Emmy-nominated comedian, actor and writer Brendan Scannell makes his Fringe debut this year with his new stand-up show The Abyss, a love letter to families everywhere who might be grappling with mental illness.
In The Abyss, Scannell descends deep into the darkest depths of his brain — where his Irish mother is a life coach who is obsessed with death, his bipolar brother is in psychic communication with Gwyneth Paltrow, and his inner child turns out to be a total asshole. As he dives deeper, the question becomes: will Brendan withstand the pressure, or collapse like a substandard submersible.
Part surreal comedy, part emotional reckoning, The Abyss marks a new chapter for one of America’s most distinctive comic voices. The show explores mortality, mental health, family dysfunction and the yawning gap between who we want to be and who we actually are.
Scannell is best known for his starring role in Netflix’s dark comedy Bonding, for which he received an Emmy nomination. He previously co-starred in Paramount’s cult TV adaptation Heathers, and has appeared on After Midnight with Taylor Tomlinson, Apple TV’s Loot and FX’s The Premise. As a stand-up, he was named a New Face at Montreal’s JFL Comedy Festival and has headlined Netflix Is A Joke, the New York Comedy Festival and SF Sketchfest. Vulture has named him “a comedian you should and will know.”
The Abyss is directed by Emily Olcott, a performer and director based in NYC. Directing credits: The Story Pirates National Tour; My Dead Wedding (Ars Nova); Bada Swing! (Joe's Pub); The Oldest Profession (currently touring); Hadid (also at Edinburgh Fringe 2026); BETH (Joe's Pub); and Hysteria (OperaFest LA).
Brendan Scannell: The Abyss, The Bothie, Gilded Balloon Patter House, Aug 5-30 (no show on the 17) @21.20 (1hr)
BO: 0131 622 6552, Age: 14+
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)
I remind myself that all I have to do out there is tell the truth. And that no one hates me. And if they do hate me, well, that’s not really my problem or something I can take on right now!
What irritates you?
I get hangry so it really depends. If I have eaten, I exist in a zen place of enlightened nirvana. If I haven’t had a little snack in an hour or two, then I can be brought to my knees by something as small as a door being hard to open like “WHO DESIGNED THIS F**CKING DOOR?!”
What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?
I once rode in a hot air balloon which I didn't realize you cannot really control and once we got up there, Colorado was hit by a windstorm. It really did feel like the end for a moment with me clutching a stranger woman travelling solo as we almost crash landed into a four lane highway.
What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?
I used to drink and party in such a way that it’s a miracle I survived my twenties. It’s bad when you’re watching HBO’s Euphoria and you’re like “Been there, diva!” My show touches on that. On the other hand, the smartest thing I ever did was go to rehab. Highly recommend!
What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?
I’m always surprised when people and audiences show up. I’m constantly expecting an empty room (and that did happen once!) but I am so grateful for the people who choose to spend their time going to see live comedy. Comedy Fans are, as they say, are the real heroes.
What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?
Stand-up can be isolating. You’re a lone wolf up there, left to your own devices. It’s part of why I wanted to bring something with more theatre and solo show elements to Fringe. The chance to collaborate with a director, costume, lighting, and sound designers give other artists the opportunity to make the work better. I am not an auteur by any means so I love to collaborate, which sometimes isn’t the modus operandi for comics.
I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?
That’s very nice of you, Bruce. I think I am trying my best!!! No one can ever say I didn’t make an effort and give it a go. My hope is that I can make people laugh and possibly make families struggling with mental illness feel a little less alone.
How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?
I have never been making less money and never felt more alive on stage. Honestly, when I was the lead of a Netflix series or Heathers or selling shows to HBO and Apple, I was always scared all that would go away one day. And now that it has, I am not afraid of losing anything anymore. It’s very freeing. To quote Alanis Morissette “I’m broke but I’m happy, babyyyy” Does that make sense?
How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?
I think acting takes some luck, because you need to be chosen or have the right job come along that you are right for and all the networks and studios are okay with someone picking you. I’ve been lucky in acting. Comedy takes some luck, but now with the internet and direct access to audiences, the main thing it takes beyond being really funny is resilience and tenacity and just kind of always keeping your foot in the door like “hey, I’m here, too :)”
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?
Well, I do love golf. GAY GUYS CAN GOLF, BRUCE!! I think I used to get off on being a tortured artist and use that as an excuse to be destructive, unpredictable, undatable, do drugs, etc. But listen, I’m 35 and sober and, to use Alan’s metaphor, golfing takes consistency, occasional creativity, risk and delusion (“I will hit this ball OVER that lake”), so I guess I’m more of a golfer now.
Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?
I lack the object permanence for this question. I’m reading a book on Napoleon right now, so he’s kind of my favourite person because he’s all up in my grill. What a little freak! I tend to get obsessed with people for a spell and then forget them completely. Last month was Bette Davis.
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).
Okay, I am relatively tidy, but my partner is not. His drawers overflow, and are crammed shut, one of them even burst out the bottom cause he had too many t-shirts. This puts me in the position of being “Tidy Drawer Partner” which is a burden. I imagine this role falls on your girlfriend, and to that I say, CLEAN YOUR DRAWERS!!!
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. It could be "Why do you comedy?" it could be "Do you have any pension advice?" Or it can be anything in between. Seriously. Anything at all. I look forward to all of your answers.
Why do you need to come all the way to Scotland to tell this story?
Good question. First off, the climate in LA is killing me. I have very light-sensitive eyes and need to be in a more cloud-covered geolocation. More than that, I have spent the last eight years trying to talk about my brother’s mental illness in stand-up and kept hitting a wall in America. Eventually, I realized I needed to stop worrying about being funny and tell the story. Edinburgh Fringe felt like the best chance for me to tell the story as courageously as possible, as many times as possible, and make the show as great as I hope it can be. Trial by fire. The fire... of Scotland.
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