Fringe Q&As: Yianni on playing Countdown against Rachel Riley

It’s called ‘Why did the Chicken cross The Line?’ and it’s about jokes, humour and where ‘The Line’ is.  What makes jokes cross the line and how far is too far?  In a year where serial line-crosser Jeremy Clarkson lost his job and 12 French cartoonists lost their life for drawing cartoons some radicals thought offensive enough to kill for, it’s a pertinent question.

Best thing about the Fringe?

Being able to stay in the same place for a month!

Worst thing about the Fringe?

The amount I pay for that place.

How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?

My first Fringe was in 2002.  I was in a showcase of Australian comedians at the Gilded Balloon called ‘Raw Prawns.’  I fell in love with the city and the festival.  I’m clearly addicted as this will be my twelfth August since then spent in Auld Reekie.

Favourite Fringe venue?

I’ve done 3 shows (including my first) in The Caves so they’ll always have a special place in my heart.  I did my favourite show at the Canons’ Gait and seem to spend a lot of time there each year.  And if heaven has a comedy club, it would be The Stand.

Best Fringe memory?

There are a few.  Having my mind blown and laughing til I wet myself watching Daniel Kitson MC Late n Live the first time I came in 2002.  Mark Watson’s long shows.  And a French guy losing his mind with excitement (in French) at my Guybrush Threepwood Secret of Monkey Island T-Shirt on the Royal Mile last year. 'Mon Dieu!  Guybrush Threepwood! Formidable!'

Best heckle?

I was doing a show about coincidences in 2011 and in one section I would try to find coincidences within that day's audience. I asked an audience member his name.  He was called Luc Valvona from the Isle of Wight.  It turns out there was a woman in the audience who babysat him when he was a kid.  It blew my tiny mind.  Luckily, I recorded that show.  If you’d like to hear it the clip is HERE (http://bit.ly/1LVNV7h)

Craziest on stage experience?

I played Countdown against Rachel Riley after being awake for 40 hours at Mark Watson’s 25 Hour show in 2013.  My heavy and extremely public defeat really brought home to me the important link between sleep and brain function.

What’s on your rider?

Chain mail armour and a jousting rod sharper than Oscar Wilde.  Everything required to ensure they’re fully equipped to protect the realm. 

How do you wind down after a show?

Wind down?  I’m always heading to another gig!  But when I do have down time the fact that a pint with friends, fellow comics and sometimes even audience members technically counts as work makes this the best ‘job’ in the world.

What do you love about Scotland?

The people.  Scots are wonderfully genuine people and, though the stereotype is of a dour nation, once you scratch the surface I’ve always found them to be wonderfully generous, funny and delightful people. 

What do you like about Edinburgh?

What’s not to like?  I love the architecture, the history, looking out over the Firth of Forth from Arthur’s Seat, walking the cobble stone streets watching the sun rise at 4am.  I also love the fact that after twelve visits it feels like a second home.

What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?

I almost moved home to Australia last year.  In the end I didn’t, but it was a tough decision.  So I too spent a lot of 2014 experiencing fierce inner conflict over whether or not to leave the UK.

What kind of jokes do a Scottish crowd seem to respond to?

Stories. Sarcasm. And articulating blunt, unspeakable truths.  You guys love that.  

Favourite joke?

The next one.  It’s always right there if you look closely enough.

See Yianni: Why Did The Chicken Cross The Line? at Stand II until August 30th.