A new show about human evolution, brain and body connections and…hamsters.
TICKET LINK: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/rosco-mcclelland-the-bones
1. The Bones explores human evolution, the brain and “what makes you tick” — what first sparked your interest in turning those existential questions into comedy material?
It’s mostly just about having a viewpoint on a shared human experience. I think people like hearing that something they thought only happened to them actually happens to pretty much everyone else! Also, there has been a slight uptake on comedians punching down rather than up. If I’m going to punch down, it’ll be very much aimed at myself. I have a form of Tourette’s, which only shows itself with facial tics and spasms, but I’m pretty much in control of it most of the time. Last year at the fringe, however, I had a day where the ticks took the wheel and performing was an absolute nightmare. I’ve never even really brought it up in conversation, even amongst friends, so I figured it was time to get on top of it and own it.
2. Your recent work has balanced emotional depth with relentless joke-writing — how do you approach combining vulnerability and high-energy stand-up within the same show?
I think I’ve finally found a nice balance in it over the last few years. I was previously guilty of thinking that showing any sign of vulnerability was a weakness, but now I’m at a stage where I care less about how I’m perceived which allows me to open up a bit! I think an audience (especially at the fringe) wants to hear an authentic story, and people can tell when you’re not giving them that. I love bold and challenging stand up so when I do kick into gear it can be quite a drastic change of pace, and it’s fun trying to balance the ebbs and flows of an hour long show.
3. Winning the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award inevitably invites comparisons to Billy Connolly — what does that recognition mean to you personally and creatively?
It means everything to me, I’m fiercely proud to live and work where I’m from. So to get the nod from the best to ever do it is a huge honour. Scottish comedians are always punching above their weight and I consider myself to be standing on the shoulders of giants. Sometimes you’re not sure about certain ideas, or if you’re moving in the right direction. But when Billy tells you that what you’re doing is funny, you listen, and you accept. It’s allowed me to unashamedly believe more in my ideas and not worry too much about the pressure of failure, and as an artist I think one of the most important things is to be allowed the space to fail.
4. Scottish comedy is often associated with directness and resilience; do you think there’s something distinctly Glaswegian about the way you approach storytelling and humour?
I’m very much a product of my environment I guess, I like to think I exude a sort of rough charm on the exterior, but a gentleness that radiates from within…of course I could be just talking a load of pish. Being from the Glasgow, area you get a crash course at a young age of never allowing yourself to get above your station. It’s traditionally a hard city with no-nonsense people, but if you were to ask someone for help then you’ll get it. Storytelling has been woven into the fabric of Glasgow and I’m glad I’ve managed to pick it up and make it my vocation.
5. The show promises to cover everything from brain chemistry to hamsters — how important is absurdity in helping audiences engage with bigger philosophical ideas?
A reviewer recently described me as a sort of idiot savant(in nicer terms) which is exactly what I want! I love the juxtaposition of being able to talk about something which is quite frankly absolute nonsense, to then pivot into some esoteric idea…and if I can tie them together then that’s even better!
6. Between stand-up, podcasting, Twitch streaming and appearances on shows like 7 Days, how has performing across different platforms changed your relationship with live comedy audiences?
I used to be in bands growing up, so over half of my life has been spent going on stage in various guises, really about twenty years actually. You have to operate on multiple different levels now as a comedian (which I think is great) because media is consumed so much quicker than it used to be. I really do enjoy doing my nightly twitch shows, I love doing the Shooting Ropes podcast with my friend Christopher Macarthur-Boyd and TV stuff is always interesting and good fun. But apparently my love for being on stage live beats all of that, there’s nothing better than the feeling of a live reaction to something you’ve made.