CODI Edinburgh Fringe 2023
On Monday I performed my show ‘Cybercrime is not just for Criminals’ as part of the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It took place at the The Stand’s New Town Theatre in George Street and completed a run of three shows this year, the first being in The Stand Comedy in Edinburgh and then at The Stand in Glasgow.
A Monday lunchtime is an odd slot, especially after the weekend, but the public turned up in large numbers and it was a huge success. I was nervous the day before which is usual and of course there were nerves to contend with on the day, but I’m pleased how it went and how I handled the pressure. It was the most relaxed I felt on stage to date and the question and answer session was a joy to do. You never know what you are going to be asked and have to think on your feet. I received some challenging questions, but I tackled these head-on and I feel the audience went away having enjoyed themselves and having learnt something at the same time. It’s still an odd thought, that they are paying to come and hear me talk and I feel a responsibility to deliver the best performance I can. It’s good to see the public engaging with cyber security as I get that it can appear as a black art to those not involved in the constant battle against hackers.
After the show I was asked to sign a copy of my novel ‘The Kill Chain’ which I still find an odd experience. My handwriting is not the best, but I remembered to ask what page, what message they wanted written and then managed to get my signature looking not too bad. It’s not something I’ve practised and funnily enough I have never signed the initial ‘J’ until this book came out. As both my initials are on the cover I feel I have to include both and as this is a first for me, I’ve found it an odd thing to do. I probably should practice it.
The next day I attended a CODI show called Digital Dark Age 2.0. I had been asked to mentor the two philosophers who were performing as I’m now classed as a CODI veteran. This was my fourth year at the Fringe (the first being remote in lockdown in 2020). I’ve done eight shows for the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas (the first was on-line, the other seven live on stage) plus an additional show I was asked to do separately for the Scottish Assembly in Stockbridge Edinburgh in 2022. ‘My neighbour hacked my toothbrush’ has been performed six times, and ‘Cybercrime is not for criminals’ I’ve performed twice. I’m intending to do a different show next year and have given myself until the end of this year to draft something up. I talk briefly about A.I. at the end of my latest show, so I will likely do more on that for the new one.
My mentees did a great job and myself and the audience thoroughly enjoyed it. Great questions from the public and great answers. I was nervous for them as this was their first time, but they did good and I’m sure they have the bug now and will want to do it again.
To finish off my participation in this year’s Fringe, I went on Susan Morrison’s walking tour. As noted in previous blogs, Susan hosts CODI and has her own comedy shows at the Fringe. She is also doing a walking tour around part of the New Town so I got myself a ticket and met up later in the afternoon and enjoyed a fascinating and hilarious account of some of the eighteenth and nineteenth century shenanigans that took place. I’m not going to give spoilers here. If you want to know go and see Susan’s shows. She knows her history, and it’s the detail that is never taught and largely remains hidden to most people.
The picture to go with this blog post is a selfie I took just before I went on stage. I have no idea what that inflatable multi-coloured seal is in the background, but such is the Fringe. I did see a performer carrying it into the venue after I had finished my show, but I never did find out what role it was due to play.
The Fiction Factory 