Dan Bishop is one half of the sketch-duo Mudfish (with Molly Windust) He is the writer of the brand new comedy play Brainsluts, which is coming to the Edinburgh Fringe this August. We caught up with him to find out more.
How would you pitch Brainsluts to a fan of movies like Limitless or The Matrix?
Whenever I was sick as a child and off school, I would always watch The Matrix and after the film finished I would take the DVD out of the DVD Player, stare vacantly at my pallid reflection in the shiny disk, and then immediately put it back in the DVD Player and watched it all over again. I loved The Matrix. This is exactly how you’ll feel about Brainsluts. I have not seen Limitless but I have heard terrible things.
And how would you pitch it to someone who only really watches sports?
If you love sports, you’ll love Brainsluts. It’s actually all an allegory for the Federer-Nadal 2008 Wimbledon final.
How relatable would you say this show is?
Very relatable! All of the characters in the play have signed up for the trial because they are unable to find full-time employment, and I think patchwork careers are really common at the moment, and maybe even more so for those working in the arts. So, I think Fringe audiences will really get what these characters are going through.
How many part-time jobs have you had, or have you lost count?
At any one time? Five. Well, six including ‘comedian’. So… five.
What was the worst part-time job experience you’ve had, and did it help inspire the show?
I cannot say in case I have to go crawling back to them after the Fringe.
Why the Edinburgh Fringe?
Because my short term contract ends on the 29th of July and I need something to do in August!
How similar is this to other projects you’ve worked on?
My most recent project has been trying to put up a pair of curtains in my room. They fell down on Christmas eve and I’ve been struggling to put them up ever since. The wood in my window frame has rotted too. I keep calling my landlord to see if they’ll pay for its repair but they keep telling me they can’t do anything until I’ve called Peter Bailey The Curtain King. But whenever I call Peter Bailey the Curtain King, he tells me he can’t do anything until I call my landlord. It’s really frustrating and it gets so light in the mornings and it’s actually really affecting my sleep. Anyway, this project is quite different to that.
What is your favourite moment in the show?
To be earnest for a second, there’s a fantastic moment involving a papier-mâché pizza.
What is a Brainslut?
‘Brainslut’ is a slang term for a participant of clinical drug trials.
Where else can we see you?
In the background of my Dad’s Whatsapp picture.
What’s next?
Trying to find a job.
Simpsons or Futurama?
Simpsons!
Vampires or Werewolves?
Werewolves!
Captain America or Captain Pugwash?
Pugwash!
Truth or Beauty?
Truth is beauty and beauty is truth and truth is love and love is brainsluts (2:45pm Pleasance 10 Dome)
Check out our features on 2025’s Top Returning shows, and our keenly anticipated picks of new shows.
