Abi Roberts comedy show, Anglichanka, is on at the Edinburgh Festival from August 3-13 and 15-27 at Underbelly, Cowgate (Venue 61).

1 Tell us about your Fringe show
The show is called “Anglichanka” (which means Englishwoman in Russian) and it’s my new comedy show about living in the former Soviet Union in the 90s and returning after 18 years as the first UK comic to perform comedy in English and Russian. It’s about training to be an opera singer in the USSR in the 90s and going back there last year as a stand up. Along the way we find out about gay rights and censorship in modern Russia, the consequences of drinking hardcore vodka and using outdoor loos in -20 temperatures and we see how Russia has changed since the fall of the Soviet Union. You may also find out what we need to know about Putin, the meerkat with nuclear weapons and the country described as ‘a riddle wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma’.  It’s on every day at the Underbelly Cowgate at 6.40! 

I’m also being a bit kamikaze this year and doing another show as a work-in-progress on the PBH Fringe called FAT GIRL DANCING at the Voodoo Rooms 4.15pm.  

 2 Best thing about the Fringe?
Ooo lots. Seeing mates I only ever see fleetingly in green rooms of comedy clubs; the sheer variety of comedy on offer; being able to step away from club comedy for three weeks and do something that delves a bit further into something I am interested in and of course, the weather. 

3 Worst thing about the Fringe?
Not having enough time to see every show I want to see. Not eating vegetables for a month. Being flyered constantly. The weather.
 
4 How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?
As a comedian, since 2012…when I came up for a couple of weeks doing gigs.  I took my first hour stand-up show here in 2013 called “Twerk In Progress”. I’d previously been to Edinburgh on and off when I was at drama school and then again as a singer and cabaret act in 2008.  I much prefer Edinburgh as a stand-up though. Telling stories and jokes is just so much easier than doing songs, using props and wearing costumes that you have to carry about everywhere.  

5 Favourite Fringe venue?
Two actually and I’m in both of them this year.  Underbelly, because I love those guys and they always make you feel welcome and you feel part of a family.  In my view, it’s the best of the paid venues. 

My other favourite is the fabulous Voodoo Rooms on West Register Street, because….. not only is it one of the best venues in Edinburgh to perform in as a stand-up, they do fantastic food and they also make you feel welcome and that is soooo important on a long Edinburgh fringe run.  The Voodoo Rooms really is my spiritual home in Edinburgh.  
 
6 Best Fringe memory?

Ah, so many. Mainly of drunken nights in the venue bars.  Selling out my first stand-up show at the Voodoo Rooms and having queues around the block is perhaps my best memory.   Eating deep fried mars bars at 3 in the morning on The Royal Mile is perhaps another.  
 
7 Best heckle?
If you see my show or act, you’d realise why I don’t get heckled often, but I did once, ages ago get heckled by a Swedish lady in Swedish and then English who didn’t like the fact I was doing about hating jazz and she went on and on about it before eventually being thrown out. Ironic really, as the bit is all about how jazz goes on and on. Weird gig that one. I also remember a lady in the front row that had a dog that puked up grass as I was coming up to a punchline. It was like some weird David Lynch film.   
 
8 Craziest on stage experience?
Probably singing “A little piece of my Heart” onstage wearing a black wig impersonating Janis Joplin at last year’s Massaoke while being judged by Margaret Queen of Soho and John Robertson (he of “Dark Room”)..for charity. That was odd. But fun!
 
9 How do you wind down after a show?
By watching Columbo and eating crisps. 

10 What do you love about Scotland?
I love Edinburgh’s streets, I love the changeable weather, I love that you’re in a major world city one minute and the next, you’re in the wilds of the Scottish countryside.  I love the Scots as well and they seem to love my comedy.  Scotland is a truly beautiful place. 
 
11 What do you like about Edinburgh?
I love the fact that however often you come to Edinburgh, every time you come there’s new things to discover and you do discover new things…a new bar, a new restaurant, a historic street or building you hadn’t seen before.  It has heart and soul Edinburgh, unlike London.  As the Russians say, the Scots have “dusha”….roughly translated as “real SOUL! 

12 Favourite Scottish food/drink?
Boring I know, but my Fringe is not complete if I don’t have Tatties, Haggis and Neeps at least once.  It always brings back fond memories of my Grandma Gordon who was a Scot from the Highlands.  When we arrive in Edinburgh, my other half always gets a stock in of macaroni pies from the Co-Op – they make excellent pre and post gig snacks.  I dare say I will have one or two single malt whiskies at Edinburgh’s fine drinking emporia at some point. 
 
13 Sum up your show in three words
Hilarious, poignant, unmissable. 

Abi Robert's comedy show, Anglichanka, is on at the Edinburgh Festival from August 3-13 and 15-27 at Underbelly, Cowgate (Venue 61) .

For more details, please visit https://tickets.edfringe.com/