Ryan Cull talks about his new show, Brace Yourself.
Tell us about your Fringe show
My Fringe show is called Brace Yourself and it’s about how I spent two years in leg braces as a child and how that has shaped my view of the world and most importantly myself. After years of health worries and body-image hangups, I’m finally facing up to the effect my childhood had on my adult self, and I’m ready to talk about it, one slow-burning insecurity at a time.
How does it feel to be playing the Fringe for the first time?
It feels great to finally be doing my debut hour at the Fringe. I never wanted to rush my first hour since you only get one chance to make a first impression and I feel like after six years of honing my stand up I’m confident I can bring up a polished, funny show.
Live act most looking forward to seeing at Fringe?
Bill Burr. He’s my favourite comedian and I’ve seen him every time he comes to the UK. After 20 years he’s finally getting the success he deserves which just goes to show you stand up is a marathon, not a sprint.
If you were not a performer/comedian what would you be doing?
I would be back in Canada, probably finalising my first divorce and still at the marketing job I had before I moved to the UK to pursue comedy. I’d also be a lot heavier.
How do you combat pre-gig nerves?
I usually just assume it’s going to go horribly wrong which is almost always unfounded. Whenever I think it’s going to go great it doesn’t so now it’s better to assume the worst and then revel in any success you have on stage.
Worst on stage experience?
I had a glass thrown at me while on stage. The strange thing is I was having a really good set so I was shocked when it sailed past my head. If I was tough I would have beaten him up but Im not so I had to insult him while he got kicked out.
How do you recover from a hefty heckle?
I think heckling is like the Loch Ness Monster. You hear about it more than you actually see it. The thing is that most times no one is on the hecklers side. So what you do is repeat what they said so everyone knows what they said which also gives you a few more seconds to come back with a zinger. Don’t just attack them because not everyone will have heard the heckle and then you come off looking bad.
What do you love about Scotland?
That as of right now it’s still part of the UK. I always said the Scots and the Canadians always seem to get along. We tend to have a lot in common like our football teams very rarely make it to the World Cup and we both know what it’s like to live next to a country we hate.
What do you like about Edinburgh?
The fact that so many people are comedy fans. It’s like Glastonbury for comedy since there is something for everyone. If your show goes good or bad, it doesn’t matter because you’ve learned so much. It’s like a comedy boot camp. You’ll come out stronger or broken. It’s up to you to decide which one.
What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?
I went to a Scottish wedding. It had a tent that was dedicated specifically to Whiskey which was as amazing as it was dangerous. I used to think I could drink a lot but that tent proved me wrong and the score at the end of the night was Whiskey Tent 1 - Ryan 0.
Who’s your favourite Scottish comedian?
Living in Canada I saw a lot of Craig Ferguson who hosted his own late night talk show in America and he was always hilarious. From gigging around the UK I’ve always enjoyed working with Mark Nelson and Larry Dean. Both very funny.
Favourite joke?
A barber in Edinburgh last year told me the best joke I’ve heard in ages but it is not safe for print. To be honest, it wasn’t that safe to say out loud in the middle of a packed barber shop but I give him credit for not backing down. If you see me in Edinburgh ask me about it and I’ll tell it to you.
Favourite Scottish food/drink?
I’m a very picky eater. I tried Sushi for the first time a year ago and I’m 37 years old so getting me to try Haggis is going to be tough. But I will try it this year, mainly because I think I’ll be able to write a joke about it. I used to like Irn Bru but then I read it got banned in Canada so I stopped. If a country bans an energy drink, there’s definitely something wrong with it.
Ryan Cull: Brace Yourself is on at the Gilded Ballroom Wee Room until August 28. For tickets visit www.edfringe.com
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