Susan Calman talks about her new show, The Calm Before The Storm.
Tell us about your Fringe show
My show this year is primarily concerned with expectations. What I’m expected to be and what I hope the audience might find slightly unexpected about me. It’s by far and away the funniest show I’ve ever written and I’m looking forward to getting back in stand-up again after a fairly substantial break.
Best thing about the Fringe?
It’s the one time of the year that all of my favourite people are in the one place. I rarely see many of my colleagues and I love bumping into friends that I haven’t seen in ages and spending time catching up on gossip.
Worst thing about the Fringe?
It’s very crowded and I can never seem to find a seat in a bar. I also struggle to get served in bars due to my height. The staff in the Pleasance Courtyard are higher than my head. I just have to wave money around and hope someone sees me.
How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?
10 years. I’ve performed in sketch and stand up shows in that time, some more successful than others!
Favourite Fringe venue?
I can’t pick one. I performed in the Ugly Kid at the Gilded Balloon and had a great summer. The Stand will always have a special place in my heart. I was at the Underbelly for a few years and now I’m at the Pleasance. I love them all.
Best Fringe memory?
My first fringe. Walking through the meadows as dawn was breaking, slightly drunk, thinking that the Fringe was the best place in the world.
Best heckle?
I don’t get many hecklers. I don’t know what it is about me but people tend to refrain from shouting when I’m talking. Maybe it’s my propensity for throwing idiots out of my shows.
Craziest on stage experience?
Spank. Still don’t have any real idea what happens at that show. It was 3am, someone was naked, someone else was shouting. Brilliant fun.
What’s on your rider?
Can you have a rider at the Fringe? I’m just pleased if I have access to a toilet.
How do you wind down after a show?
A nice beer. And a seat. And a chat. Although this year I have joined a gym so I’ll probably end up doing some cardio. Because I’ve changed.
What do you love about Scotland?
Everything.
What do you like about Edinburgh?
As a Glaswegian it feels like I’m on holiday when I go there.
What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?
Everything.
What kind of jokes do a Scottish crowd seem to respond to?
Normal jokes. We’re pretty much normal people.
Favourite joke?
The price of accommodation at the Fringe.
Favourite Scottish food/drink?
Edinburgh is packed full of beautiful restaurants and cafes. I like to work my way around all of them during August.
Susan Calman: The Calm Before The Storm is on a Above – Pleasance Courtyard, 6.20pm.
August 19th-21st, 26th- 28th - £14/£13
August 18th, 24th, 25th -£12/£11,
August 22nd, 23rd - £10/£9
TICKETS: 0131 556 6550 / www.pleasance.co.uk
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here