Richard Soames discusses soundcapes, duck nightmares and German jokes.
Tell us about your Fringe show
It’s a stand-up/one man sketch show about my struggle to be a nice person throughout my life, punctuated by stories and tea. Also the whole show is soundscaped, so it’s well worth coming if you like free sound effects downloaded from the internet.
Best thing about the Fringe?
Seeing shows that surprise you or ones that you don’t even imagine could exist.
Worst thing about the Fringe?
Money! I’m going to lose so much money!
How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?
Six now. Mostly with my sketch group The Beta Males, but this is my first year out on my own. I’m being a brave boy this year.
Favourite Fringe venue?
I really like the one I’m in – The Wee Coo at The Underbelly in George Square – which is a lovely space for my show. And I’ve also got a lot of fond memories of The Pleasance 10 Dome.
Best Fringe memory?
That’s tough. Probably one of our last performances of our 2011 show The Train Job where the whole audience shouted the last line of the show with me right at the end. I felt like a god damn rock star.
Best heckle?
“I have a duck that haunts me in my dreams” left me completely stumped. What do you do with that? I just said I hoped he felt better for sharing it.
Craziest on stage experience?
Doing a late night show with The Betas with an entirely naked John Henry Falle and him doing unscripted naked star jumps for what felt like 20 minutes. Messed me right up.
What’s on your rider?
I don’t think I’m important enough to insist on much…so it’s just some jam.
How do you wind down after a show?
I usually have a shandy, try not to talk about what’s just happened and go and play board games.
What do you love about Scotland?
It’s beautiful. When I was younger I used to do a lot of mountain walks in The Highlands – I think I’ve done about 30 Munros, which isn’t massively impressive, but the views sure were pretty.
What do you like about Edinburgh?
It’s also beautiful. And old. I still haven’t visited when it’s not been the Fringe for fear of having a relapse but I really want to. Visit. Not have a relapse.
What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?
Drunk a lot of whiskey but then not being able to handle it because I’m English.
What kind of jokes do a Scottish crowd seem to respond to?
In previous shows we’ve written the odd really cheeky Scottish dig, including dressing up as a personification of England and piercing The Spirit of Scottish Independence. And, despite our fear of not being allowed back in the country, those jokes probably go down better than our main material.
Favourite joke?
One of my favourites is this German joke:
According to Freud, what comes between fear and sex?
Fünf.
I don’t care what anyone says about their sense of humour, that is solid.
Richard Soames will perform at Underbelly on August 13-18 and 20-31.
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