Interview

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Tom Allen

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© Aemen Sukkar

Tom Allen is a fascinating stand up performer who juxtaposes a sinister sense of calm with an effortlessly charming demeanour. With a playful glint in his eye and a playful flamboyance to his delivery, this comedian is incredibly easy for audiences to warm to. You’ve probably seen him on 8 out of 10 Cats and Live at the Apollo already, so catch his latest show at the Pleasance Courtyard throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

I think it’s celebrating everyone’s work and seeing what people have come up with this year. And seeing all the other comics and just generally having a nice time. It should feel like a celebration.

2) What was your first Edinburgh show about?

It was ten years ago and it was about what makes a good story.

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

I’m not sure – I’ve never surveyed them! A lot of really lovely people from all different backgrounds seem to come. I hope there’s something for everyone! Like in Asda. In my portentous moments I like to think comedy is great at finding the common ground and the situations and feelings we all experience so I hope a broad spectrum of people enjoy what I do.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

Oh a dirty sink. But isn’t that everyone’s?

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

Oh blimey! I think it might’ve been doing Live at the Apollo last year. I was nervous about wanting to get it right and then in the end it was just lovely. And my friend Sarah Millican introduced me and my mum and dad were there and I was really pleased with how it went.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

My friend Suzi Ruffell’s show Keeping it Classy at the Pleasance at 9.45. She’s been such a great friend of mine.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

Oh you’re always learning aren’t you? So to keep learning. But my goal is always to give people a good time and so if I do that I’ll be happy!

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

Oh I hope it’s like Elaine Stritch at Liberty. I’d like there to be tap dancing. Beyond that I’m not sure.

BOOK TICKETS FOR TOM ALLEN: ABSOLUTELY, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Dan Antopolski

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© Edward Moore

With a show entitled Return of Dan Antopolski, it might not surprise punters to hear that Dan Antopolski hasn’t been seen at the Edinburgh Festival for a while. In fact, it’s been seven years since Dan’s last show. And seeing as he was once nominated for Best Newcomer and Best Show in the same year, Antopolski’s return to Edinburgh is certainly going to turn a few heads. He is performing at Assembly George Square Studios throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

The race to create a good new show by the start of August is a pressurised thrill. Preview season is hard gigging, the sun is out in July so often you do your unsteady show to the three people and a dog who don’t have the sense to be drinking a beer outside – you know, crazy people – then in August the crowds turn up and there’s a huge injection of energy. What’s good is, the difficult preview gigs create a high water mark – if your Mount Ararats are getting laughs they’re probably strong. Making people laugh is a visceral pleasure but as a writer it’s making new bits work that offers the thrill of the hunt – make me feel like a mayan (man).

2) What was your first Edinburgh show about?

My first solo show was way back in 2000 AD – I recorded dialogue on a C90 and did a kind of double act with my (former) self. My present-self had both the benefit and liability of hearing the audience reactions while my past self was deaf to them. By acknowledging his deafness, he was sort of able to make an honest relationship with the audience and I then left the stage and he did stand-up to them. Sometimes it worked just like a live comedian and sometimes not and on two occasions an audience member pressed stop on the tape recorder – a respectable heckle. Also there were knob gags because I know my duty.

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

I love language so maybe I attract people who can enjoy language. There can be an elegance to writing choices even when you are talking about farts. I would dearly like to repel a certain type of audience, those who come for the beer and stay for the consensus. My needs are simple; all I want is an audience that’s literate, urbane, liberal but not pious, open to ambivalence – and if possible 0.0001% slower than me so I can get the drop on them with my really great jokes about farts. It’s not much to ask. Also if they could like taramasalata. I eat it all the time and am quite unkissable some mornings but it’s strictly a morning thing so you’re fine to sit at the front hahaha I shouldn’t have mentioned it.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

A few years ago I rented a flat from Southside of Nicolson Street – whom I am delighted to name and shame – and gave them a couple of grand. On the day I moved in, the flat stank and the bathroom ceiling had collapsed – great stalactites of plasterboard were hanging down. When they grudgingly sent a cleaner to clean the kitchen I asked her to clean the whole stinky flat and then the agent Natasha Bonello shouted at me on the telephone for “exploiting” the situation. I just checked the Southside website and Natasha is still there – why not pop in and rent something from her while you’re in town?

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

Tim and Polly Mulviel. They come to my shows and sit at the front, I banter with them anew each time. Now that I have committed their faces to memory I treasure that memory.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

Sarah Kendall’s show One-Seventeen at the Assembly George Square Studios at 7pm – her gag-rich but narratively suspenseful storytelling shows are just about my new favourite thing – sorry taramasalata.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

I want my job back. I started stand-up twenty years ago and loved it so much. Then I couldn’t balance it with family and hated it. Now I love it again. My arrogance got squished out of me and I respect the audience’s time – I get why they need coherence in a show.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

If I have medical notice that my death is nigh it would be churlish not to attempt a Bowie-style farewell. Maybe I would actually die on stage – the epitaph writes itself!

BOOK TICKETS FOR DAN ANTOPOLSKI: RETURN OF DAN ANTOPOLSKI, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Abi Roberts

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© Karla Gowlett

Abi Roberts has a fearless approach to comedy. Her latest show, as you will read below, discusses what it was like to live in the USSR during the 90s. Roberts examines Russia’s deeply entrenched homophobia and censorship laws, whilst also showcasing her musical talents. She is performing at the Underbelly, Cowgate throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

The sheer variety of comedy on display, the buzz and the fact I get a chance to play to an audience that I have built up over the last few years with entirely new stuff. I also get to see mates I don’t see much of when you are doing comedy clubs – it tends to be fairly “get in, get the job done, drive home”. I generally arrive in Edinburgh excited to hopefully find somewhere that does decent food. I generally do, but then the Edinburgh Festival lifestyle invariably leads you to the Scottish diet which closely resembles the diet of a comedian on the road… i.e. mostly deep-fried food. I’m also at the Underbelly Cowgate this year so I will be very much loving being at the centre of everything in Edinburgh.

2) What was your first Edinburgh show about?

My first show was cabaret with about ten songs and upteen costume changes in it. My first proper stand up show was in 2015 and it was called DOWNTOWN ABI, about the difference between my background and my personality. ANGLICHANKA (which means “Englishwoman” in Russian) is a new stand-up comedy show about living in the former Soviet Union in the 90s and returning after 18 years as the first UK comic to perform comedy in English and Russian. In this show, I talk about learning to become an opera singer in Moscow in the 90s, about gay rights and censorship in modern Russia under Putin, what the consequences are of drinking hardcore vodka and using outdoor loos in -25 temperatures and how Russia has changed since the fall of the Soviet Union. You will definitely learn more about Putin, the meerkat with nuclear weapons and you’ll get to hear some kick-ass opera and ahem… some Russian hip hop.

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

Not really. I get them all in. Everyone from 18 year olds to 65 year olds, from Scots to Russians via Yorkshire. They are generally, though, the sorts of people who like to laugh. My show is very definitely not a TED talk or lecture of any sort. It has proper stories and jokes in it. The pathos is genuine because what happens in the show really happened to me in real life. People come to laugh and if I can teach them something about my experiences of Russia, what we need to know about one of the world’s most diverse and gigantic countries, so much the better. It’s been described by critics as “intelligent, self-effacing and deeply personal comedy, not to be missed” so I guess it attracts audiences who appreciate those qualities in a comedian!

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

Moving into a flat that not only had black mould on the bedroom walls, it also had a resident rat, ants and a major spider problem. I once had to rescue a mate who found themselves in an Edinburgh flat in a not very salubrious part of town and when we arrived to pick up her stuff the block of flats was being raided by armed police from the drug squad. Nice.

© Simon Houlihan

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

Selling out my show last year and then going on to sell out every date on my 40 odd date tour since then. Also, doing my first acting jobs in comedy films this year – one which was shot in my homeland of Wales and the other in the Peak District. And both have won major awards. They should be out on release later this year/early next.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

Jason Manford’s and John Bishop’s shows, as they are in the same venue as my show. I’ll also be seeing Tom Stade’s show and, if he’s doing a show this year, Paul Foot.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

More people to see ANGLICHNAKA because I am really proud of that show and the reception it’s received. That alone will be reward for me. I’m also doing a WIP show, so Edinburgh will provide a good testing ground for a new show I’m working on for next year.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

Probably diabetes, as doing Edinburgh every year is surely going to give me some kind of medical condition due to the lack of vegetables, salad and the preponderance of deep fried food… either that or a show about Columbo. I have said before I am going to do a show about my favourite detective but haven’t got round to it yet.

BOOK TICKETS FOR ABI ROBERTS: ANGLICHANKA, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

Seven Questions With… Lou Conran

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Lou Conran is a very popular voice on the stand up circuit, which is why she was named MoodyComedy’s Comedian of the Month in March. Perhaps known best for her excellent MC skills and for her work writing for Standard Issue, Lou is a comic that most will find hard to dislike. She is uncompromising and unafraid of judgement, yet friendly, open and real. And on top of all this, Lou is endeavouring to raise £50,000 for the Saying Goodbye charity that supports parents suffering the loss of a baby, in birth or infancy. There is more information about how you can help Lou make a difference here.
I asked Lou these seven questions to find out more about her…

1) How do you like your eggs in the morning?

Boiled. Eggs are a serious business. I once ate 24 in two weeks and had to have colonic irrigation to clear the blockage.

2) How do you propose we solve the issue of global warming?

Take your jumper off silly.

© Andy Hollingworth

3) How would you fare in a zombie apocalypse?

I like the element of risk, but I’d definitely be first to be eaten.

4) Do your family find you funny?

Disturbed I think rather than funny.

5) If you could say one sentence to Donald Trump, what would it be?

Doesn’t that Velcro fringe itch?

6) What should we all do at least once in our lives?

Contrary to what a previous boyfriend suggested I should do at least once, I’d say the thing that you fear doing, do it. What’s the worst that could happen? (Apart from death but then at least you’d not have bills to pay, and you’d lose weight….)

7) Do you prefer being an MC or performing straight stand up?

I love MCing, which is what I do most of. But on the rare occasion I get to do a set I get stupidly nervous, but find it a bit more exhilarating, but either or really. I just love doing it.

Support Lou Conran’s fundraising challenge here.

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Seven Questions With… Jordan Brookes

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Jordan Brookes

Past Comedian of the Month Jordan Brookes is a stand up comedian whose self-assuredness onstage contrasts interestingly against his softly spoken delivery. Jordan is a calm and thoughtful comic, with material that often borders on performance art. His comedy is a lesson in unpredictability and he plays with the time constraints of narratives which makes for an all-encompassing experience.
I asked Jordan these seven questions to learn more about him…

1) What is it about your character than suits a career in stand up comedy?

A lax work ethic and a litany of failures. No one arrives at comedy all suited and slick, clutching a briefcase full of quips. It’s more like you stumble in wearily, confused as to whether you’re even in the right place.

2) What can you not respect?

Gossip-mongering and fierce business-mindedness when it comes to comedy. Anyone who takes it seriously to the point where their happiness is conditionally dependant on being successful. Wind it in, you creeps.

3) What is the best snack on a cold day?

A steak bake in the bath.

4) When do you feel most accepted on stage?

Probably when I stop trying to control the room and loosen my grip on where the laughs are coming from.

5) Are you more passive or aggressive?

Aggressive. There’s a rage that lives in my face like a rat, occasionally scuttling past the eyes for all to see.

6) When was the last time you were confused?

Whenever I last went on Twitter and saw people pretending to drink liberal tears. That just doesn’t sound healthy. It’d be like drinking the ghost of a cup-a-soup.

7) What do you predict will happen this year?

If I was joking around, then I predict the collapse of civilisation. If I was being serious then I’d have to say the collapse of civilisation.

For more information, follow Jordan Brookes on Twitter

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Seven Questions With… Luke Heggie

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Luke Heggie is an Australian stand up comedian who speaks with a hilarious blend of passive rage and cynicism. Heggie’s comedy reflects the various elements of life that he has to juggle, being a husband and father as well as a builder by trade and a comic by night. So it’s understandable that there are countless people that get on his nerves, and he isn’t afraid to tell us about them.
To learn more about Luke, I asked him these seven questions…

1) How does your day job affect your writing?

I work on building sites, so there’s no shortage of dickheads to write about. It’s a job I can walk around thinking about other things, muttering to myself, and generally working in my own head. It hinders me because I’m buggered by the time I get home, and have to force myself to stay awake to either go to a gig or write a bit.

2) What worries you? 

Death by violence. I don’t too much care about anything else. If I manage to stay alive, I can feed my family, and I live in a country where it would be somewhat of an achievement to starve to death.

© Danny Aarons

© Danny Aarons

3) Are you open to change?

No. I don’t like change, unless it directly benefits me and no one else.

4) What do you wish people would stop doing?

Cross-breeding poodles just to create a cutesy name for dogs. Crunching passionfruit in their teeth. Wearing those shoes with the stupid separate toes. Putting on hats that ride low on the skull so they can tuck their ears in. Despite being an adult, getting offended (usually on someone else’s behalf) at someone like me swearing. I come from swearing. Serving up tomatoes at a dinner party with the corks still in, and expecting me to eat them. Searching vigorously for a cause to align themselves with in order to self-promote, riding mobility scooters at peak shopping times, using tissue box covers, putting a cutlery caddy on the table – what’s in your top drawer cockhead? Making a noise when they yawn. Putting one hand up on the wall at the urinal. and telling me what I can and can’t fucking say.

5) Is having children selfless or selfish?

Neither. Depends on the motive. If you preach that the world needs a new leader (like your child will be one day) to guide it through the future, then you’re probably a deluded pikey. If you’re one of those who preach that the world needs less people, then you’re probably infertile, and/or no one wants to be near you, let alone start a family with you.

6) Do you have a guilty conscience?

No I don’t. If I ever did anything wrong I might; I’m not an idiot. But it’s yet to happen that I have done something to feel guilty about. 

7) Does anger ever hinder your comedy or writing?

If I’m angry at someone, I usually just go around and egg their house or car, and the issue is solved. I go for a quick run, and head home to write with a clear head. As a performer, I don’t bang the mic stand indignantly at social injustices, or get angry in general. By the time I get to a stage to say what someone has done to annoy me, I’ve usually settled the vendetta and let it go. I don’t care much for bottling anger. I’m a grown up.

VISIT LUKE HEGGIE’S WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Seven Questions With… Dan Finnerty

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Dan Finnerty is an American comic and musician, who is also the face of THE DAN BAND. Touring internationally, Finnerty is a face and voice you may recognise from The Hangover and Old School. The band have released two comedy albums and are currently working on a third. They will be performing at The Garage in London this evening and there is still time to buy a ticket.
I asked Dan these seven questions to find out more…

1) What makes an audience memorable for you?

HAVING an audience is always a good start. We did a random show last year for a promoter who we later found out was tripping on acid for a month straight or something and he forgot to “promote” the show. So somewhere in the middle of Kentucky, we performed to about 11 people. But it actually ended up being one of our favorite shows ever, because I guess at that point the bar was so low for all of us – audience included – that it was only uphill from there.

2) What is the key to comedic creativity?

A gentle mix of instincts, listening and vodka.

3) Are you a good judge of character?

I can tell if someone is a good person or not by how much they laugh during my show.

© Mike Carano

© Mike Carano

dan2

4) Are you stubborn?

I don’t feel like answering that question.

5) What is your favourite memory from your work as an actor so far?

My favorite (I just had a fight with myself over whether to add the U or just do the American spelling. I know it’s your language we’re speaking over here, but I felt like an impostour douing it, so I had to bail). What was the question? The honest answer is it was doing the movie “The Terminal”, directed by Steven Spielberg. He had come to see my show when it first was getting popular in LA and afterwards he gave me a part in the movie. Besides constantly laughing that doing drunk karaoke had ultimately lead me to a Spielberg movie, the most memorable part was my first day on the set. I’d gone in for a wardrobe fitting and they suddenly decided I should be in the big dramatic scene where Tom Hanks’ character finds out he can finally go back to his country. They rushed me over and placed me next to Catherine Zeta-Jones and called “Action”. Just as Tom Hanks began to muster up some of his best Tom Hanks Oscar emotions, the theme to “Sanford & Son” started blasting out of my pocket from the cell phone I forgot to turn off. They cut and screamed“Who the HELL has a cell phone?!?”, as I clutched my pants pocket and just stared at the Zeta-Jones like “Be cool, lady.”

6) Do you prefer cats or dogs?

Dogs. There’s no comparison. To a cat, YOU are the pet.

7) What is the best thing about traveling?

Waiting in line to get your airline ticket. And then waiting to check your luggage. And then waiting in the security line. And then waiting in the line to get on the plane. And then waiting in line to get off the plane. And then waiting in line to get a taxi. I should’ve said queue. Let me start over…

TICKETS TO SEE THE DAN BAND AT THE GARAGE IN LONDON ARE STILL AVAILABLE.

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Seven Questions With… Lauren Pattison

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© Andy Hollingworth

Lauren Pattison is one of the youngest comedians to have been featured on MoodyComedy, having being named September’s Comedian of the Month, though watching her perform does not leave an impression of inexperience or immaturity. Lauren is a bright and exciting performer who grows in popularity with each passing year, becoming associated with bigger names in the world of comedy as she does so.
I asked Lauren these seven questions to find out more about her…

1) What lead you to stand up comedy at such a young age?

I don’t know, it’s really weird. I wasn’t even an attention seeker or anything, I was dead shy! I just got a bit obsessed with making people laugh. I’ve always enjoyed making people laugh and it’s an addictive little habit to fall into. Less addictive than crack but just as moreish. I think it helps I’ve been brought up on good comedy by my dad! One of my earliest memories is being off sick from school and we watched the Jolly Boys Outing episode of Only Fools & Horses together. So blame him if you don’t like my style, it is all his fault and nothing at all to do with me. I had my first go of stand up when I was 15 because the Youth Theatre I went to every week for drama lessons ran a comedy course for us. I bloody loved it. It was just a bit of a fun but I knew I’d found something I absolutely adored. I felt too young to really do anything else with it other than a couple of performances at my drama group, cause I was too young to get into any clubs or pubs so I decided I’d do something about it when I turned 18. I spent the next couple of years just absolutely devouring comedy, while most girls my age were spending their money on make up and cider I was spending mine on tickets to see comedy. And cider. Sure enough when I turned 18, I tried to get into it, just as a hobby and it’s safe to say it snowballed just a tad.

2) What are you grateful for?

The Boots Meal Deal is a saviour and I am grateful to the Gods that it exists.

But seriously, I’m grateful for having lots of lovely supportive and understanding people around me! For my mam and dad who didn’t kick off when their youngest offspring was like ‘HIYA I WANT TO EMBARK ON A VERY FINANCIALLY UNSTABLE CAREER CHOICE AND I’M ALSO GONNA DROP THE C BOMB IN FRONT OF LOTS OF STRANGERS ON A REGULAR BASIS’ and who come see loads of my gigs and don’t tell me off for swearing and still laugh even though they’ve heard it a million times before and it’s almost definitely not funny anymore.

And to my comedian friends who get messages from me at like stupid o clock in the early hours of the morning like ‘hello I am not good at comedy aren’t I tell me the truth am I wasting my time’ and every time they tell me I am being a nugget and try their best to talk some sense into their favourite little mess of a human. Corry Shaw, Matt Reed, Adam Rowe, Si Beckwith are always good at cheering me up and Sam Gore and Rob Mulholland were my favourite alcohol angels in Edinburgh that kept my spirits metaphorically and literally (aka gin) topped up at all times.

I’m also so grateful for some of the opportunities I’ve had through comedy, literally couldn’t have even dreamed I’d get to do some of the things I’ve done! This all started as just a hobby, a bit of fun, I never would have expected to be on stage in front of 2500 people at Latitude or a theatre full of people doing tour support for Katherine Ryan. I’ll never take anything I get for granted, I’ll always feel so grateful for every cool thing I get to do cause I know how lucky I am to be able to do that for a night instead of working a 12 hour shift on minimum wage!

3) Who would you most like to see right now?

My nephew! He’s ace. I love him to bits. He’s only 5 but I think we are right on each other’s wave length. He tells me I am ‘the best joker’ and that is the highest praise I could want from the only critic who’s opinion I truly care about. He got really upset when I told him I was moving to London and went upstairs to pack a bag then got even more upset and told me he only had ‘3 moneys’ for the train and would someone be able to lend him ‘just 2 more moneys’ so he could come on the train with me and my little heart just BROKE INTO A MILLION TINY PIECES. I miss him loads. And I miss having a little human to take to the cinema to see kids films and eat his sweets when he’s not looking. Now I have to go on my own and look weird and steal other kids sweets.

4) What keeps you awake at night?

EVERYTHING! Mainly worry and comedy and worrying about comedy. I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights since I moved to London! Most people know I’m a massive worrier and I don’t have a whole load of self confidence (if anyone knows where I can get me some of that please email me) and my brain tends to really like to remind me of these things just as I’m snuggly in bed ready to go to sleep.

Recently I haven’t been able to sleep cause – I’m worried moving to London was the wrong thing to do, I’m worried that I’m never going to be able to be in a position financially to leave my day job and just be a comedian, I’m worried I’m going to sleep in, I’m worried that I’m not good enough to be a comic, I’m worried I worry too much, I’m worried where I’m going to get the money from to pay the rent, I’m worried I don’t eat enough vegetables and won’t grow big and strong, I’m worried that I haven’t got enough gigs booked in and I’m going to have to move back home or up my day job hours to full time, I’m worried that I’ll have to give up on my dreams, I’m worried that me with comedy is like when you watch someone really bad audition for X Factor and you wonder who on earth told them they were any good, and everyone is like ‘oh god why is Lauren even bothering to chase comedy when she’s shit at it, that’s so embarrassing.’ My brain is really kind to me at 1am as you can see.

© BBC

© BBC

5) What would you like to do tomorrow?

Sleep! And watch trashy telly. I’m so tired. I think I’ve been burning the candle at both ends since I moved to London, working a day job, gigging almost every night, finishing my Masters, travelling here, there and everywhere and then over the weekend I just got hit like a bus by this illness which has completely taken it out of me, just in time for to go back up North for a busy week of gigs. Good timing Lauren’s immune system, thanks for that. I don’t feel like I’ve had a full day to myself to do nothing in ages so I’d love nothing more than to just wrap myself in my duvet like a little burrito and watch RuPaul’s Drag Race all day with a mountain of snacks. And have a proper princess bath with loads of Snow Fairy from Lush in it so I can smell like candy floss

6) Which comedians inspire you if you ever feel like you’re beginning to lose your love for comedy?

I really look up to Katherine Ryan. I should have included her in the grateful answer – she took a huge chance on me letting me do her tour support. She saw me do 5 minutes in the Funny Women Final and about 7 months later sent me a message like ‘dude how much material you got, wanna open for me in Middlesbrough and Kendal?’ I’d never done a set that long, or anything in front of that many people and it was the best experience. I must have done OK cause she asked me back for some stuff on her next tour too! I feel like things started going good for me from then, so I probably owe a lot to Katherine. If she’s reading this ‘THANK YOU you are incredible and I have the utmost love and respect for you bae.’ She inspires me a lot, like just look at her career! She’s worked hard, she’s a bloody grafter and she’s reaped the rewards. I remember reading in an interview somewhere she was faced with either going back to work full time, or going for comedy and making sure it worked. It was either be poor and hungry or become successful and I think we know which one happened! I can very much resonate with that at the minute, I am definitely poorer and hungrier than I was when I was a bloody student so I have no choice but to become successful or I will probably become a street urchin.

And Chris Ramsey too. I went to see him about 6 years ago in a tiny theatre in Newcastle, the one where I did my drama lessons at. I’d never seen or heard of him before, I was actually there to see Alun Cochrane (soz Chris!) and he totally blew me away, I came out of the gig telling everyone he was gonna be massive. Should have put money on it! I’ve watched him play bigger and bigger venues and really break through and I think cause I’ve watched his career progress he’s a good person for me to look at for inspiration if I’m feeling a bit shitty about comedy cause I’ve watched him work hard and climb the ranks. He’s someone who always just looks like he’s having so much fun and thoroughly enjoying what he’s doing and I find that really lovely and motivating and other nice words that I can’t think of right now cause I’ve just sneezed 6 times in a row and am worried I am about to combust.

7) Do you have any set goals for your future?

I desperately want to go full time with comedy. I’m finding having a day job harder and harder, both for juggling and managing my time, and also just cause the more progress I make with comedy and the cooler gigs I get to do, the harder it is to go back to serving burgers the following day. Customers at my day job never laugh at my jokes as much as they should and that both frustrates and upsets me. I did a lovely gig in London the other week and it went so well and I felt all lovely and tingly which could have been the response from the crowd or the 3 large glasses of rosé I had but either way I felt like a champ, then I got home and set an alarm for the morning to get up and go to normal person work and I could have cried. Again, could have been the burning desperation of wanting to be a comedian and nothing else, or it could have been the 3 large glasses of rosé. I’d love to do that by next summer, ideally before Edinburgh and I think that’s realistic enough!

FOLLOW LAUREN PATTISON ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST NEWS REGARDING LIVE GIGS

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Seven Questions With… Rob Rouse

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© Andy Hollingworth

© Andy Hollingworth

Rob Rouse is a Northern stand up comedian and actor who you may recognise from his recent role as Bottom in Ben Elton’s Shakespearean sitcom Upstart Crow. A gleeful performer onstage, Rouse is a comic who effortlessly exudes a positive energy, drawing audiences in with his cheeky delivery and down-to-earth attitude. Rob also produces a comedy podcast, The Rob Rouse Podcast, and this month he embarks on his latest UK tour.
To learn more about the man behind the comedy, I asked Rob these seven questions…

1) What is it like working on a Ben Elton project in Upstart Crow?

It was really exciting and slightly surreal. At the first recording Ben was talking to the audience saying that literally 30 years earlier he and Harry Enfield had recorded the first Saturday live in that very same studio. I remember watching that show as a kid and it opened up a new part of my brain and it’s a big reason why I’m doing what I’m doing now. It’s like being invited to join you favourite band.

2) Who are you wary of?

Anyone who has an absolutely unshakable certainty about anything really, or indeed reckons they’re any kind of ‘a big deal’. They tend to be a-holes.

3) Who is your favourite celebrity chef?

Delia Smith. I don’t think celebrity chefs nowadays use enough, or for that matter, appreciate mince like Delia did. In fact I’m sure she still does and still cooks with it 4 out of 7 nights of the week… The other 3 she does pork chop with boiled spuds (Tuesday), sausage and beans (Saturday – has it on her knee in front of the telly) and then cheese on toast or just leftovers (Monday). And if Gordon Ramsay came into her kitchen effin and jeffin she’d chin him, lay him out cold, one punch.

4) What did you used to want to be when you grew up?

First job I ever wanted to do, according to my mum, was a bin man. Apparently I said, “Because when I come home, you won’t tell me off for being covered in dirt.” Comforting to know that I always envisaged living at home throughout my adult life.

5) What animal is most misunderstood?

I haven’t got a clue what any of the animals are on about. So I’d have to say all of them… That’s assuming I’ve understood the question.

6) What do you do that you shouldn’t?

It would be great if we were in America, because I could just say, “Sometimes when I’m feeling really vulnerable I’m ashamed to admit I eat carbs” and that would be enough, but the truth is I don’t know how to answer that question because I have absolutely no sense of embarrassment.

7) Do you remember the first time you made someone laugh?

I was a hysterically ugly baby.

8) What is your current mood?

As I type this my dog is barking like a lunatic at some people on bikes outside. Really barking at them. He abhors people on bikes and it’s one of his life’s missions to let them know that. I used to try and make him stop, but have come to appreciate his commitment and my inability to change him, so in answer to your question – Submission.

The Edinburgh Interviews: Seven Questions With… Tamar Broadbent

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Tamar Broadbent

© Steve Ullathorne

Tamar Broadbent is a comedian and musician known for her work developing musicals and producing solo shows that consider the perils of modern day life and how we can learn to embrace the more difficult or ‘ugly’ things that face us each and every day. Tamar’s latest show Get Ugly is a musical exploration of those little niggles in life that we often don’t talk about, shining a beacon of positivity and good humour and tackling problems big and small that inevitably pop up from time to time.
I asked Tamar these seven questions to find out more…

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