Fringe stalwart and former frontman of Dawn of the Replicants Paul Vickers (AKA Twonkey) returns to his solo cabaret roots after years of experimentation with theatre, pandemics and an autism diagnosis.
Why did you make this show?
Over the last year or so largely by slowly replacing the good ideas with even better ideas, Having a really good idea often means you have bring the rest of the show up to that level which can mean losing a lot of content you thought was good at start . I often find it’s about not being afraid to just dive in deep and drag up the pearls from the deep but sometimes you have work out which pearls suit you and which are just stones.
What is the part of the show you’re most proud of?
My Steve Martin puppet is wonderful, made by Grant Pringle, his wife hates when he makes a new puppet for my show as he makes the house messy and appears to lose his mind for a short period of time . Over the years he made some crackers like the Wobbly Waiter and Mothra the monster made famous for putting Godzilla on the ropes. He uses odd materials, like Steve Martin’s hair is made from a sanitary towel. He also steals clothes from his children to dress the puppets, lol 😂
As a disabled practitioner, what do you want to see change at The Edinburgh Fringe?
It would be nice if the venue costs came down and accommodation costs are through the roof but that has an on impact everyone not just the disabled. Being Autistic can make handing out flyers tricky, as I’m a being shy 🙈 person when not on stage and I don’t like getting in people’s hair.
Why should we come and see the show?
Because I personally feel it’s my best show in years since Twonkey’s Night Train to Liechtenstein 🇱🇮 it’s got a nice flow and feeling about it this year. Sometimes the chips just land the right way up or the wrong way up but for the right reasons. I know my shows better than anyone so if say I’m happy with it, it’s a good thing, I’ve not had a normal job recently which has really helped, I’ve had the time to work on it and I’ve not rushed it, that’s a real luxury.
Twonkey’s Basket Weaving in Peru is on at Dragonfly until August 25th
