Phil Nichol’s new stand up show ‘Your Wrong’ will be at the Monkey Barrel Headroom during August.
1 Tell us about your Fringe show
‘Your Wrong’ happened because I was becoming fed up with the way we, as human beings, were/are interacting with each other. Whether it’s correcting punctuation on someone’s odd post about a ‘flat earth’ or listening to the stream of weirdness that is being tweeted daily from the White House or even our inability to pin down what is actual ‘truth’ any more. It feels like we are having a massive group psychosis. Our inability to listen and forgive will be the downfall of mankind. This show dissects the ludicrous nature of arguing through neat story-telling and hilarious personal anecdotes.
2 Best thing about the Fringe?
Being surrounded by creative minds and curious audiences who are there to be entertained and educated. Anytime that number of people gather to celebrate something amazing is created. In this case they have created the best Fringe festival in the world.
3 Worst thing about the Fringe?
It’s become too expensive. If the city would allow itself to be slightly more charitable and expect less in the form of profit from the event then the participants wouldn’t feel stung for the amount they shell out every year in expenses. Mounting shows for the price of a mortgage is no small feat year in and year out.
4 How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?
I’ve been coming to the Edinburgh Fringe since 1990 missing only the years 2000 and 2014. This will be my 26 trip to the fine city. I once mentioned this to an Edinburgh taxi driver who pointed out that I’d already spent over two years of my life in Edinburgh which would explain why I’m starting to feel like a local.
5 Favourite Fringe venue?
I’ll go out on a limb and say that The Monkey Barrel, where my show is on this year is about to become my favourite Edinburgh venue. The guys that run it know their comedy and are passionate about making a splash on the local scene especially during the fringe. I’ve had many great years at The Stand and you can’t go wrong visiting the Pleasance and the Gilded Balloon.
6 Best Fringe memory?
Winning the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2006 was certainly a highlight however standing on the cobblestone streets near then Pleasance with Viv Soan watching the sun come up between the buildings after being up all night blathering over cups of tea is a memory I will never forget. It’s the little simple moments that define the fringe for me and make it special.
7 Best heckle?
I was standing topless on a chair in the middle of an audience at the end of a stonking gig, singing full volume, guitar in hand, dripping with sweat and in a rare moment of stillness someone quietly heckled ‘SHOW OFF!’ Very funny indeed…. The worst heckle, however, I’ve ever received is 100% unprintable.
8 Craziest on stage experience?
Having 112 naked ‘dancer/protesters’ join me onstage at the Pleasance Grand at the end of my last performance of the award winning show The Naked Racist was completely wild and what made it wilder was that a group of us then ran naked up the Royal Mile and in to the Castle forecourt! Crazy Edinburgh antics! What a blast
9 How do you wind down after a show?
This year I will be winding up not down as I’ll be hosting a midnight cabaret on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of each weekend with my dear friend Kirsty Newton. The Asylum is a new, silly, action-packed, guest filled explosion of crazy in the form of a cabaret set in a lunatics asylum!!
10 What do you love about Scotland?
The people. For the most part, they are a warm, thoughtful, cheery, funny and understanding bunch. They love a laugh and have a great critical eye.
11 What do you like about Edinburgh?
I love the architecture and the atmosphere. I really feel at home in Edinburgh and there is no where else I’d rather be in August than The Edinburgh Fringe
12 Favourite Scottish food/drink?
Fish and chips with salt and vinegar OR fresh oysters at Fishers in Leith!
13 Sum up your show in three words
Hilarious Thoughtful Medicine.
Phil Nichol’s new stand up show ‘Your Wrong’ will be at the Monkey Barrel – Headroom for the month of August and his cabaret show ‘The Asylum’ will also be in that venue Thurs-Sat – for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
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