Joe Lawless tells We Love Brighton about his Brighton Fringe show Songs What Make You Feel.
Please Tell us about your show:
It’s a family-friendly show with theatre, comedy and live music revolving around human emotions.
Who is your show for?
The show is primarily for children and big children i.e. their adults. However, I have also had groups of adults come to the show without their children whilst drinking “grown-up’s Ribena” and apparently, they had a tremendous time!
Why should people come and see it?
Grandpa Simpson once said “I used to be with ‘it’, but then they changed what ‘it’ was. Now what I’m with isn’t ‘it’ anymore and what’s ‘it’ seems weird and scary.” My show is 100% “it” so come and see before they change “it” again!
Also, the show features characters with traits that children (and adults) will be able to relate too. The show encourages these traits and the emotions that go with them through comedy and singing songs. It even gives pro-tips on how to deal with those emotions when the time comes.
Have you performed at the Fringe before?
I have indeed, just once, last year in fact! It was a children’s show about Internet Trolls and how to defeat them. However, the show was in a venue in deepest, darkest Hove and I forgot to invite anyone from the press and did minimal flyering. Thankfully, Brighton Fringe’s Instagram page re-posted my show’s trailer and people came. I learnt my lesson and have reached out to the press this year, hence this fabulous “We Love Brighton” Q&A.
What do you love about Brighton Fringe?
The fact that literally anybody can apply, put on a show and even apply for funding for it, all in the name of Art! There is a place for everyone and that is quite a special thing in 2025.
What do you love about Brighton?
I lived here for 10 years and there are always shenanigans and tomfoolery being done by someone somewhere. Example: I was once walking down the promenade and there was a woman haphazardly cycling towards me. She was wearing a brightly coloured boiler suit and had on her head the most outrageously decorated bonnet. She had an accent that wouldn’t be out of place in Downton Abbey and was calling out for someone named Maisie and announcing that it was her (Maisie’s) birthday. Whizzed right by me. Never saw her again. Very Brighton.
Are there any other shows you are excited to see?
SESKA: SUPERSILLYMAGICSHOW looks absolutely hilarious, highly energetic and will keep every single child fixated on what’s happening on the stage. Al Start’s Go Kid Music Club also looks wonderful for the little ones. I used to teach in a primary school in Brighton and parents would always rave about Al Start’s Go Kid Music Club which happens all year round.
Songs What Make You Feel is playing at Half A Camel – The Joker on May 10 and 11 at 2pm.
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/songs-what-make-you-feel/
Venue: The Joker, 2 Preston Road, BN1 4QF
