Award-winning comedian and Edinburgh Fringe regular Dave Bibby is returning to the festival for 2025 with a new show ‘Hasta La Vista… Bibby!’. As part of this year’s PBH Free Fringe, Dave will be performing a one man Hollywood blockbuster, taking inspiration from Back to the Future! Intrigued by the show’s title and links to the legendary film, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to ask the comedian some questions about the show and his plans for this year’s festival.
This isn’t your first Edinburgh Fringe. What encourages you to return to the festival year after year?
My first was 2013 with my old sketch group Lead Pencil and this will be my 7th summer at the Fringe! Oh man, I’m old.
As most performers point out, it is very hard work and can be mentally testing, but it remains the biggest arts festival in the world. Online comedy is clearly the future but there is nothing better than testing something with a live audience. My shows change every day and I thrive on that. I may not be able to party like I used to, but I think I have one more big blockbuster comedy in me.
You’re the first performer that I’ve interviewed who is presenting a show as part of the PBH Free Fringe. What can you tell me about how this works for both performers and audiences?
I cannot speak more highly of the free fringe. It really is a collective – we give out the Wee Blue Book with every single flyer, which is the programme of hundreds of free shows, so every time we promote our own shows we also promote each other’s.
We also do each other’s doors, set up and pack down the venues together and generally muck in wherever we can to help the collective. Everyone is a volunteer and PBH Free Fringe is a registered charity.
People talk about the ‘spirit of the fringe’ and it is so alive with the PBH Free Fringe. You will find more risk takers along with more people from different backgrounds that otherwise would never be able to make it to the festival.
Also, unlike other ‘free’ organisations the PBH Free Fringe really is free. You can make a donation if you wish but it isn’t compulsory. You can help a show by reviewing it, posting on social media or just telling everyone about it – that is just as valuable to us.
What is it about Hollywood blockbusters that inspires you to create comedy shows based on iconic films?
My shows are a collaboration between me and my audience, with them doing sound effects live and delivering classic Hollywood lines. By taking a classic film the audience turns up with some prior knowledge and are eager to get involved. Then it’s over to me to carry that energy through the hour.
In ‘Hasta La Vista… Bibby!’ you are ‘trapped in your latest comedy show and need to get Back to the Future’. What made you turn to this franchise for your next solo comedy venture?
The show is about time so what better movie than one with a time machine! Meaning I can go wherever I want. I can visit 10-year-old Dave back in the 90s, or I can go forward 9 months into the future and see me winning on Richard Osman’s House of Games.
Also, Back to the Future turns 40 in 2025 and you know who else is 40 this year? Wait, can’t be me. I don’t look a day over 25!
How are you balancing the comedy, storytelling and music, with audience interaction?
I think the comedy comes from the juxtaposition of big blockbuster intentions with free fringe budgets. But this means so much is imagined and therefore the switch to simple storytelling can simply be a change of lighting or position on the stage.
I then weave these different strands together with audience members supplying sound effects and even Marty McFly’s skateboard.
If you were to sum up the show in one word, what would it be and why?
Fun.
There is heart in my shows, but the idea is to create something really really fun for my audience. It’s always friendly and fast-paced. When Amused Moose Comedy awarded me the ‘Most Fun Edinburgh Fringe Show’ award in 2023 I was over the moon. To be thought of as just great FUN is amazing.
Go back in time with Dave at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe
Dave’s show certainly sounds like a lot of fun, especially for comedy and film fans. You can catch ‘Hasta La Vista… Bibby!’ from 2nd to 17th August (excluding 13th) at Chamber Room at PBH’s Free Fringe @ Banshee Labyrinth (venue #156). The show is free and non-ticketed, with performances starting at 15:35 each day.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
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