Kevin Day talks the history of Edinburgh and Scottish humour...
Tell us about your Fringe show
It's kind of a sequel to last year and it's kind of about important stuff and trivial stuff and it's probably a metaphor for something. There's a lot of detours along the way and a rant about Prince Andrew. It's also "very funny".
Best thing about the Fringe?
Crikey, that's an essay question. I genuinely love talking about art and comedy (and football) so probably the best thing is being able to do that every night with artists and comedians from all over the world. Or, as Ali Day, calls it, "talking the same bollocks to the same people in the same bar for four weeks".
Worst thing about the Fringe?
Another essay but the short answer is it depends how well your show is going. If you're happy performing it and audiences are laughing then there is no "worst thing about the Fringe" only minor quibbles. I've always thought the Fringe is five days too long and I would like to see more theatre/puppet/dance shows programmed along with the stand-up at the traditional comedy venues.
How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?
I arrived in 1986 to be the support act for a Danish feminist double act who split up during the first preview. I've been coming back for various reasons every year since.
Favourite Fringe venue?
Does Karen Koren read this? If so, all of her venues. In truth, the old Gilded Balloon on Cowgate. I went there a boy, I left a man. Or, 'as a man' in case anyone thinks I actually left a man behind. Mind you, I think we may have left a Juice Pig in the cellar.
Best Fringe memory?
How long you got? Singing 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' with Peter Hook at Late n Live, Gordon Brown quoting my jokes at me, Pleasance sunsets, the Sherlock Holmes sketch with Jo Brand and Michael Redmond, I'm reasonably certain I saw a giraffe in a beer garden once.
Best heckle?
The Late’n’Live audience who buried Andre Vincent under an avalanche of chocolate bars the night after he'd complained they were too meek. The night after! That's good work. Afterwards he said the worst thing before he went down under the weight was hearing the laughs of individual comics.
Craziest on stage experience?
The first night of my show in 1994. I get stage fright and was in the toilet being sick when I heard applause and realised I had just been introduced. Four minutes later I was still being introduced and had to try to convince them it was deliberate and that I had spilled cold vegetable soup on my shirt.
What’s on your rider?
You've not done a Fringe show have you? Karen Koren called me a prima donna last year because I asked for water.
How do you wind down after a show?
I wind down after a show through a combination of alcohol, replaying the gig in my head and constantly asking people if they thought the show was alright. Hopefully that leaves me enough hours of the night to go and see other shows.
What do you love about Scotland?
It's hard to sum up your feelings for a whole country in just a few words. I love the humour and the defiance and the lack of deference and that you put far more imagination into your condiments than they do in England.
What do you like about Edinburgh?
I am passionate about history and the old town around a misty midnight after a couple of beers is the closest I've ever felt to the past. That and the food and culture and stuff.
What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?
Are you trying to get people into trouble with this question? The most Scottish thing I've done is to enjoy a civilised conversation in a fine restaurant after seeing a ballet. Has anyone answered this question with the words "I wore a ginger wig and shouted 'jings' "?!
What kind of jokes do a Scottish crowd seem to respond to?
It may be my imagination but I'm convinced that Scottish audiences are more clued in to national and world politics and respond better to jokes about authority. Having said that, like audiences anywhere they seem to appreciate with, thought and opinion, they just prefer a punchline at the end of it.
Favourite joke?
My favourite joke is unprintable. My current favourite is "what's the difference between Prince Andrew and a bucket of sh**?" The bucket. Trad. arr.
See Kevin Day: Hairline at the Gilded Balloon until August 30th.
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