Following the success of his 2022 show ‘Vrooom Vrooom’, Josh Glanc returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with new show ‘Family Man’, which has already enjoyed acclaim at the Adelaide and Perth Fringe festivals.

“Years ago, Josh sacrificed a lucrative career as a lawyer to become the wacky comedian you know today”, says the blurb. “Now he must finally grapple with the consequences of a life-changing choice”.

It’s a part improvised ‘choose your own adventure’ style comedy show, with lots of songs along the way. I spoke to Josh to find out more.

CC: Tell us about the premise and themes of ‘Family Man’.
JG: Ascribing a premise to one of my shows isn’t easy – even for me! Most of the time the audience is trying to work out whether the person that just got up on stage is a plant or not – they’re not – or whether the show restart that just happened was planned – it… definitely was!

‘Family Man’ is a trip. A wild crazy joyful trip, where you might not know what’s part of the show and what isn’t. On that trip I explore themes around performing, pursuing comedy over my past life as a lawyer and, of course, family – my current and potentially future one.

CC: What made you decide to explore these themes through a show?
JG: I’m getting older. OK. You happy? That’s why I’ve been thinking about family and my life as a comedian.

I’ve spent the last few years heavily pursuing my career as a touring comedian and not really focusing on romantic relationships and having a family, and I’ve been thinking about how important that is for me.

CC: This show has an interactive ‘choose your own adventure’ element to it. How does that work?
JG: There are moments I need to hit in order for the show to work, but besides hitting those, the rest is pretty open. I’m just trying to be super tuned into the room and the audience and do the bits that feel ‘right’ in the moment.

Also, if something organic happens in the room, I’m usually pretty keen to go with it and turn it into something. Basically, besides a few moments, I’m not quite sure what will really happen, which I hope is as exciting for the audience as it is for me.

CC: Does that process just change the order of the show or does it also change what you perform?
JG: It changes the order, yes, and what I perform changes by virtue of it being a different audience.

There are a lot of songs in the show – and the lyrics to those don’t change – but the order I do them does, and some of the songs are written so I can interchange lines with what is happening in the room. It’s all highly scientific.

CC: Lots of people probably saw your 2022 show ‘Vrooom Vrooom’ and, if they didn’t, they should obviously go and watch it on YouTube or the 800 Pound Gorilla website. How does the new show compare?
JG: The new show is definitely still very much a ‘Vrooom Vrooom’-esque show! And if you didn’t see that then yes – please definitely do watch it. The new one is less stand-alone sketches and more of a freewheeling ride.

It’s similar to my previous shows in terms of not knowing where things will go, having a really fun party vibe – I hope! – but there are fewer characters and far fewer props this year!

CC: There’s an album on Bandcamp to accompany ‘Vrooom Vrooom’, can we expect something similar for ‘Family Man’?
JG: Definitely. Once the Fringe is over I’ll record the songs and release them too. I love the songs in this show and can’t wait to put them online.

CC: Your shows seem to have lots of sound cues and such like, does that make performing shows more tricky, especially at the Edinburgh Fringe when you get about ten minutes in the venue before show time?
JG: Yes! It’s always more stressful when you are dealing with technical elements.

I need my computer to connect to the sound system – and it needs to sound good because of all the music and songs. And I operate the show with a midi wireless controller that allows me to have over 60 sound cues at my fingertips, and sometimes that can be temperamental.

Hey, if I were the kind of guy who could get up there and just talk into a mic – I’d 100% do that, but I’m drawn to playing with more theatrical elements in my shows.

CC: Let’s quickly backtrack now, can you give us a quick ‘story so far’ of your comedy career to date?
JG: It’s a bit of a crazy journey. I loved performing as a kid but when I graduated high school I had it in my head that that was something I needed to give up. So I went to law school and didn’t perform for about ten years.

Then I ended up in a sketch show with some lawyer friends of mine. It was my first time performing for so long and I immediately had this feeling of coming ‘home’.

I then did a solo show in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and have kept on making shows since then.

CC: You recently announced a Channel 4 project, what’s that about?
JG: It’s a very short sketch show pilot out soon. It was just a brilliant opportunity given to me to be able to put some of my crazy ideas on screen.

CC: Back to the Fringe, what are you planning on doing in Edinburgh when you’re not performing ‘Family Man’?
JG: Sleeping. Catching up with friends. Carb-loading.

CC: What have you got planned for after the Festival?
JG: Nothing! Which I’m most looking forward to. I’ve got some fairly heavy touring planned for October, but for September I’m hoping to just chill.

I’ve worked so hard to get the show to Edinburgh, thinking about whether people will have a good time, so I’m really looking forward to having a little time off.

CC: One last simple question: as an Australian currently spending a month in Scotland, which is better, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival or the Edinburgh Fringe?
JG: Come on, you’re going to get me in trouble here! I’ll say this: being in Edinburgh and doing the Fringe is hands down my favourite time of the year.

My soul is full and I’m exceptionally happy performing every day at the biggest arts festival – with some of the most up-for-anything audiences – in the world.

‘Josh Glanc: Family Man’ was performed at Monkey Barrel Comedy at Edinburgh Festival 2024.

LINKS: joshglanc.com | instagram.com/joshglanc

Photo: Marcelle Bradbeer