One of the UK’s fastest rising stars, with a string of sell-out shows under his belt, and with over 100 million views online, the award-winning Aaron Wood comes to the Fringe with his highly anticipated debut hour, More To Life. We sat down with Aaron to discuss his upcoming performance.
Can you summarise your show in two lines?
It’s a show about feelings (ew) and rimming (woo!) A fast paced and optimistic hour about trying to get your life together.
You’ve packed the show with big topics – masculinity, mental health, neurodivergence – but kept it upbeat and gag-heavy. How did you find that balance?
I think mainly because of how true it all is and I’m never the sort of person to be all melancholy about things. Whenever anything happens I’m trying to look for the funny in it. I don’t approach it like ‘now I’m going to talk about X!’ They just come out when I’m being honest. I never want the show to feel tragic regardless of the subject matter. People go to shows for a laugh, we’ve all got our own issues going on and it’s not fair to now give you mine as well.
Sure, I want people to feel something when they leave but I never want it to be depressing.
You’re very open about your working-class background. How do you think that’s shaped your perspective – not just in comedy, but in life? –
Massively. There’s always that sense of “don’t get above your station” — so even when things go well, there’s this element of disbelief that creeps in. I instinctively play things down and focus on what went wrong instead.
I never thought stand-up was something people like me could do. We couldn’t even afford to go to the theatre, let alone imagine being on stage in one. I wanted to try comedy for years but had that voice in my head telling me it was daft and to just get a safe job.
I think growing up that way makes you really self-conscious – for me at least, and in an era where identity is such a big part of comedy, it’s made me lean into being as honest as I can and wearing where I’m from with pride, rather than something to be ashamed of.
You’ve supported some amazing comics on tour and done two sold-out WIP runs. How has that grind prepared you for your debut hour?
It made it so much easier. The WIP runs taught me how to build a longer narrative. I didn’t want to rush and put out something I wasn’t happy with so it allowed me the time to figure out the kind of show I wanted to write and determine the type of shows I gravitate towards myself.
And opening for comics – stand up is never harder than when you’re supporting someone on tour and you’ve got about 3 seconds to win over people who not only don’t know who you are but legitimately don’t want you there. They would rather sit silently staring at the red curtain than watch you. You’re essentially a YouTube advert that can’t be skipped. Tour support made me sharper and it forced my writing to be tighter because they won’t give you any leeway. Doing my own show that people have chosen to come to feels easy in comparison.
(Watch me die on my ar*e every day for a month now!)
What’s been the biggest surprise in putting together More To Life – creatively or personally?
How much people could relate to the things that I genuinely thought were more personal and unique. I think many of us do just kind of get on with it and don’t really talk about what’s going on underneath but the reality is that nearly everything we go through has probably happened to some else too.
During the WIP runs, I got loads of messages from people with similar backgrounds, or who are also neurodivergent, saying they saw themselves in what I was talking about which was class!
(If not a little bit disappointing that I’m not as special as I thought).
What’s one thing you want people to feel – not just laugh at – by the end of the show?
That they’re not the only ones trying to get their life together. If someone leaves having had a great time thinking ‘I thought it was just me – but apparently not!’ then that’s a win.
Also, wristbands. I have wristbands.
Take one.
Feel the silicone.
Please.
I’m broke.
Venue: Hoots @ The Apex – Hoot 3 (Venue no: 108)
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/aaron-wood-more-to-life
Dates & time: 1-25 August @ 4:50pm (not 12th)