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Edinburgh Preview: Patrick Monahan – The Disco Years

August 30, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

patrickmonaghanPatrick Monahan has an energy that could wake the dead. In a last minute preview before the Edinburgh Festival (which was, at the time, imminent), the Irish-Iranian-Geordie comic was adding the final flourishes to his latest stand up hour, working on cementing the overall structure of the show, yet he bounded on stage with the confidence of a man that new the next sixty minutes were to go swimmingly, regardless of how far progressed his material was in that moment.

A show that begins with several minutes of vigorous seventies style dancing from the older members of our Birmingham audience is not the way I expected Patrick to get the ball rolling, but comedy is all about new experiences, and we were clearly there to learn. The hour (and the rest) itself is a personal and honest account of the comedian’s experiences as a young boy growing up in Iran in the 1970s, with heavy influences from the world of dance, of course, as this appears to be Patrick’s speciality.

I was born in the late 1990s and it’s fair to say that I know very little of what went on in the 70s (or even the 80s and 90s for that matter) other than the obvious pop culture stereotypes and a brief understanding of international tensions at the time. Diverse, to say the least. But not only were us younger audience members (or “the children” as we were referred to) able to learn a little more about what living in the 1970s was like for many, we were also invited to be a part of the discussion, which resulted in many laughs and a unified feel in the room. Forgetting, possibly, that the house lights were up for the entirety of the show, Monahan nurtured and maintained a friendly, sociable atmosphere. Even if that meant unknowingly encroaching on regional banter with innocent questions like “which is nicer, Worcester or Wolverhampton?”.

Patrick Monahan is a truly charming comic who exhibits great care for his audiences as well as for the quality of his craft, making his show one of the most enjoyable and uplifting experiences to be had at the Fringe.

Patrick Monahan is currently performing his show The Disco Years at the Edinburgh Festival.

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH… PATRICK MONAHAN

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Posted in: Comedians, Edinburgh, Live Comedy, Previews, Reviews Tagged: British Comedy, Comedy, Patrick Monahan, The Disco Years

Seven Questions With… The Jest

August 28, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment
The Jest are a comedy sketch group made up of Ella Ainsworth, Tristan Rogers, Jack Stanley, Luke Theobald and Bryony Twydle, a group of University of Exeter graduates who originally began performing as part of nine-person sketch group Simply The Jest. The group are renowned for expertly combining humour with elements of horror and disgust and this has seen them get to the final of the New Acts of the Year Award earlier this year. The Jest are performing their show The Five Humours at the Edinburgh Festival.
To learn more about the group, I asked them these seven questions…

1) How has The Jest evolved over the years?

Well, for starters, when we were starting out we were part of a nine-person comedy group, which meant over an hour show, everyone got 6.6666667 minutes of stage time each. It was a lot of fun to be part of but splitting up material equally was, unsurprisingly, a bit of a challenge. A couple of years back we formed a five-person group and our comedy has grown increasingly surreal ever since. Last year, we probably wouldn’t have considered ending our show with an audience member helping a man give birth to a pig on stage. But it’s easy to say a lot of things with hindsight. 

2) Indoors or outdoors?

When you’re on a roll with your writing/have to write regardless of whether you’re on a roll or not, choose indoors. Then when that gets too much, you’ve gone mad and you’re banging random keys on a laptop in the hope a sketch appears on the screen, switch to outdoors. Repeat for 12 months until you have something resembling an Edinburgh show.

© Camilo Queipo

© Camilo Queipo

3) Why sketch comedy?

Sketch comedy is all about teamwork and we love working as a team or, failing that, being on stage all at the same time. It’s also the form of comedy we loved growing up. The League of Gentlemen, French and Saunders, The Fast Show… As a child, you sit there thinking I could do that and before you know it, you’re in a leaking portakabin in Cowgate having a crack at it and telling yourself that this is how everyone starts off… right?

4) Is popularity vacuous?

No because we’re all incredibly popular so to say that the very idea of popularity is somehow meaningless, empty and a clear cover for major insecurities about careers in a risky industry is obviously inaccurate and wildly off the mark.

5) If you could add anyone to the sketch group, which one person would you choose?

Well one of our group members does a very impressive Maggie Smith impression which we use in the show and is regularly referred back to so it would be so brilliant if in the last sketch of the show he comes on and starts doing the impression when who should come join him on stage but none other than Juliette Binoche because she’s a great actress.

6) Opinions on The Great British Bake Off?

Only two of us have seen it owing to generally dreadful wi-fi in our Edinburgh flat. Thoughts from Jack are: ‘That lion bread face in episode 3 was impressive wasn’t it?’ while Ella’s are: ‘Why the hell isn’t iPlayer loading?’.

7) How did you do it?

In public, on stage, at 10.45pm every night unless we let extra people in last minute (wahey). Honestly though, we’re not sure how we do it. We get by on essentials mostly. Say a Kit Kat Orange for Tristan, a bowl of quinoa and courgette for Bryony, a breath mint for Jack, chorizoed egg on toast for Ella and a flat coke with fag ash floating on the surface for Luke… It’s little luxuries like that which really do make the difference.

THE JEST ARE PERFORMING ‘THE FIVE HUMOURS’ AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Posted in: Comedians, Seven Questions With... Tagged: British Comedy, Comedy, Interview, Seven Questions With, The Jest

Seven Questions With… That Pair

August 25, 2015 by Becca Moody 1 Comment
That Pair are a comedy sketch duo made up of long-lasting friends Kat Bond and Lorna Shaw. They are silly and upbeat, contrasting and complimenting their humour with more serious themes such as financial issues and the effects of gender stereotyping. As well as being featured on Radio 4’s Sketchorama, they reached the final of the Funny Women Awards in 2012 and have since been receiving great critical acclaim for their 2013 show Never Liked Her Anyway. That Pair are currently performing their latest show Letting It Go at the Edinburgh Festival.
I asked That Pair these seven questions to learn a little more about them…

1) Do you feel that life is too serious?

KB: I take life too seriously. She (life) is always trying to be chilled but I wont let her.

LS: Are you serious? You’re seriously asking me that? Get serious! Life ain’t silly enough. I think we should all remind ourselves daily that everything in this world is made up and most of it is ridiculous. So break the rules, lighten up and enjoy the ride.

2) What gets you up in the morning?

KB: Hunger.

LS: Not my alarm. I would snooze forever. The lure of a good cup of coffee usually works.

© Rosie Collins

© Rosie Collins

3) Which dessert is the king of all desserts?

KB: I love sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice-cream. Makes me less serious.

LS: Banoffee pie. Tiramisu is my Queen and New York Cheesecake my Prince.

4) Are you helpful?

KB: I try to be but often get in the way

LS: When asked I will always help if I can. I don’t like to impose offers of help for fear of offending or being told to go away. Ouch.

5) Why do you choose to perform as characters?

KB: To escape. Just kidding. No, I’m not actually, to escape.

LS: My characters are generally funnier than me… and better looking.

© Rosie Collins

© Rosie Collins

6) Do you like to plan ahead?

KB: I like to the plan the past. Ignore the future and eat through the present.

LS: No. Planning years in advance scares the hell out of me. But sometimes it has to be done. I like to let things unfold like a rebellious origami swan.

7) What motivates you as a performer?

KB: I love the physical output. The endorphins.

LS: The drug that is laughter. The unifying experience of live performance. Deep eh? Oh and getting to dress up.

THAT PAIR ARE PERFORMING ‘LETTING IT GO’ AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

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Posted in: Comedians, Seven Questions With... Tagged: British Comedy, Comedy, Interview, Kat Bond, Lorna Shaw, Seven Questions With, That Pair

Jonny Awsum: Everything Is Awsum, Edinburgh Preview

August 22, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Jonny AwsumThere’s something inspiring about attending a comedy show, which you have no prior information about other than a name, and discovering something quite remarkable. Witnessing a preview of Jonny Awsum’s second musical stand up show (at the MAC in Birmingham, of course) was certainly a unique experience, with the comic bringing boxes of mysterious objects on stage which were to be used throughout the hour, starting with three audience members on the front row who were supplied with plastic silver trumpets.

It is really no surprise that a large portion of his comedy work is in the form of being the ‘warm-up guy,’ or Hype Man as it is apparently called, for the energy Jonny managed to summon from a mixed-aged Thursday night crowd in Birmingham was admirable. One reason for the sustained high-octane feel of the show was that the audience as a whole were called to action regularly, whether that be to cheer performers on in their harmonica solos, shout back obscenities, or simply hum along to songs. Just because some of us weren’t picked on, it doesn’t mean that we weren’t a crucial part of the show.

The most applaudable aspect of Jonny Awsum’s performance was that no audience member was ever the butt of the joke, which made for unexpectedly enjoyable audience participation. Jonny enabled us to create something fantastic as a group and it unified us all as one; I chatted to people I’d never have mixed with in my daily life due to age and general background and that is a testament to this comedian’s positive attitude and the uplifting nature of his show as a whole.

Jonny Awsum’s latest musical extravaganza is magnificent: exciting and skilfully crafted. It seemed as though he didn’t even need to be doing previews at this point in late July, but the crowd were certainly pleased that he was. Musical, interactive comedy is not my preferred style of entertainment, but this show made it felt like it could be.

Jonny Awsum is currently performing his show Everything Is Awsum at the Edinburgh Festival.

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Posted in: Comedians, Edinburgh, Live Comedy, Previews, Reviews Tagged: British Comedy, Comedy, Edinburgh Preview, Everything Is Awsum, Jonny Awsum, Live Comedy

Sell This Gig Out, An Edinburgh Initiative

August 18, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

It’s common knowledge that being a stand up comedian is hard work. The travelling is arduous and lonely; there is often a loss to be made once all the costs are detracted from any money gained from ticket sales. The Edinburgh Festival is probably the most strenuous time of year for a working comic. Performers from across the globe travel up to Scotland for a month of entertaining, spectating and living out of suitcases.

michaellegge

Michael Legge: ‘Tell It Like It Is, Steve’

Having worked on their new shows for the past however many months and performing them nearly every single day of the festival, there are plenty of comedians who live with a constant anxiety that nobody will even turn up to see them. Comedy is a volatile art form, and while this is what makes it so exciting, it is also what makes it a risky thing to dedicate your life, love and money to, as a performer. Comedy is a labour of love and those who pour the most into their art are sure to be the ones who can bask in the most future success or personal triumph. But, as you can see, it must take its toll, and a helping hand from a friend is sometimes the perfect way to lift the spirits, or, in this case, the ticket sales. This is where Michael Legge and his army of comedy folk come in.

Sell This Gig Out is Michael Legge’s initiative, which he has been utilising in recent years to allow groups of comics and comedy fans to promote shows through various social networking platforms. The idea is simple enough: Legge has summoned together a network of people who are willing to help each other, and, of course, who would be grateful for any help they may too receive. The group have been focussing on one comedian’s show per day so far but are also constantly recommending other shows to attend as well as attending them themselves, beginning as they mean to go on, by completely selling out Angela Barnes’ first show of the run.

@michaellegge I’ve just bought the last @AngelaBarnes ticket for tonight #LetsSellThisGigOut

— Nigel Metheringham (@nmeth) August 5, 2015

Here we have a prime example of the wonderful camaraderie shown by so many of our most loved stand up comedians, and I, for one, find it incredibly uplifting.

If you want to recommend a show or have a show recommended to you, feel free to join the Facebook group and get to work using the hashtag #LetsSellThisGigOut.

Posted in: Comedians, Edinburgh, News Tagged: British Comedy, Comedy, Edinburgh Festival, Michael Legge

Seven Questions With… Iliza Shlesinger

August 14, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

© Robyn Van Swank

Iliza Shlesinger is an American stand up comedian who is making her UK debut this month as she brings her show Freezing Hot to the Soho Theatre. Shlesinger is a sharp and powerful force in the world of stand up comedy, particularly as a result of her damning observations regarding gender stereotypes and admirable onstage fearlessness, ensuring that she will make waves on the British comedy scene.
I asked Iliza these seven questions…

1) What inspired Freezing Hot?

I was extremely motivated to put out a sophomore comedy special that blew the first one, War Paint, out of the water. I wanted Freezing Hot to serve as not just a piece where I made observations, but where I took those observations and dove deeper, offering explanations for behaviours, not just making fun of them. I really wanted to offer some insight to the way girls think and feel, I wanted to make some statements and be mindful and, dare I say, even intelligent about what I was saying. So many comics, male and female, go for shock or think just by being crass then that’s enough, but there’s not love behind the jokes, no personalisation. Every scenario I talked about I lived through, physically or in my own head, the thoughts are all uniquely my own- I love Party Goblin and I wanted to share her with the world. My inspiration was just to share in the most authentic way possible and expose my brain, heart and soul to the masses… and also a little bit of side boob.

2) What motivates you to work hard?

The fear of failure. Not by anyone’s measure other than my own. I just want to be heard on the biggest stage possible, whatever that ends up being. The fear of going unheard or unexpressed saddens me. I’m not good at much- math, sports, decorating- but I am good at being funny and I think to waste the talent I have by settling for anything less than I know I’m capable of would be a shame. This rule should apply to anyone; unfortunately, most people are feckless and convince themselves that their goals aren’t worth the effort. Also, somewhere weird in my head, I think if I make enough money I can turn my long haired dachshund into a tiny hair covered person and I can send her to private school.

3) Have you met your comedy idol?

I have a few, some I’ve met, some I haven’t. I was going to do a deal with Will Ferrell’s company, I would have met him, he is amazing. I saw Adam Sandler from across The Comedy Store once, and I teared up. I love Billy Crystal- I’m sure meeting him is in my future, I tweet him enough. I sat at a table next to Tina Fey at an AFI event… So that’s something. I’ll never get to meet Chris Farley, sadly. I’ve met others who I looked up to as a kid but… a lot of comedy stars burn bright and in person aren’t that funny, which is sad. I often wonder if it’s better to never meet your idols. Also my dad is hilarious, I’ve met him a few times.

4) Do you have any nicknames?

In high school we did a play and my character was named Bernice. So like, 3 people in the world call me Bernice. Aside from that, my close friends all call me Mew and I call them Mew, it’s a term of endearment. Oh, sometimes random dudes will call me “super hot” but that’s less of a pet name and more of a superlative… Also ridiculous.

5) Do you enjoy musicals?

Yeah, I guess I do? Always loved Guys and Dolls… Am I missing something with this question?

6) Who is the most inspiring person you know?

I’m supposed to say my mom, right? Isn’t that what everyone says? I don’t get inspired by people, I get inspired by situations and potential outcomes. That being said, my cousin has Cystic Fibrosis and I’ve always enjoyed watching how much she loves life and lives hers, seemingly, unfettered by her illness. Watching someone who has been dealt an unfair hand be happy is always inspiring.

7) What is your biggest complaint about modern life?

© Robyn Van Swank

Oh God, where do I start. Too many people have access to broadcasting tools- every idiot who was ever told they did a good job thinks they should be famous and they have a podcast or a web show- it saturates the market, there should be a comedic aptitude test you have to take before you’re allowed to make an account for anything from Twitter to Youtube to Periscope. We should have a boot camp that breaks people down to see how much they really want it, then again, I guess that’s sort of what Hollywood does. I hate passwords. I think it’s insane that I should have to remember so many AND if and when I do forget, I’m never able to simply “find out” your password, no, I have to reset it. I can never use old familiar passwords so all of a sudden I find myself straying into weird parts of my brain in an exasperated effort to create a new password that first the security criteria like PANCETTAcatFART##1492 and that’s insane to remember because those words mean nothing to me, on a personal note. Can we please hurry up and have retinal scans on our phones already?

ILIZA SHLESINGER BRINGS HER SHOW ‘FREEZING HOT’ TO THE SOHO THEATRE FROM 17-29TH AUGUST

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Posted in: Comedians, Seven Questions With... Tagged: American Comedy, Comedy, Iliza Shlesinger, Interview, Seven Questions With

Edinburgh Preview: Gavin Webster – The Sexist’s Sexist

August 11, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

2015GAVINWE-SU-300Gavin Webster is a comedian I have very much looked forward to seeing in the flesh, having made him my Comedian Of The Month last August. I finally managed to catch a preview of this high-energy Geordie comic’s latest show The Sexist’s Sexist at the MAC in Birmingham.

Gavin begins with his tried and tested material; clearly the comic’s safety net of top-quality, trustworthy gags. From the early stages of the show, Webster showed an obvious competency, coming across as a man who gets the job done and gets it done well. He exudes natural charm and a genuine warmth, which came across progressively strongly as the hour passed by and references to friends and family were made, such as his late dad’s blunt life advice, which was a profound moment to say the least.

The Sexist’s Sexist is not what it may first appear from studying the poster or name alone: it is a well-crafted, personal hour which showcases Webster’s story-telling skills and admirable casual confidence. Talking of his delight at being crowned Comedian’s Comedian on Christmas Eve last year, Gavin demonstrated to us all why he received the award in the first place; not only is he a lovely guy but he also clearly understands his creative responsibilities as a stand up. He expertly toes the line between comfort and danger, teasing us with elements of the two.

Gavin Webster’s latest show is a satisfying blend of home comforts and absurdist anecdotes, making him one to watch at this year’s Edinburgh Festival.

Gavin Webster is currently performing his show The Sexist’s Sexist at the Edinburgh Festival.

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH… GAVIN WEBSTER

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Posted in: Comedians, Edinburgh, Live Comedy, Previews, Reviews Tagged: British Comedy, Comedy, Edinburgh Preview, Gavin Webster, Live Comedy, The Sexist's Sexist

A Guide To Edinburgh 2015

August 7, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment
That time of year is upon us once more; thousands of performers, reviewers and audience members are preparing to visit the holy grail of comedy that is the Edinburgh Festival. Here is a quick run through of everything MoodyComedy would be attending if only I could get there this year. Do get in touch if you attend any of these shows, or see something else that you think should be featured. You can also catch up with the past week’s exclusive MoodyComedy interviews.

Stuff That’s Gold

2015KATHERI_SV

Katherine Ryan

Katherine Ryan is performing her latest show, Kathbum, currently riding high on her phenomenal rise to fame in recent years and showing no signs of stopping any time soon. With every new show, Katherine only increases in her wisdom, experience and cutting sass, similar to that of Irish charmer Aisling Bea who brings her second show, Plan Bea, to the festival. Another name to watch out for is that of Luisa Omielan, who will perform a very limited run of her second show Am I Right Ladies?!. Omielan is a performer that cares about her audience to an extent I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed before: her show is empowering, lively and not to be missed.

James Acaster presents another whacky hour of surreal yet surprisingly dramatic story-telling stand up in his show Represent and Joe Lycett returns, with possibly the best show title of the year: That’s The Way, A-Ha A-Ha, Joe Lycett. And it would frankly be a mistake to miss out on seeing Bridget Christie‘s latest show, A Book For Her, which sees the launch of her debut novel, and showcases her trademark blend of feminism and spectacular comedy.

Stuff That’s Odd

Tony Law, the king of surreal comedy, is performing his new show Frillemorphesis where he explores ideas such as shouting, moving and talking, absolutely standard. A live show from the Tone Zone is an opportunity not to be missed, or forgotten in a hurry, and his being in this category is by no means a suggestion that this show will not also be Gold.

Shouty extraordinaire Bobby Mair brings another dark and bitterly funny show off the back of his recent television successes, entitled Filthy Immigrant; Tom Allen performs Both Worlds with his signature sinister calm and endearing flamboyance and Harriet Kemsley, who spent the first part of this year supporting Katherine Ryan on tour, also performs her debut hour, Puppy Fat, which has got the critics excited. If you like a bit of audience interaction, Jonny Awsum’s show Everything Is Awsum will be another unforgettable experience, as will Patrick Monahan’s seventies-inspired show The Disco Years.

Stuff That’s Free

Now any Edinburgh Festival-goer will be able to tell you that ticket price does not necessarily dictate quality; free shows are on the rise as they are a great way of ensuring the trip is more affordable for comedians and fans alike. There are some real gems performing shows this year that rely on kind donations alone.

lou

Lou Sanders

Rob Auton has prepared another delightfully off-kilter, poetical concept show entitled The Water Show where he considers everything surrounding the theme of water, much like his previous shows which have centred around themes such as Yellow, Sky and Face. Elf Lyons‘ Being Barbarella is a high-octane adventure, discussing science fiction, liberation and sharks. This lady is a true one-off, who’s surreal form of comedy is often likened to The Mighty Boosh. And Lou Sanders, being the wonderful shambles of a performer that she is, brings her insane show about her efforts to get accepted into Eton College For Boys, of course entitled: Excuse Me, You’re Sitting On My Penis Again.

Stuart Goldsmith will also be recording episodes of The Comedian’s Comedian Podcast where he interviews everyone that is anyone in the world of comedy, delving deep into the psyche of the performer and having many laughs in the process. The line up for this year is stellar and although the recordings are free to attend and non-ticketed, the venue will undoubtedly fill up quickly on the night so plan ahead.

You can purchase tickets for all shows mentioned on the Edinburgh Festival website.

READ EDINBURGH PREVIEWS HERE

Posted in: Comedians, Edinburgh, News Tagged: Aisling Bea, Bobby Mair, Bridget Christie, Edinburgh Festival, Elf Lyons, Harriet Kemsley, James Acaster, Joe Lycett, Jonny Awsum, Katherine Ryan, Lou Sanders, Luisa Omielan, Patrick Monahan, Rob Auton, Stuart Goldsmith, Tom Allen, Tony Law

Seven Questions With… Ari Shaffir

August 6, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment
Ari Shaffir is an American stand up comedian whose face you may recognise from recent appearances on Comedy Central as well as being the host of one of the top-rated podcasts on iTunes, the interview-style show The Skeptic Tank. This year’s Edinburgh Festival sees Shaffir bring his storytelling TV series This Is Not Happening to the stage, accompanied by various other comics as they share anecdotes from their personal lives with a live audience.
To learn more about the man behind the comedy, I asked Ari these seven questions…

1) Do you enjoy the great outdoors?

Dude! I love it. All I look forward to in the summer is getting mushrooms and going to Joshua Tree. Or getting mushrooms and going to Sequoia National Park. Or getting mushrooms and walking around the city, but I guess that’s not really the great outdoors. The point is, yes, I love being in nature. People and their creations are overwhelming. I like being away from as many of them as possible. When I leave comedy, it’ll either be to commit suicide or to get on a boat and just sail out until I never see anyone again.

2) Which comedians are you influenced by?Screen Shot 2015-08-02 at 20.51.19

Burr, Bobby Lee, Kinison, Brody Stevens, some dead guys, the Simpsons, Joey Diaz. I guess I’m influenced by almost every comedian I’ve seen. I like seeing different techniques, different paths to get at a problem, different styles. I can take from anything. I like arm movements and pauses. If I see somebody nailing it with a technique I’ve never used, of course that’s gonna influence the way I go at ideas.

3) Books or e-books?

Books. But probably neither. I’ve read like, 3 books in the last 15 years. I read a shitload all through university, but then I stopped cold as soon as I got out. E-books seem like a great way to have your book with you, but it seems lame for some reason. It’s probably not justified. I have the same problem with dating websites. I remember the time when online dating was for losers and mutants. But that time is done. And yet, I’m still stuck thinking it’s a problem. I gotta get over my younger self.

4) How would your friends describe you?

They’d describe me as a fun dick maybe. I don’t know. I don’t even want to think about this. I don’t know how they’d describe me. They’re my friends. They’re idiots. They’d probably describe me as tall and bearded. 

5) Is your stage persona the same as your own personality?

My stage persona is almost identical to my personality. The only difference might be that I feel freer sharing embarrassing details in front of a crowd than I do in front of a couple people. But I’m coming to things from the same place on stage or off.

6) Do you ever feel like you’re too honest?

I feel like I’m very honest compared to most people. For sure. But, no. I don’t feel too honest. It’s gotten me in trouble before. Plenty of times. But I still don’t think I’m too honest. I rather think most other people are not honest enough. If everyone was open about who they are, we wouldn’t really be judging each other so harshly. Just be who you are and don’t worry about what people are going to say. They don’t matter. So that’s what I do usually.

7) What are you waiting for?

I’m waiting for this new special to be done so I can stop touring for a while. I’m waiting for the US revolution to start moving a little faster, I’m waiting for South Park to come back on. I’m waiting for a hot girl who’s also genuinely interesting and not self-absorbed. The revolution should be here first.

ARI SHAFFIR BRINGS ‘THIS IS NOT HAPPENING’ TO THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Posted in: Comedians, Edinburgh, Seven Questions With... Tagged: American Comedy, Ari Shaffir, Comedy, Interview, Seven Questions With

Seven Questions With… Stuart Laws

August 5, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment
stuartlawsStuart Laws is a stand up comedian currently embarking on his third solo hour, entitled Who Said Anything About Stopping It?, at this year’s Edinburgh Festival. Having supported James Acaster on his UK tour throughout 2013 and 2014 as well as having directed multiple films and worked with big names such as Julia Davis and Robert Lindsay, Laws really is an interesting artist, who’s name, I’m sure, will soon be hard to ignore.
To learn more about Stuart, I asked him these seven questions…

1) Are you easily pleased?

What a great question! Thank you so much for asking it, incredibly kind of you.

2) Are you any good at doing accents?

Oh aye, absolutely I am (Scottish). To be sure, to be sure (Welsh). What a lovely potato (Cockney). Yum, yum, I love onions and baguettes and garlic (My Mum). Pop a couple of chimps on Bar-B. (Australian animal themed pub owner). Guten tag, wie geht’s dir? Ich habe eine grosse meerschweinchen mit Mayo (Bermudan who learnt German).

3) Do you ever feel like time moves too fast?

Terminator was released in 1984. So was I. There have been four sequels to the Terminator and none to me. So I think what I mean is: yes, but I manage to not fall into molten metal, so perhaps I move slowly through time.

4) Do you envy any other comedians?

I’ve ended up wearing a gilet on stage, as standard now. I’m envious of anyone who gets to wear an item of clothing that isn’t designed to keep them extremely warm. Envious of Sean McLoughlin because he has the courage to say that he hates Studio 60 on The Sunset Strip. Otherwise, no, not really, just really admire a lot of them for being really great at what they do: Acaster, Helm, Kemsley, Sanders, Wang, Pacquola, Long, Hodgson, Kearns, Cahill, Stephenson, Daykins.

5) What is your favourite item of clothing?

Invest in socks. If you have the option of a luxury purchase then prioritise new socks. Makes a huge difference.

6) Who is your favourite serial killer?

David Griffin (Keanu Reeves in The Watcher). Keanu didn’t want to do the film but was forced to after a friend forged his signature on the contract. So that makes David Griffin the most unwilling and weak-willed serial killer in history. To be that unskilled and to still qualify is pretty impressive.

7) Is comedy that offends people important?

Yeah, probably. From the point of view that never will the world achieve harmony of opinion so offence means that someone had the freedom to express a thought deemed repulsive. And really, thinking about it: freedom is more important than harmony of opinion. But it would be nice if less people had really shit opinions, but banning and marginalising those opinions won’t create less shit opinions. For example: people who like Lost In Translation. I won’t ban them, but I won’t trust them. Did I answer the question? I think my position on offensive comedy is most probably summed up in my choice of serial killer.

STUART LAWS WILL BE PERFORMING HIS LATEST SHOW ‘WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT STOPPING IT?’ AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FROM 8TH-15TH AUGUST

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Posted in: Comedians, Edinburgh, Seven Questions With... Tagged: British Comedy, Comedy, Interview, Seven Questions With, Stuart Laws
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