Joe Sutherland’s debut stand up show ‘Model/Actress’ will be at the Pleasance Courtyard during August.

1. Tell us about your Fringe show

It's about confidence, the Spice Girls and homophobia. I know, what a hack! It's got everything - video, sketches, costume, oh yea and some stand-up comedy thrown in for good measure. The show is on at 10.45pm so I've tried to make it as brash and snappy as possible to keep people awake. Also, I grew up on a diet of pop music and 80s fantasy movies so it's perhaps inevitable that I've made a show with loads of bells and whistles on. I love theatrics, anyone who doesn't is dead inside.

2. How does it feel to be playing the Fringe for the first time?

Exciting and terrifying. I've been going to the Fringe my whole life so I know what to expect but I'm not as young as I look so I'm scared I'll need lots of naps and will miss out on all the fun. 

3. Best live act you’ve seen at a Fringe?

My dad used to take me to all the American improv troupes. Those performers are now all in tv shows like 30 Rock and Kimmy Schmidt, so as you can expect they were sublimely funny live performers. Caroline Rhea from Sabrina the Teenage Witch had me weeping with laughter for a solid hour back in 2013. More recently, Lolly Adefope's shows have been jaw-droppingly slick and hilarious.

4. Best thing about the Fringe?

Staying in one town for a whole month, and it's full of all your friends and colleagues. The rest of the year as a comedian gets pretty lonely. Although I am on first name terms with a GWR ticket inspector.

5. Worst thing about the Fringe?

The diet. You start the month with such good intentions but by day 3 most of your meals are chips. 

6. If you were not a performer what would you be doing?

I've got a first class degree in Fine Art, so I'd probably be doing something like...cleaning hotel bathrooms. I actually did that for a summer when I was 18 and it's probably the best job I ever had. You got a free lunch, finished at 2pm and you didn't have to talk to anyone. But that's my middle class privilege talking, it's obviously not much fun if you're feeding a family on that wage.

7. How do you combat pre-gig nerves?

I listen to Beyonce and remember that I'm a fiercely driven and talented mother of three. 

8. Worst on stage experience?

Trying to MC a gig where the audience was full of staff from a hipster magazine who were all too full of themselves to laugh. All they did was try and compete for who could be the biggest arsehole. I hated them all and I told them as much.

9. What do you love about Scotland?

I've got family on every coast so I'm never short of a sofa to crash on.

10. What do you like about Edinburgh?

That you can walk from Topshop to an actual castle in under 20 minutes.

11. What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve ever done?

Being the first foot on Hogmanay. I'm a boy with dark hair so a couple of times my uncle Calum made me 'celebrate' by standing outside in the cold clutching a piece of coal. I hate tradition.

12. Favourite Scottish food/drink?

Fried egg and veggie haggis in a morning roll.

13. Sum up your show in three words

Really, really, funny.

Joe Sutherland’s debut stand up show ‘Model/Actress’ will be at the Pleasance Courtyard – That for the month of August for tickets go to www.edfringe.com