Juliet Meyers discusses Coronation Street, strippers and feeling like an outsider.
Tell us about your Fringe show
It’s about who’s truly alternative, feeling like an outsider, pigeonholing and how we label ourselves. I am joined by my evil imaginary son Carlitos
Best thing about the Fringe?
Bumping into so many people I know. The bonkers amount of shows that are on.
Worst thing about the Fringe?
Ha, same as above - bumping into so many people I know. The bonkers amount of shows that are on.
How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?
About eight. My first time was when I was 22, I got the coach from London up overnight, saw a play with someone from Coronation Street in, then got the coach back overnight and went straight into work!
Favourite Fringe venue?
The Counting House (by pure coincidence that is where I’m on this year) and The Stand.
Best Fringe memory?
Getting a great review from someone in a publication I really respected for my first solo show.
Best heckle?
‘Say hello to your dad’ (they thought I was Shappi Khorsandi)
Craziest on stage experience?
At the fringe: a woman in the audience thought she had the same hair as me, but she had made a sort of corn dolly out of hers and she wanted me to hold it. I didn’t want to but to shut her up, I did. Then she told me I was holding her wrong.
Not at the fringe: I was booked to do a night with male strippers. The promoter thought the predominantly female audience would appreciate some comedy from ‘a lady comedian’ before the strippers went on. Erm..no. Before the show the strippers had stood with their tops off feeding the women marshmallows on sticks from a chocolate fountain. These women were at bursting point for ‘Captain Trunky’ and his sexy sidekick…so there was a lot of chanting while I was on for the one thing I do not possess.
What’s on your rider?
Haha. I wish. A lot of gigs I do don’t even have a backstage area. I often change in the toilets with the punters outside cursing the person taking too long in the cubicle. When there is a rider, I do love crisps. Hoping to one day make it big enough so I demand an assortment of schnauzers and a tennis ball.. or even take my own dog to a gig.
How do you wind down after a show?
Normally by cadging a fag off someone, watching Netflix or listening to my audiobook. But this year my show’s at 1.15pm so gonna wind down by having lunch with friends.
What do you love about Scotland?
The drizzle and the landscape. Neaps and tatties. I also like the bloody big deer and puffins (I’ve never seen the puffins in the wild but hope to)
What do you like about Edinburgh?
Greyfriar’s Bobby, the shop that specialises in mashed potato (Mum’s) and the stonework above the library that says ‘Let there be light.’
What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?
Shouted ‘freedom!’ at top of Arthur’s Seat
What kind of jokes do a Scottish crowd seem to respond to?
Lots of different types. I don’t like to pigeonhole them (my show’s about pigeonholing)
Favourite joke?
It’s by fellow comedian Gary Delaney ‘Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?’ ‘The albino girl”
Juliet Meyers will perform Through the Pigeonhole at Laughing Horse @ The Counting House on August 10-17 and 19-30.
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