movie tickets in her name – instead she was handed a mysterious envelope full of cash, with her name on it…but it was meant for a different Michelle Brasier. Throughout her life, she has survived a plane crash and battled with a family history of cancer. So, as any great comedian should, she decided to turn her stories into a show – her new Edinburgh Fringe hour ‘Legacy’.

Mixing music and comedy, the Aunty Donna alumnus takes the audience on a whirlwind journey of how she solved the mystery of the envelope, cut with poignant real-life stories about how she deals with loss, the fragility of life and how to leave a Legacy. 

What was your initial reaction upon receiving the mysterious envelope?

I tried to give it back! I did not want this! Luckily the venue wouldn't take it back because it was full of cash and they said they don't accept cash which is like, okay, sure, fine - until you realise they're the ones who handed me the envelope of cash. It's fun to have a mystery to solve and it's good to have a scaffolding to build a show on but it's also nice to just see the movie you're trying to see and not have to embark on a mission to find an imposter just because you can't let things go. It was really funny. I'm glad I went down the rabbit hole now but at the time I was like 'no thank you, too much plot in this life already - I'm all full up thank you!'. 

Your shows often mix storytelling, stand-up and music. How do you decide which moments are best expressed through each style?

They don't really feel separate to me. I think it's all just storytelling and when I am writing it becomes clear which bits should be a song and which bits are better with lots of gags and maybe would work disguised as more traditional standup. I think the more specific something is the more likely it is that I will make it into a song. Or if I have lots of jokes about one particular thing then that works best as a song too because obviously lyrics are different to stand-up and the number of runs you can have at an idea are different. With music I think the best thing you can do is sing something really disgusting very sweetly. Work against the music. It's the juxtaposition of sweet and sour. 

Has the reception of ‘Legacy’ at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival influenced your expectation of the Edinburgh Fringe? Do us Brits have a lot to live up to now?

Ha! Kind of. Listen, when I was doing Melbourne Comedy Festival, I was selling out and getting lovely audiences but I also managed to get bed bugs so I think I'm pretty open to a new experience with this show. I really like UK audiences and I feel like my audience over here is smart and nice. I don't feel too worried - famous last words! It's really hard to know what will translate and what won't but I think people will really resonate with this story. We all have to face our mortality at some point and I think when we have a near death experience we are forced to look at what we might leave behind. 

Who are your biggest comedic or musical influences?

Glen Hansard, Chris Flemming, Bo Burnham's Inside, Disney movies especially the villains like Scar and Ursula. Chappell Roan, Kristin Wiig, Maya Rudolph, people who don't go on the internet, people who are too online. Dogs. Musicals.

You’ve had an amazing career so far with sold-out shows, TV appearances and 5-star reviews a-plenty. What do you consider your biggest achievement to date?

Oh that's so bloody nice! We have a show in Australia called Thank God You're Here. It was my favourite TV show as a kid and they have rebooted it recently and I got to be on it and I didn't f*ck it up. That was pretty spectacular. I also wrote a book this year. I think that was something I never expected to do and so it felt really special and free from any childhood dreamlike expectations. It's not out yet so I don't really know if it's good but Tim Minchin was a comedy idol of mine growing up and I have always loved musicals and think Matilda is so beautiful. I sent it to Tim to get a quote for the cover and he called me and gave me the kindest praise. 

I think the generosity of people you put on a pedestal as a kid can really knock you over and remind you of where you came from. He did that twice for me this year and it's meant a lot. Anyway that is all to say that Tim thinks the book is good and so hopefully it is. I really like it and I'm really proud. I also released an album this year. I gotta have a lie down.

Michelle Brasier: Legacy will be performed at 7pm in Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose (Doonstairs) from 31st July  – 26th August (Not 14th) 

Booking link: https://tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk/event/14:5184/