Andy Askins talks about The Man With No Name.
1 Tell us about your Fringe show
Simple. It's about me, my life and my family. I’m the classic “ grey man” - I spend a lot of the time in the background and to most people I’m just scenery; I’m invisible in a room with only two people in it.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot going on in my universe - quite the opposite! In some respects I’m a bit like Mr Bean; I find it very easy to misunderstand, or indeed be misunderstood, which has put me in some quite embarrassing situations. My humour has been shaped by my experiences and is dark in a very jolly way I hope.
I’ve met some very interesting characters and would like people to hear about them. Some bits have been changed to protect the completely innocent.
2 How does it feel to be playing the Fringe for the first time?
I am very excited. The Edinburgh Fringe is famous around the world and it's wonderful to know I'm going to be a part of it. It's something I've wanted to try for a long time and, after listening to all of the stories my fringe veteran friends return with every year, I shall certainly be making the most of it. It's a different world and a new audience for me. I'm looking forward to the challenge of making people laugh long and hard. It's the big time!! Woohooo! Now where did I put those buckets?
3 Best live act seen at Fringe?
I’ve only visited the fringe briefly but my favourite show has to be "We are Klang". It was great fun and the audience completely embraced it. Fast, surreal and anarchic. Greg Davies and friends had a wonderful chemistry. It would be super cool if they could reunite even temporarily.
4 Best thing about the Fringe?
It's inclusive. Anybody can do a show about anything they wish. It's one of the reasons I'm so excited; the sheer diversity. I shall be bagging a few plays as well as comedy shows. If you can't get inspiration in Edinburgh, you've little hope.
5 Worst thing about the Fringe?
I'll let you know in September.
6 If you were not a performer/comedian what would you be doing?
I'd like to help others. Perhaps I'd be a life coach. Those guys are loaded!
7 How do you combat pre-gig nerves?
Whenever I get a bit too jittery, I put things into perspective. I'm not working down a coal mine, nor am I in a freezing trench being shot at.
8 Worst on stage experience?
There's quite a few to choose from. One Sunday afternoon I was performing inside a huge circus tent at a festival. I was assured there would be no children in the audience but in fact I was due to appear onstage just before a Royal Ballet production of Angelina Ballerina. There were probably a hundred and fifty toddlers sat crossed legged at the front. To make things worse, it was simultaneously broadcast live on a huge screen outside to another thousand people. I cut my cloth accordingly.
9 How do you recover from a hefty heckle? Do you have a set of stock replies?
I don’t use stock replies. It's best to be spontaneous but, if nothing comes into my head, I have written my fair share of put downs . Oh yes, and CS gas spray.
10 What do you love about Scotland?
What's not to love. The people are friendly and have their feet planted firmly on the ground. And the scenery is amazing. I had the privilege of driving through Scotland with my family. We also travelled the length of the Caledonian canal in a cabin cruiser. It was wonderful but not exactly the "Abramovitch" lifestyle. It was supposed to be nine berth but my wife and three small children found it a squeeze. My son slept on the dinner table and you couldn’t bend your knees and shut the loo door at the same time. The kids thought they saw “Nessie” but it was probably just a Plesiosaur.
11 What do you like about Edinburgh?
It’s beautiful. I remember the first time I visited thinking how grand every thing looked, the buildings and the stonework and of course the atmosphere during the festival. It's impossible to take it all in. Everywhere you look, there's a performance taking place. There’s youth and enthusiasm it’s a place that spouts hope.
Andy Askins will perform The Man With No Name at the Gilded Balloon at the Counting House until August 28.
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