The Herald is taking a look at some of the artists performing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival - and getting to know the people behind the magic.
Alice Fraser
What is your Fringe show about?
The stories and Lies we tell ourselves and each other. Conspiracy theories, jellyfish, sexiness. It all started when I met a man online who didn’t believe Australia was real. Being in Australia at the time, I thought, “how hard can it be to prove you’re real, right?” Actually, quite hard, it turns out.
What’s your most memorable moment from the Fringe?
I saw a drunk man arguing with a bin, and then I walked closer and realised there was a performer in the bin, busking and the drunk guy had shoved a kebab in on him.
What’s the worst thing about the Fringe?
That everywhere you walk in every direction is somehow uphill like being in an Escher painting.
READ MORE: Danny MacAskill to launch his own Edinburgh Fringe show
Also, you have no idea what to wear, because you can step out into the rain and go oh crap, I forgot my sunglasses, because it’s somehow raining AND dazzlingly sunny at the same time. How? And why am I covered in snow?
If you were not a performer what would you be doing?
I’d still be a corporate lawyer. Oh god, no on second thoughts, definitely not. Anything but being a lawyer.
How do you prepare for a performance?
I drink two bubble teas and do jump squats backstage. I read somewhere that it boosts your testosterone or adrenaline, but it’s a good way to shake out the jitters.
Favourite thing about being in Edinburgh?
It’s an incredible privilege to be in the midst of a sort of fairy city. The whole thing only exists because of a sort of group delusion. We all agree that it exists, so it exists. It’s an incredible community of creative experimentation.
Also you get to see all the other incredible artists doing incredible arts.
What is the most Scottish thing you’ve ever done?
I walked the west highland way and met a man who, when he found out my name was Fraser, told me a very complicated story about the Campbells. I didn’t have the heart to say my grandfather was Friedenberg and adopted the name Fraser when he escaped from the Nazis and came to England.
Favourite Scottish food/drink?
Deep-fried regret
Sum up your show in three words
Jokes, songs, Nazis (the old fashioned ones, not the new trendy ones)
Alice Fraser’s new stand up show ‘Mythos’ will be at the Gilded Balloon Billiard Room from 31st July – 25th August for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
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