Sarah Kendall discusses drowning, fibreglass chickens and arm wrestling.

Tell us about your Fringe show

My show is called A Day In October. It’s a story about a boy I went to school with who drowned and was dead for exactly 11 seconds before he was resuscitated.

There’s a lot about regret. There’s also a small section about a fibreglass chicken, so I’d like to think there’s something for everyone.

Best thing about the Fringe?

I love being in this explosion of creativity. Every hour of the day for the entire month, there are people onstages throughout the city, sweating their guts out to express something that’s important to them.

Worst thing about the Fringe?

It’s a relentless explosion of ego. Every hour of the day for the entire month, there are people on stages throughout the city, banging on about themselves.

How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?

My first Fringe was 2001. Then 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 (large break), 2012, 2014. Hi, I’m 98-years-old.

Favourite Fringe venue?

I like anywhere with a good toilet. That’s my rule of thumb with any venue, Fringe or otherwise.

Best Fringe memory?

About 10 years ago I started encouraging some arm-wrestling in the Library Bar on the last night of the Fringe.

It kind of snowballed and went on for hours. Pretty much everyone had a go- in both the women’s and men’s divisions. It got very competitive. I remember Dara O’Briain was king of the table for a while. Des Bishop and my husband were gridlocked for about 10 minutes- veins were bulging in their temples, and they were both purple-faced and grunting and dribbling. So yes, it was extremely erotic.

Best heckle?

A few months ago a woman got up to leave during my set, and I (jokingly) said: “You’d better be leaving for a damned good reason.”

And she said: “I think my waters have broken." Rude cow.

Craziest on stage experience?

I don’t tend to have ‘crazy’ experiences on-stage. I did once poo my pants before going on stage in Singapore. I had contracted Giardia. I wasn’t just being lazy.

What’s on your rider?

Bananas, toilet paper, popadoms, a cactus, morphine, the box set of ‘Here’s Lucy’, Glenn Wool’s blood, a lone sardine, and some fizzy mineral water.

How do you wind down after a show?

I like to just let my hair down and get away from all the stress. So I take off to Jamaica and work in
a bar on the beach. Everything is chilled until one day I meet Elizabeth Shue and we start a fiery romance. But then my old bartending buddy bets me I can’t pick up a wealthy older woman. I take up the bet, but Elizabeth Shue sees me in action and she runs away back to New York. Unbeknownst to me, she is pregnant with my child. Wait, that’s the plotline of Cocktail.

What do you love about Scotland?

The weather. It’s what my ginger complexion was designed for.

What do you like about Edinburgh?

The coffee at Wellington. I am extremely serious about coffee. Hence the lack of humour in this answer. My face is very serious while I type this.

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

I don’t know how to answer that without adhering to lazy stereotypes. And frankly, I’m better than that.

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

Jokes about haggis and deep-fried Mars Bars. Okay, maybe I’m not better than that.

Favourite joke?

I like any joke set in a bar.

Sarah Kendall will perform at the Assembly George Square Studios from August 19-31.