Aaron Twitchen on the best and worst of the Fringe

Aaron Twitchen is at the Edinburgh Fringe with his stand-up show Himbo, which is on at Gilded Balloon Patter House at 7pm. Here he shares what he can't get enough of at the festival, his most embarrassing Edinburgh experience and the worst thing about the Fringe. Apart from the cost of accommodation, obviously…

Edinburgh binge

Haggis. 

I’ve absolutely no idea what is in it (and don’t want to know) but it tastes delicious. It so accessible in Edinburgh, I could (but shouldn’t) eat it for every meal.

Breakfast hangover: sort with a bap bursting in eggs, bacon and haggis from Snax Cafe

Sit down lunch to rest your feet: Haggis, neeps and tatties from Worlds End. 

Late dinner post-gig: Battered haggis and chips from the takeout on York Place. 

If that’s still not enough you can even get pasties with it in as late afternoon snacks (yes, I plan my days around food)

Edinburgh cringe

I once ran a Christmas-themed improv show through the whole of August. 

At the time, I genuinely thought it was genius. People love Christmas, right? Plus, the Christmas episodes of every TV show had the big, memorable, emotional, moments: perfect for an improv show. 

We thought Edinburgh was the perfect place for it because they have a year-long Christmas shop we could flyer outside. 

We went full in. Instead of flyers we handed out Christmas cards, with a ‘naughty’ and ‘nice’ list of our favourite shows while dressed in festive leggings and jumpers. 

Turns out people are actively horrified when you thrust a Christmas card at them dressed in festive leggings and jumpers. Not only that, it was actually an hot summer (rarity) and Primark wool blend is not particularly breathable in the Scottish sun. 

We ended up with one review that read: ‘Audiences trade their suggestions and dignity for lollipops’ which felt horrific at the time but, on reflection, sounds like a good time. 

Edinburgh whinge

The lack of green room space. I get that space is a premium and buildings want to maximise every hall, cupboard and washing machine into a micro-venue but it is not the glamour you believe showbusiness to be from the outside. 

The Fringe is really challenging on you emotionally and I think a contributor to that is rarely having the space - away from crowds and people - to reset. Building calm into your routine is the only way to protect yourself and allow you to be funny and reactive on stage. Having a small space to do that before a show should be essential.

When I am mayor of Edinburgh (if they have a mayor), I will mandate one shared green room in every venue where we artists can change our clothes, wash their pits and become presentable for the paying audience. 

I just think audiences deserve more than a sweaty comedian forced to change in a disabled cubicle, with a fringe plastered to their forehead, and one wet foot because they stepped in the toilet while changing their shoes.

Published: 1 Aug 2024