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.
Patrick Monahan
What is your Fringe show about?
Every year I write a brand new hour of stand up, which is all about where I'm at in my life at the moment with some callbacks and reflections to my growing up as an immigrant coming over from Iran as a child to the UK.
This show is all about growing up poor, living in a caravan as a teenager on the northeast coast, but I now live with my posh middle-class girlfriend in Chiswick in West London.
How many times/many years have you appeared at the Fringe?
I have been going up to the fringe every year (without a year off) for the last 16 years, but it feels like I've been going up since 1964.
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Even though it takes up so much of my year preparing a new show for the festival, i would never stop going, or as people say ‘wild horses couldn't keep me away’, but things like a serious epidemic could.
What’s your most memorable moment from the Fringe?
Too many to mention, each year throws up about a 100 memorable moments, but one highlight would have to be doing a stand up set on top of Arthurs seat to a packed audience sat on the grass - and I finished my set off with a crowd surf over them and Arthurs seat. This was the days before health & safety.
What’s the worst thing about the Fringe?
Nothing. Something you don’t like other people probably love. Although the lack of sleep can't be on top of anyone's favourite lists.
If you were not a performer what would you be doing?
Working in a kiosk in a supermarket, chatting to customers coming in and out of the store, and using the microphone to speak to all the other shoppers in the supermarket aisles. I would turn the place into a summer camp of fun.
How do you prepare for a performance?
I always like to have a gig outfit, which sounds like a bit formal and like a uniform, but its just a smarter pair of jeans and a smarter top or shirt, that I wouldn't normally wear during the day or around the house.
It sounds weird, but wearing different clothes on stage (even if they're like your other clothes) just makes it feel like you're now at work instead of still in daytime mode.
Favourite thing about being in Edinburgh?
I live in London, which is one of the greatest cities in the world, but getting a chance to be anywhere else for a month out of the smog and pollution and consent traffic, then Edinburgh is the perfect antidote to the capitol.
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It’s a perfect lifestyle, 11 months in London, one month in Edinburgh, I recommend everyone to do this yearly, it will save you money from going to an expensive yoga retreat.
What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve ever done?
Gone to a Scottish wedding, in Glasgow, dressed in a kilt and stayed up till 7am the next morning, and was still sober (that part probably isn't very Scottish).
Favourite Scottish food/drink?
Vegetarian haggis. My partner is a vegan, and I've cut out all meat (except fish). She has jacket potatoes all the time in Edinburgh during the festival, but there's only so many tuna mayonnaise jacket potatoes you can have.
But if you alternate them with a haggis veggie potato on alternative days and suddenly it spices up your lunchtime palate.
Sum up your show in three words
Brutally Honest Funny
Patrick Monahan’s new stand up show ‘Started From The Bottom, Now I’m Here’ will be at the Gilded Balloon Nightclub at 8pm from 31st July – 25th August for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
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