At last year's Edinburgh Fringe Stephen Catling lost the most crucial of show props... his sacred slug mask. As a neurodivergent man unable to hide the pain of this loss he proceeded to go into full meltdown. This year Stephen bravely returns to the Fringe to tell his story, and some others, while dressed as a Clownfish. In a world where fish cannot breathe air, and clowns cannot breathe water, what is a clownfish meant to do?
Stephen's bonkers surrealism and madness goes into overdrive in this new show covering important topics including his hatred of Disney remakes and love of parody and asking the big questions like would Robbie Williams’ Better Man been a better film if they cast a real chimp?
Expect burlesque inspired routines with cabbages and a sharks, the titular clownfish and some semi-autobiographical semi-fantastical aspects of his life. And of course.... the story of the loss of the slug mask. Clown Fish Out of Water is Stephen's biggest, boldest show yet.
The perpetual outsider of the comedy scene, not coming to clowning via the traditional routes, Stephen explores some of the biggest challenges facing neurodivergent people like masking, being undervalued in the workplace and misunderstood behaviours. As Playbill put it "Catling dares to do what many autistic individuals are taught to avoid at all costs in front of neurotypicals: fully unmask"
Stephen is the winner of the Spitfire most Unique Act of the Year Award 2024, Den of Laughs Best Alternative Show Runner Up 2025, Halifax Comedian of the Year finalist 2025, Neurodiverse Review Award Nominee 2023, British Comedy Guide Recommended, Get Up Stand Up New Comedian of the Year (3rd place), Leicester Square New Comedian of the Year finalist 2023 and Chortle Student Comedian of the Year Semi-finalist 2022.
Stephen Catling: Clown Fish Out Of Water, 7th to 31st August 22:30, Wee Container 1 at Hoots @ Potterrow Port (Underpass) EH8 9AA. Tickets and information here.
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)
In the very first sketch in my new show, I am a clownfish. So the last thing I do before I go on is check my notes. Then I check my notes. Then I check my notes. Then I check my notes. I look at my technician (it’s my reflection in a mirror) Then I check my notes. Then I check my notes. Then I question where is my son? have you seen my son ? Then I check my notes. Then I check my notes. P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney. Then I check my notes. Then I check my notes. Then I just keep swimming just keep swimming Then I check my notes. Then I check my notes. (You get the idea).
What irritates you?
To my great shame I am very irritable or perhaps there is simply a lot of the world at the moment that is to be irritated by.
But also, what pisses me right the fuck off is when someone wears a face mask but has their honking nose sticking out. Commit or don’t, but don’t half arse it. It’s like have your dong hanging out your fly, why would you do that ? Do you want me to grab a pungi and play snake charmer to your king cobra? Please tell me it is a least a king cobra and not a spitting one. You're literally a senior biomedical scientist in the department for god's sake set a bloody example.
What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?
Before stand up comedy, I worked in laboratories. One of the chemicals and biological materials that I handled could be very nasty if I made errors. For example, when I worked in cytogenetics I handled chemicals that had antimitotic properties that could cause long term health issues if they touched human skin. This was actually very safe as I am a stickler for procedures (so queue in an orderly line please!)
What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?
Mhhhm, I suppose the thing that I find that has taken me most off my guard is probably that there are indeed people that find my work relatable and feel seen. My primary focus on my work has always been be funny and original, it seem to have relatability as audience members have come up to me to share their own experiences or say how they have seen themselves in my work, this still completely floor me.
One example was a relatively young man in his mid-twenties who was also a biomedical lab tech who had broke up with a recent partner called Stephen (no I was not talking to a mirror again it was just really uncanny for us both). Working on the new show talking about job interviews, I recently had a incident were a female autistic scientist also absolutely hated how job interviews are so very unfavourable to those who are neurospicy.
I have a bittersweet feeling about hearing these because I am saddened that people have also gone through this, but it is nice that people also open up as it let's me a little into their own world and makes us probably slightly less lonely.
It does surprise me how many of my audience members also have also done the level of youtube deep dives and have too watched the cow hoof trimming videos and aware of the two main content creators (it’s Nate the hoof guy and the hoof gp if you must know).
What do your parents/children (delete as applicable) think of your job?
They are supportive but initially didn't understand why on earth I wanted to do what I do. My father was an electrical engineer and so he doesn't quite grasp why I choose such a career that is widely regarded as unstable. However, now he has seen me perform he is mostly supportive, but has been very clear he does not like the routine where I dress as a bee and get the audience to waterboard me with honey (not in this show, sorry). But there are plenty of other hideous things to behold.
What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?
That luck and the right connections play such a huge role, possibly bigger role than talent. It truly and deeply disgusts me when I have seen celebrities get opportunities that hard working comedians would kill for and they squander it by being shit at comedy. Rant over!
I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?
A deeply wounded individual who feels like they were cast out of society all their life for the crime of being born different. Come see the show!
To be a little more serious I do view myself as one of the children of The Monty Python as their comic DNA is deeply intertwined deeply within my work and I do feel duty to carry that mantle and continue their legacy of British surrealism, especially taking complex/”high brow” ideas and making them silly (as an extra note if any of them came to my show - wink wink nudge nudge - and told me they enjoyed me work I probably faint and need emergency medical attention, especially if it was fellow Sheffielder Sir Michael Palin as he is my favourite one).
How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?
With comedy and my day job combined - a disgustingly low amount. I’d like to earn significantly more.
How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?
I would say there are several fantastic successes that I am grateful for, that pivoted me from a nobody to at least a somebody - I was one of the first 50 people to get the Keep it Fringe award, had two nominations for the Malcolm Hardee Award and Neurodiverse Review's Actually Autistic Excellence Award (which I lost honourably to Paul Campbell, Phil Ellis and Don Biswas, all great comics who you should check out as well).
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?
Tortured artist through and through. I fight myself, I fight the industry.
Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?
That is a tough one to single out. I am going to have to say Matt Mercer not just for his sheer weight of his talent and range as a voice actor or his masterful storytelling but that he seems like a genuine good and kind man. If there was a person I could be more like it would be him (or literally any of the cast of Critical Role as they are amazing people).
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).
Not really and the reason probably is I spend so little time in my home I don't really care about tidy or uniform aesthetic. I have my own order of things…
AND NOW THE OPTIONAL BONUS BALL QUESTION...I've asked you 13 questions, now you get to choose a question you can ask about yourself and then answer.
"Why do you do surrealist comedy?"
Comedy gives my life meaning and purpose it allows for connection. To not do it for me feels like I am unable to breathe. I deeply enjoy the reality warping effect I have an audience members I feel like Gene Wilder's Wonka in that I am taking them into my world of pure imagination with the good, the bad and the ugly.
There is a great quote from Terry Pratchett through his character Death on why I engage in surrealism and fantasy and it is simply this "Humans need fantasy to be human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape."
And so much like The Pythons, Pratchett used weaponised surrealism like a blade to cut human delusion. Surrealist humour is my sword and my shield to me; it is both a means to escape and cope from the pain of the world (the shield) but it is also an instrument to expose the insanity of reality and cut through the bullshit (my sword). Ultimately I want to be a modern day Diogenes because there is something hilarious of that man grabbing a chicken and screaming “Behold a man” and proceeding to chuck it at Plato’s pretentious head.
Stephen Catling: Clown Fish Out Of Water, 7th to 31st August 22:30, Wee Container 1 at Hoots @ Potterrow Port (Underpass) EH8 9AA. Tickets and information here.
picture by James Nolan
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