Fringe Q&A: Rhys Nicholson on making his Conan debut and returning to Edinburgh

Following a recent sold-out run at Melbourne International Comedy Festival in his homeland of Australia, Rhys Nicholson returns to Edinburgh with new show Nice People Nice Things Nice Situations.

The 29-year-old reckons he’s more assured than ever but is still facing the uncertainty of adulthood and everything he hasn’t quite got round to figuring out yet.

But first, he answers our Fringe Q&A…

How are you feeling about returning to the Fringe in 2019 for another year?

I’m actually pretty excited this year. I really like my show. I’ve already toured it around Australia and New Zealand which usually means I’m absolutely dead behind the eyes by the time I come here, but this year I’m having a great time.

What is your new show all about?

It’s all about 58 minutes.

How did you first get into stand-up comedy?

There was quite literally nothing else I could do I think? The only other industry I could work in where I get to dress up and talk in front of crowds is the clergy and there were a couple roadblocks down that road.

How does the comedy scene differ here to Australia?

We have better air conditioning but more racists.

You recently appeared on Conan in the US – what was that experience like?

Oh it was the greatest. He is the nicest person in show business. He’s also famous enough and has been around for long enough that it wouldn’t have surprised me if he were a nightmare. He’s a good man. Very, very tall.

If you had to pick one item that’s essential for surviving a month at the Fringe, what would that be?

An envelope with £8000 in it.

The Edinburgh Fringe can throw up some surprises – what is the strangest moment you can remember from the festival?

I found out a couple years ago that a young drunk couple had been caught heavy petting at the back of my show. Something about my jokes about mental illness clearly got them in the mood. Good on them.