Markus Birdman’s new comedy show ‘Between The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea’ will be at the Laughing Horse during the month of August.
1 Tell us about your Fringe show
A heady mix of erudite bragging, mellifluous storytelling, autobiographical stand up, justifiable moaning, male feminism and glorious artwork. I have taken the fairytale of Rumplestiltskin, rewritten it with a post-Trump agenda, and animated it with my own drawings and the silly voices of better-known comics than me. It’s a vehicle to discuss all our hopes and dreams. It might be too early to say this, but I believe it could save the world.
2 Best thing about the Fringe?
Sharing a flat with Paul Sinha.
3 Worst thing about the Fringe?
Paul Sinha’s snoring.
4 How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?
I first came in 2000 to do the BBC Newcomer award. Since then, I’ve done a couple of line up shows, I was in Francesca Martinez’s debut show, and I’ve done 9 solo shows.
5 Favourite Fringe venue?
Stand 1, Pleasance Cabaret Bar or Bar 50, Blackfriars Street.
6 Best Fringe memory?
Actually from my first Edinburgh, at what is now the Voodoo Rooms. I did a line up show with Paul Sinha, Alun Cochrane, Mickey Flanagan, Howard Read, and Eddie Izzard’s old manager, Pete. On the last night, we were all standing topless on the bar singing drunkenly along to The Pogues. I often wonder what happened to those guys.
7 Best heckle?
A woman in Manchester put her hand up and said ‘I’m not heckling but are you going to be long? I really need a wee.’
8 Craziest on stage experience?
I hosted the last night of the Comedy Zone in 2003 naked. It was on that ridiculous last Monday and was a slow night that needed a bit of excitement. It was wonderfully empowering. Mind, I had the chest for it back then.
9 How do you wind down after a show?
I like to meet Lloyd Langford at the The Scotch Whisky Society, and persuade him to buy us the expensive ones.
10 What do you love about Scotland?
Really easy access to the mountains.
11 What do you like about Edinburgh?
Well it must be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Where else can you stand in the middle and see mountains, castles, and sea. Perhaps Cape Town might come close, or Sydney. Those are both worth a visit too if you like violent crime, racial prejudice and wide-open spaces. It’s like Scotland, with crocodiles.
12 Favourite Scottish food/drink?
Islay whisky all the way. But I bring my own food, for obvious reasons.
13 Sum up your show in three words
Fun, misery, fun.
MARKUS BIRDMAN’s new comedy show ‘Between The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea’ will be at the Laughing Horse Bar 50 during the month of August on the Free Fringe.
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