Dominic Holland’s new stand up show ‘Eclipsed’ will be at the Voodoo Rooms Ballroom at 4.40pm for the month of August.

1 Tell us about your Fringe show

Like all my previous Fringe shows – this show is just a current reflection of my life; a 50-year-old husband and dad to four boys. The secret being that I’m an everyman and so my audience laugh along with me at ourselves.  

Albeit I am less everyman this year because my eldest son is Tom Holland who happens to be an actor and happens to be the new Spider-Man and this extraordinary reality is the hinge of this year’s show. As I say in my blurb – it turns out Spider-Man does have a dad after-all!

So to recap - my son is the lead in one of the year’s biggest films and I’m doing the free fringe. Come on, that’s funny, right? 

2 Best thing about the Fringe?

Blimey, where to start…

The energy of the fringe is unique and comes from almost as many performers as punters all taking a leap and hoping to land safely. Edinburgh is a world city, visited throughout the year for its beauty and history but in August, it is the City of hope. There is something very exciting and romantic about performers of all shapes and sizes, honing their stuff for the biggest arts festival in the world.

3 Worst thing about the Fringe?

That the other discernible emotion in Edinburgh is fear and this is not such a nice smell. And with too many shows for a finite audience, it always means that more performers will be crushed than heralded. 

4 How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?

Since 1993 – which is over a Century ago.

5 Favourite Fringe venue?

I’d have to say the Attic at The Pleasance. It was my first venue in 1993 and that was my first fringe which happened to be my most triumphant also – which I didn’t know at the time – but do now. Nikki, my wife (girlfriend at the time, but she snagged me) had a local watercolorist do a painting for me which now hangs in my office. I actually don’t have an office – not since the fourth child came along. But I say I do because it makes me sound important and it is also tax advantageous (I’m told). 

6 Best Fringe memory?

Getting nominated in 1996. It was lovely because I hadn’t been aware that the panel had even been in to see my show. The last show before the nominations were announced, my sales were poor, so my lovey tech (Sinead) – when she got wind that the panel were attending again she grabbed a load of punters and marched them in to my venue. Sinead was awesome that year and it was her nomination as well – along with Dylan Moran (winner), Rich Hall, Al Murray, Armstrong and Miller – who have all gone on to greater comedic successes than me but I would argue I have been the most virile and successful dad! I refer readers to my answer to question 1.

7. Best Heckle

Hurry up!

8 Craziest on stage experience?

Doing the warm-up for the Brit Awards. Standing in the wings about to go (terrified) I was suddenly aware of someone standing next to me. Odd shoes I thought. Very feminine with gold bows but the ankles and calves were definitely male. This was in 90’s when it was still permissible to describe male and female characteristics. And as it turned out, these shoes belonged to Sir Elton John (he was just plain Elton at the time and by this I am denigrating his looks). Elton was hosting the show and he looked even more terrified than me. We looked at each other without saying a word but we shared our performers fear with eye contact. And I said to him – ‘you’ll be fine.’

And he was. I on the other hand, died on my arse.

I had to follow Meat Loaf for Pete’s sake with my gentle humorous observations on life.  ‘That was Meat Loaf. Well done Meat… so anyway, has anyone out there ever noticed…’ 

9 How do you wind down after a show?

I am normally carried shoulder high from my venue by my audience…

Back in the real world, gigs have become completely normal by now, so no winding down necessary. 

10 What do you love about Scotland?

Blimey, where to start?

That the Scottish people I meet are nothing like the Scottish politicians I see and hear on the news. Then there are the golf courses. Recently, I was lucky enough to do a gig at Archerfield Links which is surely one of the world’s great golf destinations and they happen to have the friendliest staff on earth.

I even like the Scottish weather because like everywhere in the UK, you can’t have great beauty without lots of rain. I was in Dubai recently for some gigs. They have no rain and no beauty.

And I like the cold weather as well because what is better than being in a pub on a cold day with an open fire and whatever tipple is your fancy.

I don’t like whiskey and yet I love the stuff. I find it completely enthralling; the history and pride and the romance of the stuff. I don’t drink it (can’t stand it) but I totally get why the Japs and Chinese go mad for it.  The Edinburgh duty free has a massive range and the staff are very knowledgeable.  Whiskey is a clear liquid, don’t you know; coloured by the wood from the cask. I love stuff like this. I’ve told my mates that our next golf tour should be in Scotland and we’ll take in a distillery when we do. 

11 What do you like about Edinburgh?

Seeing a full room of punters queuing for my show is always heartening.

Like I say above, Edinburgh is a world city and a magnificent backdrop for performers and punters alike. A little like the spires of Cambridge inspire academia, the architecture of Edinburgh and makeshift and impromptu venues have become synonymous. And I love the City further because it has been so kind to me. In my career, all my most important breaks have come from Edinburgh. Winning awards, being reviewed, bagging my BBCR4 series and the chance to tour has all come from Edinburgh; which begs the question why the hell have I left it so long to come back?

12 Favourite Scottish food/drink?

Like a maths exam, saving the tough questions until last I see. The Fish Supper of course – what else is there? 

13 Sum up your show in three words

Honest, funny, uplifting (and FREE!)

Dominic Holland’s new stand up show ‘Eclipsed’ will be at the Voodoo Rooms Ballroom at 4.40pm for the month of August on the Free Fringe.