Ed Aczel on his new show, Foreign Policy.
Tell us about your Fringe show
Ultimately, it's nonsense designed to make people laugh. I am an anti-comedian so it’s meant to be a mess and I manage to pull it off. I have a theme of Foreign Policy this year which is going well....
Best thing about the Fringe?
Sharing a flat with Maff Brown and doing our daily podcast.
Worst thing about the Fringe?
Sharing a flat with Maff Brown. Plus it always seems to rain in August in Scotland (why do I opt to spend my summer in the cold.... why?)
How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?
Ten years (seven times over that time) - I am now a veteran.
Favourite Fringe venue?
The Belly Button at the Underbelly - a dream venue - raked seating and a big stage.
Best Fringe memory?
Selling out the Belly Button.
Best heckle?
I try to heckle my audience. I once got an audience member to try to be a Taxi Driver from Dagenham as I had a bit of material on that.
Craziest on stage experience?
Pay Peanuts was a show I did with a couple of friends. One day out of the blue we had a full audience of about 50 people and they all left during the show.
What’s on your rider?
I'm not that high status a pint of coke and a bag of cheese and onion crisps is my limit - anything more would be pushing it.
How do you wind down after a show?
I talk to Louis my tech about how it went and potter home. I also usually eat after I've finished for some reason, even if it’s after midnight.
What do you love about Scotland?
It’s a beautiful country - I love the Hebrides (Coll, Arran etc)
What do you like about Edinburgh?
I like walking across town (there's great Georgian Architecture?) and getting fitter (I drive all the time for the rest of the year and don't get in the car once during August).
What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?
Breakfast at City Cafe - where you have to have haggis. I've never been to the tattoo although I hear it everyone night. I eat at a lot of Italian restaurants.
What kind of jokes do a Scottish crowd seem to respond to?
It’s difficult because my jokes don't really work as jokes. So I’m probably not the best person to ask.
Favourite joke?
Machiavelli said: It is better for a monarch to be both feared and loved, but if you cannot be both it is better to be simply feared. Something to keep in mind when you embark on Internet dating....
Favourite Scottish food/drink?
Arbroath Smokies
Ed Aczel's Foreign Policy is on at Heroes at The Hive (venue 313) daily until August 28 (excepy 16th).
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