Comic has to create a new show overnight after double-act partner leaves Edinburgh

Some comedians have been working on their Edinburgh shows for three years, Jack Mosedale has had to put his together in a day.

He was forced to create a whole hour of comedy from scratch when Laura Curnick, his partner in the double act Mother had to leave Edinburgh suddenly for personal reasons.

Not willing to give up the slot at Underbelly, he quickly came up with a new show with the help of his director Katie Pesskin.

‘The words "spirit of the Fringe" are coming up a lot when I chat to people about having to throw together an hour-long solo show in 24 hours,’ he told Chortle.

‘Previously I always thought the spirit of the Fringe was stress-drinking Blue Moon and trying not to get dinner from that mac and cheese van every day but I’ve now learnt my lesson.’

‘Myself and Katie have very deliberately leant into the chaos of it all and rather than attempt to paper over the cracks have sort of made the show all about the cracks. Come see the show if you like cracks.’

Mosedale has performed solo stand-up before, but only as five-minute sets so says ‘an hour does feel like a long time to be on stage’.

‘At the beginning of the show I just try to pretend I’m Jean Smart in Hacks and that usually makes me feel better.,’ he added. ‘The show is very much what it says on the tin - a One-Man Two Hander - and basically plots one man’s journey of trying to perform a two-person show by himself. 

‘It’s never a show I would have conceived outside of this situation, but I think Katie and I have mined a lot of comedy out of the challenge of it all and actually ended up with a show that’s very funny in its own frantic, absurd way.’

And for her part, Pesskin said: ‘It’s been gutting for Mother not to be able to perform n the way they intended but Jack is brilliantly talented and has pulled together an absolutely hilarious and totally charming show. This isn’t what we planned for but we’ve definitely made some lemonade…’

The show, now titled Mother: Colleagues (becomes a One Man Two Hander),  is on at Underbelly Cowgate at 8pm.

Published: 9 Aug 2022