Interview: Lee Camp

Lee Camp is one of American comedy's most engaging, astute commentators on current affairs. He resists any narrow definition of 'political comedian', although the polemical drive within his latest Edinburgh show marks him out as one of the most perceptive contributors to contemporary dialogue on the circuit. I catch up with him in the bar of Stand III before one of the final Fringe performances of Lee Camp Is: Yet Another American Mistake.

You started doing this show during a very politically charged time. Did events such as the English riots influence your approach this summer?

It would be remiss of me to ignore what's been going on. My sense is that audiences want to be free of what's gone on with the riots in England. A lot of what I have to say about America applies to the UK as well, stuff about materialism and corporate takeover. I don't think it's enough to just make a joke out of the riots - the audience would not be cool with that. You need a point.

A lot of my stuff is about standing up and making your voice heard. At first, the riots looked like they were about social justice and standing against police brutality. Then, it became apparent that it was something else entirely.

How does an Edinburgh Fringe run change what you do as a comic?

The show has evolved...you experience subtle changes as a performer. I've been doing this for many years, and it can be a bit like working out. When you start off, you notice yourself developing muscles very quickly. As you go on, the changes become less dramatic. But, going through this marathon, I do feel changes.

Doing so many shows, the key to not getting bored is to change little things. Keep it alive, to step out and not be a robot. It feels like a living organism rather than a stale monologue. I feel the audiences very much appreciate that I'm dealing with events in the world..this is what I'm thinking about, this is what they're thinking about ..we can feed off that.

You've been enjoying some of the other acts ....

Certain comics grow my mind in terms of what good comedy looks like. People think we enjoy all comedy, but we're very picky about who we like. Seeing Stewart Lee was phenomenal. Even though we both do cultural commentary, he approaches what he does with an audience from a completely new and exciting angle.

I did Political Animal with Andy Zaltzman and John Oliver. A dream come true - to me they are the pinnacle of political comedy. It feels so alive and vibrant at the Fringe, you just can't find this space for the arts anywhere else.