Max Norman's Coco Brings Comedy to Edinburgh Fringe Art Tours
Max Norman, a comedian, introduced Coco, a "time-traveling tart," to conduct interactive and fact-driven gallery tours across London and beyond. Last month, during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Coco, towering at 6 foot 7 without heels, hosted a tour at the National Galleries of Scotland, described as a "cheeky romp" that revealed the "gossip, glamour, and glorious absurdity behind the art." Participants engaged in activities like curtsying before portraits of British royals, exploring their vices and fears, playing dead to depict the Jacobite downfall in 18th-century Scotland, and galloping between gallery rooms. Norman created Coco as a form of "revenge" against his artist mother, who often took him to art galleries as a child, aiming to make art history entertaining and accessible, contrasting with typical school museum experiences.
Key facts
- Coco is the alter ego of comedian Max Norman.
- Coco is described as a "time-traveling tart" and stands 6 foot 7 without heels.
- The tour occurred at the National Galleries of Scotland during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last month.
- The tour was billed as a "cheeky romp" uncovering the "gossip, glamour and glorious absurdity hiding behind the art."
- Participants curtsied before paintings of British kings and queens and learned about their indulgences and insecurities.
- The tour included playing dead on the floor to illustrate the fall of the Jacobites in 18th century Scotland.
- Norman created Coco as "revenge" on his artist mother, who used to drag him through London art galleries.
- The tour aims to make art history engaging and humorous, contrasting with traditional school museum trips.
Entities
Artists
- Max Norman
- Coco
Institutions
- National Galleries of Scotland
- Edinburgh Fringe Festival
- NPR
Locations
- Edinburgh
- Scotland
- London
- United Kingdom