Interview: Sofie Hagen
Bringing feminism, anti-anxiety, and occasionally a pregnant friend to Brighton, last year’s Fosters’ Edinburgh Comedy Award Newcomer winner Sofie Hagen talks to Victoria Nangle
After the success of Bubblewrap, did you feel a lot of pressure for what Shimmer Shatter ought to be?
Yes – but the pressure I put on myself had nothing to do with Bubblewrap. That’s just how my mind works – I rarely give myself permission to be mediocre, except when it comes to exercise and healthy eating. Had Bubblewrap failed, I still would have aimed to do an amazing show this year. Hopefully people agree that I have.
I really like that you are appealing to have anxiety-safe venues, with gender-neutral toilets. What made you decide to take a stand on these issues?
Thank you! I am so excited about it. My audience is a bunch of introverted, uncool, intelligent and kindhearted oddballs – like me. And I struggle with shows sometimes. I hate buying tickets for something if I can’t choose a seat. I panic if I have to sit in the middle of a huge crowd. When I realised my audience are similar to me, I desperately wanted to make my tour-show a really nice and comfortable place to be. So people can email me at anxietytour2016@gmail.com (which is an awful email, I know, I created it at 2am) and tell me if they need anything. Then I’ll come out and walk them in and they can pick a seat or whatever they need. We’ll take it on a ‘one person at a time’ basis.
You manage to combine being political with being immensely likeable, bringing the idealistic back to the personal with things like your examples of failing at feminism in your popular Guilty Feminist Podcast. What made you want to draw attention to the politics of life?
Haha, you make it sound like such a conscious choice. Which I guess would be the normal thing to do. I usually just run with my feelings. I get excited about something, or curious or angry or sad, I share it. On stage, in my newsletter, on Twitter, in podcasts. Feminism is a thing that makes me both extraordinarily happy and sad and angry at the same time and being allowed to think out loud about it with one of my best friends (Deborah Frances White) is such a gift.
My audience is a bunch of introverted, uncool, intelligent and kindhearted oddballs – like me
What is your favourite ‘Failing At Feminism’ example?
When I’m really overworked and stressed and anxious because I don’t know where the next paycheck is going to come from or I feel I have too much responsibility over a project, a tiny voice in my head goes: If only you were a 1920’s housewife. But then I remember how much I love to, you know, vote.
Post Brexit – and being successful in both Britain and Denmark – where do you see yourself spending most of your time over the next few years?
Britain. For so many reasons. Obviously because I love it so much. It feels like home. But also, weirdly enough, BECAUSE of Brexit. People are terrified, apparently. Why else would you choose to vote for something that’s so hateful? And we can only fight fear and hatred with love and kindness. People need to understand that we are not the bad guys. I do realise that I’m not the person they’re afraid of, as I’m awfully white – but all I can do is stay and make sure to add a bit of that lovely melting pot of cultures that Britain is. Which makes it great.
Has the Brexit result made any difference to you?
On a personal level, it has made me incredibly sad. I feel myself get incredibly emotional just remembering the morning the results came in. I refused to believe it. The right wing gained power in Denmark years ago and I tried to close my eyes and believe that it was just Denmark. Now it seems to be the whole world. Have we learned nothing from history? How is this possible? I am disappointed and angry. I don’t know what, but I feel like I should have done more. Spoken to more people, tried to make them less afraid. I wish there was an answer – or that I could go around and hug every single person who voted ‘leave’ and tell them to stop being so angry at the wrong people.
Are you looking forward to coming to Brighton?
I am awfully excited! Brighton is my vacation place within Britain. I went there for a weekend break with my pregnant friend. The atmosphere is like nowhere else. Komedia is also my favourite venue, so it’s definitely one of my favourite spots on my tour. I only wish it was a bit further away from London, so I had an excuse to spend the night and not go back home.
Sofie Hagen: Shimmer Shatter, Komedia, Thursday 24 November 2016, 8pm – £12/10
