Comedian Ayoade Bamgboye's Edinburgh debut was a revelation - not just for the audience, but for herself. The 31-year-old Nigerian-British comedian took the festival by storm with her show "Swings and Roundabouts", earning the prestigious Best Newcomer award. This was no one-off fluke; Bamgboye had been building towards this moment.
Before her debut, she posed a question to her comedy peers: "How do you debut?" Their advice - introduce yourself, establish your point of view, create a narrative arc and showcase who you are as a comedian - filled her with dread. There's a deep-seated fear that if the show falls flat, you're forever doomed to be seen as a 'bad' debutante.
Bamgboye avoided this fate by pouring her heart into "Swings and Roundabouts", which delves into themes of identity, grief, and growing up between cultures. Born in Lagos but raised in the Lake District, Bamgboye's unique blend of African and British influences brings a fresh perspective to comedy.
The show is not just about self-discovery; it's also an exercise in creative experimentation. Bamgboye describes her approach as "controlled chaos", aiming for a delicate balance between safety and unpredictability. This approach has redefined her comedy style, putting the audience at the forefront of each performance.
Ayoade Bamgboye is rapidly becoming one to watch on the UK comedy scene, and her Edinburgh win cements that status. With this momentum, she's set to tackle new projects, including a set about small talk and crash-course lessons from industry experts like Jamali Maddix and Lara Ricote. Bamgboye is excitedly embracing her newfound career in comedy, seeing it as an opportunity to express herself creatively.
For now, "Swings and Roundabouts" will be at Soho theatre, London, until January 24th, followed by a nationwide tour.
Before her debut, she posed a question to her comedy peers: "How do you debut?" Their advice - introduce yourself, establish your point of view, create a narrative arc and showcase who you are as a comedian - filled her with dread. There's a deep-seated fear that if the show falls flat, you're forever doomed to be seen as a 'bad' debutante.
Bamgboye avoided this fate by pouring her heart into "Swings and Roundabouts", which delves into themes of identity, grief, and growing up between cultures. Born in Lagos but raised in the Lake District, Bamgboye's unique blend of African and British influences brings a fresh perspective to comedy.
The show is not just about self-discovery; it's also an exercise in creative experimentation. Bamgboye describes her approach as "controlled chaos", aiming for a delicate balance between safety and unpredictability. This approach has redefined her comedy style, putting the audience at the forefront of each performance.
Ayoade Bamgboye is rapidly becoming one to watch on the UK comedy scene, and her Edinburgh win cements that status. With this momentum, she's set to tackle new projects, including a set about small talk and crash-course lessons from industry experts like Jamali Maddix and Lara Ricote. Bamgboye is excitedly embracing her newfound career in comedy, seeing it as an opportunity to express herself creatively.
For now, "Swings and Roundabouts" will be at Soho theatre, London, until January 24th, followed by a nationwide tour.
I'm loving how Ayoade Bamgboye's unique voice is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Her Edinburgh win is not just a testament to her talent but also a reflection of the need for more diverse perspectives in comedy. It's refreshing to see someone who's unafraid to explore their cultural heritage and personal experiences on stage. The fact that she's embracing experimentation and taking risks with her approach is a breath of fresh air. Bring on those "crash-course lessons" 
- shouldn't they just have that info right there?
️! Her unique blend of Nigerian and British cultures is so inspiring, it's like she's bringing two worlds together in perfect harmony 
. And can we talk about her fear of failing as a comedian? I feel like we've all been there, trying to introduce ourselves without being judged or coming across as awkward 
. But Bamgboye took the leap and nailed it! She's not just funny but also smart and relatable 
her approach to comedy is all about embracing that "controlled chaos" and putting the audience at the forefront, it's like she's speaking straight to my soul! 
. But what's really interesting is how she navigates her identity as both Nigerian-British and uses that to create this unique blend of comedy styles. It's like she's challenging traditional notions of 'British' or 'African' comedy, which is a bold move for any artist.
. We need more people from diverse backgrounds telling their own stories, rather than relying on stereotypes or tokenism. And Bamgboye's approach to comedy is all about finding that balance between safety and unpredictability - it's like she's saying, 'I'm going to take risks, but I'll also listen to my audience.' That's a nuanced approach that could work for any politician looking to connect with voters! 
the way she's experimenting with form and style is so inspiring, and i love how she's putting the audience at the forefront of each performance... it's all about that controlled chaos 
. I'm not surprised she won Best Newcomer award at Edinburgh, she's been building towards this moment for ages! 
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. I mean, who wants to listen to someone talk about the mundane things we all know and love (or hate)? Give me something with some substance over here 
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she's got this natural talent and charisma that just draws you in 
it's not always easy to find your voice, but she definitely found hers and now she's taking the stage by storm 
i've been keeping up with her since her edinburgh debut and tbh she's got some serious skills 
i love how she's not afraid to explore those tough emotions like grief and identity, and it shows in her comedy. she's got this unique vibe goin on, like a mix of british humor and african flair that's just so fresh 
can't wait to see what she does next! 
. And I love how she's embracing her creative experimentation style - it's so refreshing to see comedians taking risks and putting their audience first 
. I'm just excited that more comedians are speaking their minds and sharing their stories, even if it means it's not for everyone 
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her debut show was SO impressive! I mean, I've been seeing comedians for ages and it's like they all sound the same, but BAMGBOYE brings this whole new level of authenticity and unique perspective 
. I think it's cool that she's taking risks with "controlled chaos" - maybe we should take notes from her approach to politics? 
Having industry experts come in as crash-course lessons could be like having opposition parties teach us about opposing views - it's a bold move, but could lead to some interesting discussions 
anyway back to Ayoade Bamgboye - yeah she's got a unique vibe going on with that cultural background and all...reminds me of when i was traveling in Japan last year and stumbled upon this tiny karaoke bar that served amazing ramen 
ugh focus, right? so yeah "Swings and Roundabouts" is def worth checking out if you get the chance