Spencer Brown speaks to HeraldScotland about owing money, egotistical performers and jodhpurs.
Tell us about your Fringe show
An investigation into innocence told through the medium of humour. It's funnier than it sounds.
Best thing about the Fringe?
The shows.
Worst thing about the Fringe?
The hype.
How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?
I came four times, spent eight years paying off the massive debt I incurred and this is my first time back. I missed owing money.
Favourite Fringe venue?
I always liked the Pleasance when I was playing there, but as I've decided to do Free Fringe this year I'm going to choose Free Sisters. The shows just feel far more relaxed and fun and I like that it seems to be taking the Fringe back to its taking-a-risk-on-something roots.
Best Fringe memory?
I have no memories of my previous years of the Fringe, so I guess something to do with alcohol.
Best heckle?
There are no good heckles. Only good comebacks. I am aware this sounds more profound than it is.
Craziest on stage experience?
Washing an audience member's jumper. Unfortunately, there wasn't time to dry it before the end of my bit and he had to walk home sodden. Please note: audience members in my current show will leave with all their clothing as dry and dirty as it was when they came in.
What's on your rider?
Jodhpurs and a helmet.
How do you wind down after a show?
Go back to my flat and keep my wife company so she'll stay being married to me.
What do you love about Scotland?
Leaving the house thinking there is no chance its going to rain then getting caught in a thunderstorm. Gets me every time.
What do you like about Edinburgh?
The other 11 months of the year here. When it's not infested with egotistical performers like me trying to impose themselves onto other people's consciousness, it's actually really nice.
What's the most Scottish thing you've done?
I once made love to some bagpipes stuffed with offal.
What kind of jokes do a Scottish crowd seem to respond to?
The same jokes as everywhere else I guess. Scottish people are just people. Although I hear they love stuff about tube trains and pro-Tory.
Favourite joke?
I don't know any jokes that I haven't written. To write down one of those would seem egotistical. Come and see me say them instead.
Spencer Brown will appear at 7.45pm, 31 July-24 August (not Mondays), Maggie's Front Room, Free Sisters, 139 Cowgate. FREE.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article