Answer the call of nature and set sail for daft laughs as Going Coastal with Donald McGinty comes to the Edinburgh Fringe.
It’s a light-hearted, light entertainment show with some surprisingly dark bits, with jokes about the seaside, seagulls and c-list celebrities. Donald is here to celebrate our coastlines and tackle timely environmental concerns the only way he knows how. Just don’t forget the McGinty family motto “whin adventure beckons be daein’ yer business afore ye leave the hoose!”
It’s a very personal show for Donald, exploring all that is good about the Great British coast but also showing how Donald got over his fear of the sea after a series of TV mishaps. “You’d think that a fear of the sea, in someone who presents a programme about the sea, would be something of an impediment,” laughs Donald. “And you’d be right.”
Some have said Donald is brave for telling such a personal story at the World’s biggest arts festival. However, Donald is keen to stress, “I’m not brave for telling my story. No, brave would be an English character comedian doing a Scottish character at the Edinburgh Fringe.”
Instead, Donald is eager to use this show to promote seaside safety and care for nature. “I know The City Cafe is quite far from the coast and up a hill, but with climate change who knows what will happen a year from now.”
The show reflects Donald’s growing concerns about the state of the nation’s waters, whether it’s pollution or the environmental cost of AI. The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency have recently advised swimmers not to take a dip at Edinburgh’s Portobello beach due to ongoing issues with pollution. Donald, who denies the pollution was a deliberate stunt to make more people pay attention to his show says, “The main intent of the show is to make people laugh but I do have some pollution solutions that are definitely worth considering and aren’t just there to make journalists read the the press release.”
As well as an earnest bit about the environment, there’s also a quiz, a very nice picture of a puffin, a vaguely satisfying dramatic arc and a very niche reference to the TV show Neighbours. As Donald says, “Something for everyone.”
Delighting audiences across the UK, this very silly show – which some have likened to the old BBC show Coast – also picked up an award nomination when it debuted at the Brighton Fringe. “It was for best poster design,” Donald clarifies. “But it still counts.”
Don’t miss this very silly character comedy show when it comes to Laughing Horse at City Cafe on 6th-16th August at 11.55am. To guarantee a seat, you can book a Pay What You Want ticket in advance starting at £2.50. Alternatively, audiences can make a donation at the end if they can afford to do so. Donald promises that all proceeds will go to a very good cause, “paying a parking fine I got when we were filming in Morecambe.”
