Quick Quiz – Richard Herring

Richard Herring

ED2012 QUICK QUIZ: Fresh from his much acclaimed stint as a Guest Editor at ThreeWeeks last August (OK, there was much acclaim for his 2011 show too), Richard Herring celebrates his 25th Fringe with a rework of one of his most popular Edinburgh shows to date, ‘Talking Cock’, plus his now traditional Fringe Podcast. But first, some quick quizzing.

TW: Tell us about your 2012 show in no more than 60 words.

RH: It’s an examination of man and his manhood and a window into the secret insecure world of masculinity. It’s like a ‘Vagina Monologues’ with balls. I saw a gap in the market and couldn’t resist the male urge to fill it.

TW: Tell us about another show or performer you’re looking forward to seeing this year.

RH: I loved Nina Conti’s documentary on BBC4 recently, and she’s taking ventriloquism into some dark and theatrical places (at Pleasance Dome). But she’s really fucking funny too. Amazing stuff.

TW: How will you be preparing for the Fringe this year?

RH: By doing a show every night throughout most of June and all of July, chucking out the bits that don’t work and trying to come up with some funny stuff to replace them.

TW: What advice would you have for someone coming to the Fringe for the first time?

RH: Have no expectations, except that you will lose money and get no reviews. Just try to enjoy it. It takes years to be a great comedian and it should take years. Don’t try to be discovered before you’re ready. Being discovered early is the worst thing that can happen to you. Go and see stuff. Be inspired and try and improve your own show every day. However good you think you are and however good you actually are, you will be better and only by making every gig a step forwards.

TW: If your show was an Olympic sport, what would it be and why?

RH: The spam javelin. If you have to ask why then you don’t want to know.

Richard Herring: Talking Cock – The Second Coming, Underbelly Bristo Square, 1-26th Aug, 8.15pm.