US comedian Gianmarco Soresi has announced a week-long run at the Edinburgh Fringe as part of his ‘Drama King’ tour. He will appear at the Monkey Barrel from 18th – 24th August and prior to that he makes a pitstop in Glasgow’s Glee Club on 17th August.
Gianmarco effortlessly commands a room with his animated style, blending upbeat candour with dark comedic beats. He has over a million subscribers on YouTube, nearly a million followers on TikTok and over half a million on Instagram.
“My girlfriend is a British citizen, so my UK dates are more of an exploration of our options post-America. BUT I was also positively overwhelmed by the turnout the last time there and I’m looking forward to teaching more Scots people how to laugh and am excited to make my Edinburgh Fringe debut.” GIANMARCO
Fresh from recording his first comedy special, Gianmarco is still mining his f*cked up family, Jewish girlfriend and crumbling country for comedy gems. But don’t take our word for it, here’s a recent message he got on Instagram: “I found you while performing a background check on your dad who asked me out. Needless to say, I did not date your dad. But I found one of the funniest comedians ever.”
Soresi was recently named one of Deadline's Comedians Ready to Break Out in 2025 as well as one of Vulture’s Comedian You Should and Will Know. His previous ‘Leaning In’ tour spanned the US, Australia and Europe including the UK.
He has performed stand-up on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Comedy Central, Don’t Tell, The Real Housewives of New York, and was selected as a Just For Laughs New Face in 2022. Gianmarco has also acted in Billy Crystal's Here Today, Netflix’s Bonding, Hustlers, The Last OG, and is the co-host of the podcast “The Downside with Gianmarco Soresi which he has also toured with co-host Russell Daniels.
Gianmarco Soresi’s ‘The Drama King’ will be at the Monkey Barrel 3 at 3pm from 18th – 24th August. For tickets go to www.edfringe.com
What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren't sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)
I’m taking at least three pees, writing down a couple of pages of notes that I will not even look at during the set, and eating like a wild beast to get as full as I can within my intermittent fasting window, which is the only way I’ve learned how to live healthily on the road.
What irritates you?
This may come off as obnoxious but try to always be pleasant as can be if someone asks for a picture or whatnot BUT if someone asks to do a selfie like right before a show or, even worse, in the bathroom right after my second of three pees…I’ll still do it but I’ll complain about it in the green room.
What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?
Continue to fly on American airplanes. I also went skydiving in Switzerland once in an attempt to overcome my fear of flying. It did not help much. Now I just wish I always was strapped to someone with a parachute.
What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?
Going to college for musical theatre. If you’re gonna pursue the arts professionally, you want to spend those early years of your life joining an acting troupe that turns out to be kind of a cult. I had to do that AFTER college so didn’t really enter then “workforce” until my ancient mid-20’s.
What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?
How much time I’d have to spend captioning videos.
What do your parents/children (delete as applicable) think of your job?
My mom quite likes stand-up comedy, like she’ll see shows I’m not in. And thank god because she’s the one who got me into this mess after she got me a George Carlin “Complaints and Grievances” for Channukah. But it also means that sometimes she’ll hear a new joke and accurately respond, “Not your best.”
My dad doesn’t really pay attention, which is honestly fine given that he’s the subject of half my jokes.
My former stepmom probably wishes I didn’t use her actual first name.
My former stepdad likes my jokes as far as I can tell but I think that’s because he falsely believes they’re just jokes.
What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?
The worst thing about being a comedian is having to be dishonest (or at the very least quiet) about my comedic opinions because of some of the podcasts I'd like to be on. My wise girlfriend told me that I could either be honest about my politics or my comedic snobbery but if I were both I'd likely find myself with very few friends in the business.
I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?
I think for a failed musical theater actor who started stand-up comedy at 27, I’m decent. But my desire to always be writing new material coupled with my inability to focus on what I really want to say (I’m a maximalist aesthetically and artistically) on top of the nightmare social media landscape all comedians must now participate in sometimes results in my work feeling scattered. But that’s probably already coming through in these answers, no?
How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?
Jesus Christ this is very personal. How much do you earn??????
How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?
Meh. I’ve had “lucky breaks” I guess but anyone who pursues this shit into middle age has a couple here and there. I’d say my luckiest break was being born to a family that could let me get a musical theater degree without accruing any debt. But then again, maybe that assurance in life crippled me from thinking outside the box of a traditional acting route that left me with a paltry number of real credits in my late 20’s.
Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into third category?
I don’t know who the hell Alan Davies is or why he seems to know so much about me. I’m a self-harmer. I don’t know how to be good any other way and I hate golf.
Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?
My ex-step mom’s mother, who I could only have met once or twice as a kid, has always been very sweet to me, most notably listening to my podcast that is not geared towards her age group. Unsurprisingly, when you parent breaks up with someone, they drift out of your life so there's something sweet in any attempt to continue being supportive.
Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (please think long and hard about this question, it's to settle an argument with my girlfriend. The future of our relationship could depend on your response).
It depends on how long I’ve been on the road. Catch me on day 6 of a run and there’s a good chance I’m doing a lot of smell tests to get dressed.
Gianmarco Soresi’s ‘The Drama King’ will be at the Monkey Barrel 3 at 3pm from 18th – 24th August. For tickets go to www.edfringe.com
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