Zoe Lyons talks about her new stand up show Little Misfit.
Tell us about your Fringe show
Well, hopefully it is 60 minutes of funnies! There are very lose themes that run through my shows. Little Misfit is about not belonging to any real groups and realizing that I have reached a point in my life where I no longer care about fitting in.
Best thing about the Fringe?
It is a real treat to spend time immersed in all that the Festival has to offer. I love going to see different sorts of shows, dance, theatre comedy it’s all there. I am very excited this year as Derevo, a Russian physical theatre/ dance company are back at the Fringe and they are just amazing.
Worst thing about the Fringe?
It’s too long, by about a week. The last week is always a bit of a struggle.
How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?
I first came up as a student in 1990 in a very earnest play. We had tiny audiences, a man brought a dog to one show but I had an absolutely great time. I have been coming up doing solo shows since 2007. I have taken years off in between.
Favorite Fringe venue?
For the last two years I have been at the Gilded Balloon in the Dining Room and it is by a long way my favorite place to perform my shows so far at the Fringe.
Best Fringe memory?
Finding out that my debut show in 2007 Fight or Flight had been nominated for the Best Newcomer. I had a little cry.
Best heckle?
I recently got heckled by a drunk bloke at a gig who shouted at me “You only ever get on telly because they have to put a woman on”. As heckles go, pretty cutting but on the plus side it led to a routine that is in the new show so cheers mate!
Craziest on stage experience?
A couple of years ago there was a guy in the audience who refused to turn his phone off, he tried to storm out of the venue but instead of going through the exit he walked into the prop cupboard. He was in there for a few minutes before it dawned on him.
What’s on your rider?
Bottle of water, I am, what they call in the trade, low maintenance
How do you wind down after a show?
The longer I have been doing stand-up the less time it takes me to wind down. I now just need a ten-minute sit down and a gentle think to myself and that’s me done.
What do you love about Scotland?
The scenery is breath taking, driving through the Grampians is an absolute delight. I learnt to ski in Scotland as a kid and I love going back to the mountains.
What do you like about Edinburgh?
The history of the place is so obvious, I love all the nooks and crannies of the city. It really is very pretty to look at.
What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?
Years ago friends and I walked the West Highland way. We took it very slowly, think it took us a week but it was such great fun. There was a lot of rain, a lot of laughter and we were fueled by the odd dram here and there along the way.
What kind of jokes do a Scottish crowd seem to respond to?
Happy to report that a Scottish crowd seem to enjoy pretty much the same stuff as the rest of the UK. In this time when talk of dividing and separation has been such a hot topic, comedy seems to be a common ground.
Favourite joke?
Don’t really have one to be honest, but if forced the beautifully silly jokes of Tommy Cooper always make me smile. ‘Doc I can’t stop singing The Green, Green Grass of Home’ “That sounds like Tom Jones syndrome. ‘Is it common?’ “It’s not unusual.”
16 Favourite Scottish food/drink?
I love haggis, I don’t think about what is in it too much, but it is yummy!
Zoe Lyons’s new stand up show ‘Little Misfit’ will be at the Gilded Balloon Dining Room for the month of August for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
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