As the cultural extravaganza that is the Edinburgh Festival rolls around once more, its comedic acts will be performing their London preview shows over the coming months. I caught up with one such comedian, winner of the 2010 Chortle Student Comedy award Phil Wang, to talk about race in comedy, the catharsis of discussing your relationship on stage...and Batman.

You mentioned you’ve received criticism for your previous show’s title - ‘Mellow Yellow’ – by people who seem to be outraged both by you and for you. Do you feel that there’s a boundary you’re supposed to toe when talking about race?

I think the only boundary to toe in comedy is that between funny and not funny. Race should be spoken about openly and honestly, otherwise we’ll never get to the bottom of it. If you’re doing that as a comedian, then make it funny, interesting and original. That’s pretty much it.

Do you think Asian people are underrepresented in the arts in general, especially in the UK?

East Asian people definitely are. I think that’s starting to change, fortunately, but there’s plenty of work left to do – both by East Asian artists and by audiences in seeking out the stuff.

Would you ever be tempted to perform some of your stand up in China? Or does the overriding censorship there just make it too risky?

I don’t think any of my material as it stands would pose much of a threat to the Chinese government (unless they’re particularly worried about my impression of a starfish). I’d be more worried about the language barrier. Comedy is going from strength to strength in East Asia, and it would be fascinating to perform in a country as fast on the rise – both economically and culturally – as China.

Do you think there is any material that is still unexplored by stand-ups in the UK?

Sure. Plenty. I think the shock most comedians felt to the results of this last election demonstrated how under-represented the political right is in comedy. I’m a liberal myself, but I’m always more interested to hear the opposing view.

You have an impressively effortless style of comedy - laid back, relaxed, almost like you’re just deciding what to say on the spot. Who were your comedy influences growing up? Who are your comedy influences now?

Why thank you. My influences growing up were classically British – Rowan Atkinson, The Two Ronnies, French and

Saunders – but grew more American as I got older. The Simpsons informs a huge part of my taste and sense of humour, and I take many stand-up cues from Jim Gaffigan, Dave Chappelle, Louis CK and Patrice O’Neal.

One of my favourite parts of Mellow Yellow was your revised, darker versions of children’s television series. Can we expect to see more of this in future shows?

Yeah those were really fun to do. Though that was the end of them I’m afraid. Onwards and upwards/downwards/sideways.

What can we expect from your Edinburgh Fringe show Philth?

It’s probably my most personal show so far. A lot of sex stuff, but the good sort I swear.

Do you find it awkward talking about your previous relationships on stage? If you went on a really bad date, would you feel a sense of guilt about using that in your act or is that a comedian’s dream come true?

Not awkward at all. It honestly feels great. Stand-up is the best way to get over relationship troubles. It’s a catharsis, a release. I feel sorry for people who don’t have the opportunity to do it.

What’s next for you? Are you sticking with stand-up for now or are you looking into branching out into sketches, sitcom writing etc?

Stand-up is my first love, but I’m also in a new sketch group called Daphne with George Fouracres and Jason Forbes. We’re doing our first show at the Fringe this year, so please check that out if you want to see me as a character aside from myself for once.

Who is your favourite comedian that most people haven’t heard of?

There’s a guy in New York called Mark Normand. Check him out online if you can.

What’s the most important lesson we can learn from Batman?

To never give up, always fight for good, and keep working on those sick-ass abs.

Phil Wang will perform his new stand-up show Philth at the Pleasance (Upstairs) as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from the 5th – 30th August at 6pm. More info and tickets available here www.philwang.co.uk