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Ben Norris

Seven Questions With… Ben Norris

May 21, 2016 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment
bennorrisBen Norris has been on the stand up comedy circuit since the early 1990’s and has compiled an impressive back-catalogue of writing and television credits over the years. With a somewhat more light-hearted style of comedy than his stern demeanour may suggest this comedian is effortlessly able to incorporate sinister elements into more topical and accessible material.
To learn more about Ben, I asked him these seven questions…

1) What is the weirdest thing about your life?

It might be that I have three children who were all born on the same day 10 years ago.

2) Do you like to plan ahead?

Planning ahead is part and parcel of being a comedian. We are booking gigs into our diaries 8, 9, 10 months ahead of time. I’m always booking cheaper train tickets in the same manner. Having said that I often don’t think beyond the next few days or even look at the following weekend in my diary until it comes up.

3) What is your least favourite kind of audience?

Judgemental, entitled, drunk and stupid… that was a tough night.

4) Is everyone a conformist?

I think most people are. Sadly conformity is hugely popular. I, on the other hand, am a free thinking radical… with a wife, three kids and a mortgage.

5) Do you have many unpopular opinions?

I think animals have rights and ought not to be factory farmed and eaten. It appears that’s an opinion not shared by the majority. (Of people that is, I reckon animals would be in total agreement.)

6) Is the comedy industry over-populated?

It’s a meritocracy so it’s hugely over-populated at the bottom end but that only serves to keep the quality up further up the pecking order I guess.

7) Are you young or old at heart?

I’m 48.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT BEN NORRIS’ WEBSITE

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Posted in: Comedians, Seven Questions With... Tagged: Ben Norris, British Comedy, Comedy, Interview, Seven Questions With

Review: Bramall Comedy Night, Andrew Ryan, Ben Norris & Romesh Ranganathan

February 17, 2015 by Becca Moody 1 Comment

Last week saw the fourth instalment of the University of Birmingham’s ever-growing comedy night with a stellar line up consisting of Andrew Ryan, Ben Norris and Romesh Ranganathan. This month undoubtedly saw the biggest crowd so far which was very nice to see.

Irish comic Andrew Ryan compèred the evening and he was one of the best I’d ever seen fill this difficult role, with unwavering energy and and effortless charm. In a way that reminded me of Jason Byrne (no, not just because he’s Irish), Andrew is very skilled at developing a unique set based on the audience on the night, from what I saw. A fifteen year old on the front row received most of the comedian’s conversation as he was so young, which was a near miss for me, being seventeen and on the front row myself!

Ben Norris was next, walking on with a stern face and surprising us all with his lighthearted style of comedy; I don’t think many people were expecting him to be so lovely, but he really was. With hilarious personal anecdotes broken up by a few fantastic one-liners, Norris presented a perfect blend of the topical and silly, with the dark and twisted. I laughed all the way through his set, particularly because his observations of aspects of politics and religion were spot on, and would definitely pay to see him again soon.

Romesh Ranganathan

The last act of the night was one of my favourite stand up comedians, Romesh Ranganathan, and I was delighted to finally be able to see him live. Talking about his kids, one of whom is an “unacceptable human being”, Romesh’s comedy has something for people of all ages (he’d probably be horrified to hear that I am one of five girls, when he thinks three boys is ridiculous). His material is very specific to him, covering the things he has experience of such as parenthood, teaching, veganism and dealing with racism, all tied together with his trademark passive aggression and sarcasm.

It was a pleasure to finally see Rom in person and I will definitely be following what Andrew and Ben are up to from now on (and of course attending next month’s comedy night at the Bramall).

BRAMALL COMEDY NIGHT: JANUARY 2015

Posted in: Comedians, Live Comedy, Reviews Tagged: Andrew Ryan, Ben Norris, Comedy, Live Comedy, Romesh Ranganathan

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