Michael Stranney’s debut Edinburgh Fringe show ‘Welcome To Ballybeg’ will be at the Pleasance Courtyard – Below for the month of August.
1 Tell us about your Fringe show
It's a spoof tourist board presentation for the fictional northern Irish village of Ballybeg. I talk about the surreal characters and places in the village and the things to do there. It's all quite silly, there's video clips, some dancing and even a raffle! (Disclaimer; you can't keep the raffle prizes and you probably wouldn't want to anyway..but still, great fun)
2 How does it feel to be playing the Fringe for the first time?
Exciting and nerve racking in equal measure. Like going to bed without brushing your teeth.
3 Best live act you’ve seen at a Fringe?
John Kearns. Everytime. I could watch him all day.
4 Best thing about the Fringe?
The sheer amount of shows to see.
5 Worst thing about the Fringe?
The sheer amount of performers to avoid.
6 If you were not a performer what would you be doing?
Probably a professional Q and A answerer.
7 How do you combat pre-gig nerves?
I go on Google maps, find where I'm gigging and zoom in until I can see street view. Then I zoom as far as I can and remind myself that there's over 7 billion people in the world who couldn't give a shit how this goes tonight. It's not that important.
8 Worst on stage experience?
I've had plenty of gigs where people have walked out, or called me various things, but I had one where I shook this guy's hand on the front row, and he wouldn't let go. It was pretty painful, emotionally and physically.
9 What do you love about Scotland?
The accent, the smell of whiskey, and how everything has that old weather beaten appearance. Basically everything I look for in a woman
10 What do you like about Edinburgh?
I like all the hills and the big steep steps up hills and the large sloped hills, and the fact everything is so hilly and to get anywhere you have to walk up massive hills
11 What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve ever done?
I once fed Haggis to a sheep, whilst playing the theme tune to Braveheart on the bagpipes.
12 Favourite Scottish food/drink?
Deep fried Irn Bru
13 Sum up your show in three words
Silly light-hearted fun (technically 4 words, but I used a hyphen so deal with it)
Michael Stranney’s (@mstranney) debut Edinburgh Fringe show ‘Welcome To Ballybeg’ will be at the Pleasance Courtyard – Below for the month of August for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
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