“We saw 9/11 happen, and I think that does something to the brain,” says New York comedian Rachel Caley.
“My school was so close by I had to walk home,” explains Rachel, 28. Metro Ahead of their performance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
A big name in the comedy world in New York and Los Angeles and named Vulture magazine’s ‘Comedian to Watch’ for 2023, Rachel is hoping to make her mark in beautiful Scotland with her show, Hospital Hour.
In her Edinburgh debut, Rachel explores why she is mentally ill – and returns to the subject of 9/11.
“I remember the dust and ash more than I remember what actually happened,” Rachel recalled, adding that while a primary school student like her could not comprehend the devastation of what had happened, it changed her.
“I don’t think I necessarily knew what was going on, but my mom was like, ‘That’s the beginning of the end for you.’ I had fears before, but she said I was a mess afterwards.”
I ended up going to the hospital hundreds of times for a variety of psychological issues that were also caused by many other factors.
“I probably went to the hospital over 300 times,” she says. “I suffered from depression, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder and an eating disorder for years.”
Naturally, Rachel has produced an hour-long comedy about her journey into mental illness.
“Mental illness is so fascinating,” she says slowly, precisely, and with a deadpan, dry New York accent. “It’s a swirl of distorted thoughts, and I think that in itself is fascinating.”
For Rachel, who began performing stand-up at age nine, her dark sense of humor began as a coping mechanism, but has now become much more.
“Comedy has been important in helping me process things. I have to face it and think about how to explain it to people. Comedy gives me clarity about what happened,” she says.
“Sharing can help you feel less alone.”
While her anxiety doesn’t affect her ability to get on stage and perform comedy, parts of the entertainment industry aren’t ideal for those struggling behind the scenes.
“Being a comedian or in the entertainment industry can be tough when you have a mental illness because you have to be in the spotlight and put yourself out there socially, so some aspects of it aren’t great,” she says.
Rachel performed her show in front of a UK audience earlier this year and was quite nervous as she was ready to adapt it to a different culture, but luckily it was well received.
“It was pretty similar. [to US audiences]”When I look at other British cartoonists, I think they’re so much fun and take bigger risks than American cartoonists. That made me feel like I could do anything I wanted.”
When and where can you see Rachel Caley?
Rachel Caley’s Hospital Hour will be showing at Pleasance Courtyard from July 31st to August 11th and August 13th to 25th. Get your tickets here.
The ancient Edinburgh Fringe is actually the largest arts festival in the world, and a pretty big event in the United States too.
“Everyone I knew went last year and I felt like I was missing out. A lot of shows and comedians have gone there and had success in America, and that’s because they went – I don’t know if it’s because they did well and got good publicity or because their shows got really good,” she says.
If you’re looking for faceless Americana at the Fringe, look no further: Rachel Caley’s stage production won’t let you down on any topic… not even 9/11.
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She added: “I unknowingly attended the Edinburgh Fringe Festival whilst suffering from cancer and then had the best year of my life.”
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