list.co.uk/festival Teen Religion | FESTIVAL COMEDY
‘Suddenly we were speaking in tongues and praying out
demons’
P H O T O S :
K A R L A G O W L E T T
(
K A T Y B R A N D
) ,
I
D A V D H A R R S
I
( J O H N P E N D A L ) ,
D A V E M C G R A T H
( N J A M B
I M C G R A T H
I
) , L N D A N Y L A N D
(
I
S H A Z A M R Z A
I
) ,
S T E V E U L L A T H O R N E
(
T O M W A R D
)
a Kenyan-born comedian who has lived in the UK for over 20 years. The Kikuyu tribe that her family belongs to was heavily inl uenced by Glasgow-born missionary Doctor John Arthur, who brought Church of Scotland teachings to Africa. ‘Doctor Arthur labelled many ethnic practices as “morally repugnant” and banned our traditional clothes and jewellery,’ says McGrath. ‘But he also spoke out against female genital mutilation and helped it become a criminal offence. Some girls began performing circumcisions themselves; the psychology behind that is incredible, but as we know, cultural and religious beliefs can become so deeply ingrained.’
McGrath has i rst-hand experience of the complicated, controversial effects of Christian evangelism: her mother was ordered to spend time in the room below their church, as ‘purii cation’ and punishment for the sin of divorcing Njambi’s father. Her Fringe show, 1 Last Dance With My Father, is McGrath’s attempt to confront her past, and the father who beat her.
‘It’s hard for me even now to condemn God: I grew up surrounded by Sunday school, religious songs, morning prayers, evening prayers that went on so long your dinner was stone cold! I used to read the Bible before bed. But seeing preachers behaving like Casanovas, impregnating teenage children, taking bribes: I became totally disillusioned.’ For Katy Brand, it took something far smaller to call her faith into question. Being asked to sign an anti-Harry Potter petition i nally pushed her over the edge. ‘It just seemed totally absurd and childish. I don’t approve of censorship (maybe if I thought Harry Potter was really shit I might have), but when they tried to pressure me into
signing that, my eyes rolled into the back of my head. Since quitting, I’ve not been back.’ That said, she admits to still being fond of her unofi cial uniform as a Christian radical. ‘Jeans and a l eece are still a natural choice for me.’
Katy Brand: I Was a Teenage Christian, Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 6–29 Aug (not 15), 4.45pm, £10–£13.50 (£9–£12.50). Previews 3–5 Aug, £7.
John Pendal: International Man of Leather, The Stand 4, 558 9005, 5–28 Aug (not 15), 4.45pm, £8 (£7). Preview 4 Aug, £7 (£6). Njambi McGrath: 1 Last Dance With My Father, Laughing Horse at Espionage, 477 7007, until 27 Aug, 2.30pm, free.
Shazia Mirza, The Stand 5, 558 9005, 5–13 Aug, 6.15pm, £9 (£8). Preview 4 Aug, £8 (£7). Tom Ward: Sex, Snails and Cassette Tapes, Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 6–28 Aug (not 15), 9.45pm, £8–£9.50 (£7–£8.50). Previews 3–5 Aug, £6.
Ali Hassan: Man Interrupted, Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 622 6552, 6–28 Aug (not 15), 9.15pm, £6–£7 in advance or Pay What You Want. Previews 3–5 Aug, £5 (or PWYW).
4-11 Aug 2016 THE LIST FESTIVAL 39