2014 Edinburgh Fringe

Pig amongst distractions at first Fringe shows

Nadia Brooks

The Edinburgh Fringe has officially started, but not everyone's first shows went smoothly. In fact, some people didn't even make their first performance.

Born In The 90s was one stand-up short when we checked that out, due to the comedian in question missing the train by a whole day.

Being a Scottish local doesn't mean you'll get to your show on time though - Obie (aka John O'Brien) didn't make it to his debut performance... when he stepped outside his house in Moodiesburn near Glasgow he was confronted with a Commonwealth Games bike race closing the road off and stopping all the buses. He wrote on his Facebook page: "I'm missing my first day of the Festival because I'm lazy and there are a load of bikes coming through Moodiesburn. It all starts tomorrow instead. Bring it on."

Meanwhile over in Assembly George Square a fire alarm caused the entire building to evacuate. Suzi Ruffell was amongst those performing at the time, however in that case the show did go on. Quick on her feet, Ruffell guided her audience outside to deliver the finale alfresco style, along with some other bystanders.

The best story we've heard though is from Nadia Brooks (pictured), who is performing Lexicon Lady at 10am at the Free Sisters. A pig has momentarily distracted her audience on two separate occasions. It was a dead pig we should add - one destined for that night's hog roast (incidentally you really should sample The Free Sisters' hog roast if you're on Cowgate one evening).

Last night, Nadia explained: "Yesterday, about halfway through the show, a bloke in a hi-vis jacket walked in with a pig over his shoulder and took it into the bar at the back. He then went back out and came in a couple more times with another hi-vis bloke, carrying boxes.

"Today during the show, there seemed to be a delivery or something going on behind the back curtain. The pig delivery men arrived again too - although this time at the end."

It's a particularly harsh 'heckle', given that Brooks is a vegetarian.

She says: "I of course made light of the Phoenix Nights-esque instances - what else can you do? But I don't really want to have to pay the pig men a performance fee if they carry on :) Still, hopefully it means the show will be the pork of the town."

Published: Saturday 2nd August 2014

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