Have you ever thought about the person behind the thoughts, notes and drawings often found on the walls of a public toilet? Caitlin Cook has – for the past 10 years. The comedian, musician and writer was fascinated with the stories behind the scrawls on the stalls, and she’s turned her unique interest into a stage show. The Writing on the Stall analyses a decade of vandalism – or art, she argues – and turns it into an hour of music, comedy and reflection on human nature. She will be bringing her show to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August.
Your show has a very unique premise – when did you decide to take it from an idea into a fully-fledged show?
Bathroom graffiti has a lot to say, and I have a lot to say about it! If this concept was only worthy of one song, it would’ve stayed that way – with the first song I wrote, “The Purest Form of Art.” But the truth is, my obsession with bathroom graffiti is never-ending, and that one song resonated with audiences in such a way that I thought about how many pieces of bathroom graffiti I’d photographed over the years and realised I had enough to write an entire musical.
Bathroom graffiti has a history as long as humankind, and there’s always a new piece to uncover and explore (plus, it certainly helps that my followers send me hundreds of DMs a day of bathroom graffiti from all around the world). And I think presenting graffiti in this way makes my audiences look a little more closely at the art around them.
Why do you think there is such a huge difference in men’s toilet graffiti and women’s?
I can’t speak for men, but certainly for women, I think the ladies’ room is a safe space. It’s a space for complimenting each other’s outfits, borrowing tampons, finding a shoulder to cry on, gossiping, trauma-dumping, swapping stories, and ultimately bonding with other women. And the bathroom graffiti in ladies rooms often reflects that – it can be uplifting, empowering, comforting, and kind. From what I can tell, I don’t think men’s bathrooms provide the same experience. Men have much fewer spaces in society that they can be vulnerable with each other. But they can certainly be funny or crass or graphic. And the bathroom graffiti in mens’ rooms often reflects that – it’s certainly where I’ve seen the most intricately illustrated phalluses.
Do you think that gender neutral toilets will change the toilet graffiti of the future?
Absolutely! We’re already seeing this. My favourite graffiti is usually from gender neutral toilets – single stalls, unisex bathrooms, porta-potties. It’s where all different kinds of people can come together and have a conversation on the walls of a bathroom. This is where I’ve found such gems as, “I still like you even though we argued about feminism”; “I called off my wedding today, so I think I’ll screw the boardwalk magician,” and, “You know the best thing about the future? It’s uncharted territory. It’s yours, babe. Create it.”
Do you find it more challenging to write jokes in song-form, or does music help with the flow?
No, it’s easier for me to write jokes in song-form. Usually when I think of a funny idea, it very quickly becomes a whole song. It’s sort of like a stand-up building on a premise and adding tags to a joke, except I’m adding verses and pre-choruses. I certainly love writing stand-up and sketches and other kinds of comedy, but musical comedy comes the easiest to me.
Certainly, in writing musical comedy, I regularly encounter friction between what makes the most sense musically vs. comedically. But then again, if it’s a comedy song, I’m almost always going to value what’s funny over what sounds better and frequently break musical structure to prioritise the comedy.
Which non-comedy musician would you most like to release a comedy album?
Ooh, what a great question! Some musicians that immediately spring to mind: John Craigie, Adele, Sara Bareilles, Regina Spektor, Phoebe Bridgers, Ben Folds. But if I had to pick one, probably John Cragie. His songs tell such beautiful stories, and he’s always so funny in his live album. I’d love a comedy album from him.
Where can we find more about you?
https://www.instagram.com/thecaitlincook
Caitlin Cook: The Writing on the Stall will be performed at 21:50 at Pleasance Dome (10 Dome) from 14th-25th August
Booking Link: https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/caitlin-cook-writing-stall