Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Josephine Lacey

Tell us about Autism Mama. What can audiences expect?

Autism Mama came about after I supported my teenage son, who is autistic, through elements of his difficult journey through puberty.

Audiences can expect to see a laugh out loud and loving tale of the lengths I went to, to help and support my son through this challenging time. They will witness some of the tools I used to help him understand the changes that were happening to him. Audiences will leave my show with a little insight into our relationship. More importantly, they will leave fully entertained and highly amused having never seen a comedy show like mine before. 

Can you talk about some of the creative team involved?

The team at Soho Theatre have been amazing! I have developed a relationship that I hope lasts a long time. I would like to think that they feel the same as we work so well together and make a wonderful team! 

I have been working closely with Lee Griffiths, Comedy Producer, and Dimple Pau, Assistant Comedy Producer, on the show. I totally trust their advice and input. 

Rhys and Laura, who work on the digital content and social media side of things, are great fun to work with. They had me make a model of Edinburgh Castle from cardboard, spaghetti, and pom-poms to a timescale of six minutes. I can tell you, that was a laugh-a-minute exercise! Along with Hannah Andrews and her marketing team who have done such an excellent job on my poster and flyers.  

Honestly, all those that have been involved in getting my show ready for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe have been amazing and a pleasure to work with.

Where do you draw inspiration from for your work, both in terms of creation and performance?

Near on all my inspiration for my creative work, comes from my life experiences, motherhood, traumas and my Jamaican-Irish heritage and upbringing. 

I have loved stand-up comedy from as far back as I can remember. For me, being born in the late 60s. I grew up in the 70s and early 80s. I watched the likes of Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, Joan Rivers, Bill Hicks, to name just a few. I felt like these kind of stand-ups brought their true self to the stage and gave a part of themselves to the audience. No gimmicks. Just them, a microphone, and honest humour. That is the kind of comedian I like and draw my inspiration from. 

What are your thoughts on the festival in general and how do you feel about being a part of it this year?

I love the festival. I have been a few times over the years. Never for the full run due to family commitments. I love the buzz and the vibe. There is so much to see and be part of creatively. You meet people from all different parts of the world, creatives, and spectators alike. Everyone is there to have a fun time. And let us not forget how beautiful a city Edinburgh is! 

I am extremely excited to be debuting my first comedy show this year, and for the full run. I get to live and breathe comedy for a whole month. Nothing else. I get to leave all else behind for the month of August and just be Josephine Lacey, comedian.  

Looking at this new show, how would you say it links to your previous work both personally and thematically?

This new show has definite links to previous works both personally and thematically. Several years ago, I penned and performed club sets on living with and raising my autistic son who was non-verbal for the first four-and-a-half years of childhood. My other two children have also played a part in some of my comedy writing. The main theme of my comedy writing is what is real to me. I find drawing on my own honest experiences more suitable for my comedy voice and stage presence.  

Why is this an important story to tell?

My show is important to tell because it is relevant today, and it will be relevant tomorrow and each day after that because autism is not going anywhere. Neither is puberty. Just because a child is autistic, that does not mean that they skip any developmental processes. My son went through puberty as a teenager who happened to be autistic. Because of his autism, he processed puberty in an exceedingly difficult and unique way to a neurotypical pubescent teenager.  

I found a creative and humorous way to share our experience, which in turn, I believe will help others who will go through similar challenges, but also help those who do not have a personal relationship with autism to gain a tiny little insight into this area of autism in a light-hearted, funny, and loving way. 

Do you tend to take inspiration from events happening in the world around you in terms of your work? Do you think artists have a responsibility to respond to what's happening?

What is happening in the world around me is not inspiring. If anything, it is frightening. I am a comedian. My job is to entertain an audience and trigger laughter. That is the message and what is expected when I walk on stage and pick up a microphone. I do not have the skill set to make light of the horrors that are happening in the world today. If I do not find it funny or humorous, how am I going to make an audience find it funny? If I were a songwriter, singer, poet, or if I had a huge platform, my performance voice would be different, but that does not mean I would have a responsibility to respond to what is happening in the world with my art form. I have a choice on how I chose to use my platform. 

We all have views and opinions, but not everyone wants to air theirs publicly. It does not mean that one does not care because they chose to support a cause privately. I know some performers who have regretted sharing their opinions on social media because of the backlash they gained. We live in a not so nice a world. 

How do you feel about the current arts landscape in your country and your part in it? Does it excite you and inspire you to keep pushing the boat out?

I think the more the country goes to pot, the richer and more diverse the arts become. The more downtrodden people feel or the bigger the social divide, the more voices we hear. Whether the voice is that of a comedian, a singer, a poet, a street performer, or an artist/painter. Being of dual heritage, I love cultural diversity. Cities like Edinburgh and London have that in abundance, and we are seeing it creatively. Every week I am invited to something that is highlighting new talent in one way or another. In recent years, more neurodiverse voices are being heard. Not just on the comedy circuit but within other creative settings and in school too. It is wonderful. It keeps me off the backburner and on my toes regarding my own craft. 

What would you like audiences to take away from seeing this production at the Fringe?

I would like everyone to leave feeling like they have never seen a comedy show like mine before.

Like the comedians I watched and admired growing up, I would like to leave a piece of me and my relationship with my son with them. I would like audiences to leave my show with a picture in their mind of what our relationship looks like.

For parents and carers of autistic teenagers, that they are not alone in the challenges they experience. And, for parents who's children have not reached the stage of puberty yet, that they get an insight into some of the challenges that they may face. Then, there are those who do not have a relationship with autism. I would like them to get a picture of what autism is like to live with. 

Above all, regardless of what challenges and difficulties we live with, it's important to keep humour in our lives and it's okay to laugh.

What show are you most looking forward to seeing in August, and why?

Ben Target's LORENZO: I missed his show last year. The show is very relatable to me. Being a carer to one that I love so deeply. 

Larry Dean's Dodger: He's charming, superbly funny and daft! We done the circuit together many years ago. Wherever he is in the world performing, we always stay in contact. I have a lot of love for Larry.

Nina Conti: Her use of audience members is brilliant. It is a given that you are going to laugh out loud. Her shows are fan-tas-tic!

Daddy Autism: Joe Wells is a great comic and is autistic and he wants to be a daddy. I'm interested in hearing his story.

What’s the one piece of advice you’d give a performer coming to Edinburgh for the first time?

Immerse yourself in the experience that is Edinburgh Fringe. Pace yourself. Plan what you want to see and when. Each day, find a little time for you. Remember that you love what you do, so enjoy yourself. 

What’s next for you and how are you feeling about the future in general?

I am feeling extremely excited about the future. I have a lot of changes on the horizon personally and professionally. My son enters adulthood this year, so we will be entering into a new chapter of his life together. Although, he has major daily challenges to contend with, he is such a bright and talented young man with a beautiful spirit. I am looking forward to watching and supporting his next stage of life. 

Professionally, I will be taking my show on tour in the UK and Ireland. I am also going to be redesigning the show for schools, colleges, and autism support groups. I also plan to author a book (or two) on our experiences. There is something else exciting on the horizon, but I cannot reveal that publicly yet. You will just have to watch this space! 

How can Edinburgh audiences keep up with you beyond the festival?

Currently, my website is being redesigned (bad timing I know).  My most used platform is Instagram. My handle is: @funnyautismmama and I will post here when my website is back up and running. 

Anything else?

Enjoy your festival!!!