Interview: Rolling with the Madness – A Dose of the Absurd and Surreal
Rosebuds Comedy Festival
Mattia Sedda Invites Us Into CHOIN: A Very Professional Showcase
The second of our interviews for the Rosebud Comedy Festival finds us chatting to Mattia Sedda, whose show CHOIN: A Very Professional Showcase will be playing at The Bread & Roses Theatre this Saturday. The festival celebrates bold, boundary-pushing work, offering a platform for emerging and independent artists.
CHOIN: A Very Professional Showcase has been described by audiences as “like being on mushrooms.” Sedda opens up about the inspiration behind his show, the challenges of fringe theatre, and the joy of committing wholeheartedly to his craft.
Welcome to ET and the Rosebud Comedy Festival, Mattia, so what’s your role in the show?
I am the writer, performer, and producer of the show.
Where are you playing?
I’m performing at The Bread & Roses Theatre, under the kind invitation of The Defectors for their Rosebud Comedy Festival.
What can audiences expect from CHOIN?
To have a lot of fun and abandon any sort of logic and rationality that one can use in real life. The general feedback is that watching this show is “like being on mushrooms.”
What inspired you to create CHOIN?
The inspiration was my whole twenties, when I genuinely thought I was a dramatic actor and dedicated every cent and second of my life to becoming a professional actor in the UK. Over time, I accepted that the UK industry can’t see someone like me playing a dramatic role at the National Theatre.
How long have you been working on this play?
A little over a year, but I’m excited because we have more rehearsals planned this spring with my director and dear friend Aitor Basauri. It feels like a work in progress, and I can’t wait to see what CHOIN will look like at the end of 2025. I like the idea that the show is constantly evolving.
Is the version coming to the festival how you originally envisioned it?
The script hasn’t changed much, but the performance has evolved drastically. Performance after performance, I’ve refined the show’s meaning and approach, finding its true essence along the way.
How challenging has this role been for you?
It’s incredibly challenging. My show doesn’t rely on written jokes, a plot, or a strong political message. Instead, it flows in its own madness, and it only works if I commit 100%. In a couple of words: it always has to be challenging.
What do you hope the audience takes away from the show?
I really just hope they laugh an awful lot!
What’s next for CHOIN after this run?
The week after the festival, we’re back in the rehearsal room to revise the piece. After one year of performing it, I’m only just becoming aware of what I wrote and how audiences perceive it. We also have some exciting ideas for new elements to add. After that, CHOIN will head to the Edinburgh Fringe and, hopefully, to Italy and other European countries.
What lessons have you learned from preparing and performing this show?
Nobody enjoys a performer doubting themselves on stage. Whatever you’ve written – whether it’s complete nonsense or a masterpiece – requires your full commitment to make it work. It’s about the show, not about you.
Why did you decide to be part of Rosebuds this year?
We need festivals that are accessible to artists and audiences. The Defectors and The Bread & Roses Theatre understand this. After the Vault Festival said goodbye, London lacks fringe theatre festivals where artists can build community, collaborate, and share ideas. It’s absurd for a city with over ten drama schools to lack this kind of space, and I fear it’s pushing artists away.
Fringe festivals often demand minimal sets. How have you tackled this?
It’s actually a blessing. I’m a prop lover, but having to cut down forces me to focus on what’s truly essential and funny for the audience. Fringe’s limitations inspire creativity, which is the beauty of it all.
If your show were a meal, what would it be?
Magic mushrooms. Not sure if that counts as a meal, but plenty of people eat them. According to the audience, the effects are similar!
What’s the weirdest prop in your show?
A rolling pin. I can’t tell you how I use it, but I can say that, despite being Italian, I won’t be making pizza or pasta. Not this time.
If you could invite any special guest (living or dead) to your show, who would it be?
Igor, the pig of my friend Elisa back in Sardinia. Igor is a very special pig and somewhat of a mascot for the show. He’s happy in Sardinia, though – happier than most people in London – and has no intention of coming over.
What’s the most valuable advice you’ve received during your career?
It came from my director, Aitor: “It’s all about commitment.” It took me a while to understand, but audiences love performers who give everything for them.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a theatre-maker?
It’s not about the performer; it’s about the show and the audience. People spend money and precious time coming to see us. It’s an honour, and it’s our responsibility to make sure they leave with something valuable.
CHOIN – A Very Professional Showcase is part of the Rosebud Comedy Festival at The Bread & Roses Theatre on Saturday 1st February. Further information and booking are available here.