Ed Byrne: Making grief funny + Outlet Podcast
Hilariously dark comedian Ed Byrne will perform at Queenstown Memorial Centre this weekend. Following a slew of five-star reviews and critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe, he’s excited to be bringing his new solo show, Tragedy Plus Time, to New Zealand and to visit Queenstown for the first time.
Born in Ireland, Byrne’s comedy career started when he travelled across to Scotland to study in Glasgow. After MCing some events at his university, he was soon invited to perform at other institutions around the country. Following this he quit his studies and started up a small comedy club in Glasgow, then relocated to London to start from scratch – the rest is history.
Since starting out, Byrne has performed many tours, the last of which had a theme of children and parenting, sold out many runs at Edinburgh Fringe, and appeared on the big and small screen, among many other accolades. The title for his show, Tragedy Plus Time, refers to a Mark Twain quote – that humour could be defined as tragedy plus time. The show is an insight into his own interpretation of this after his brother, Paul, passed away in 2022.
“I examine that idea through the lens of a minor tragedy and a major tragedy,” Byrne says. “The minor tragedy being my car being broken into and my bag, iPad and some other things being stolen, and how the very next night I was onstage making jokes about it. Whereas then a bigger tragedy – such as just over two years ago my little brother dies of liver failure – it’s quite a major tragedy but it can be spun into comedy gold.”
He examines the concept of tragedy and how the darkest humour is sometimes what’s needed to get through the darkest of times. While the overall theme may sound a little sad, it’s “funny. Trust me, it’s funny,” Byrne jokes.
Byrne has received an overwhelming response to the show as in some way or another, everyone can relate to death. That wasn't so with some past tours, such as parenting. "People who don’t have kids find that really alienating. If there’s ever a subject that turns an audience off, if they can’t relate to it, I find it’s family stuff.”
When first performed, a lot of people walking into the show didn’t know what it was going to be about – at times people have said that they recently lost a loved one and wouldn’t have come if they knew about the subject matter, but they’re really glad they did.
“I was at Melbourne Comedy Festival a few months ago and there were two women in the front row, both had just lost their brothers in that last year – and they loved it. People who have lost people tend to get more out of the show. What I do find interesting about the show is that even if you haven’t lost anybody, death is a more universal and accessible topic than, say, parenting.”
While Byrne has a strong following in NZ and has done tours here before, this will be his first time in Queenstown. With a strong love of the outdoors, he’s excited to do a hike, or if time allows head up for a few laps. “You have a mountain range called the Remarkables? That on its own is f*cking awesome.” He’s also excited to do some exploring of the North Island as he has a few days off up there, saying that he’ll try to do a hike or something more interesting than heading to the pub, “Though I do love getting drunk in New Zealand.”
Despite the dark subject matter, Byrne’s show is funny from start to finish – it’s not one where comedy is abandoned and serious conversations are had. Byrne has said that after 30 years in comedy, it’s the first time he’s written a show that does more than just make people laugh and he really sees value in that. You will certainly be laughing along the way, too!
Queenstown Memorial Centre, Thursday, 1 August. Visit edbyrne.com
