Interview: Nick Revell, BrokenDreamCatcher
Nick Revell is currently touring his latest show BrokenDreamCatcher on tour across the UK. With his trademark blend of realism and absurdity, Nick spoke to MoodyComedy about the development of his comedy and the thoughts behind his newest stand-up endeavour.
Hi Nick, how is 2019 treating you so far?
Hello MoodyComedy. 2019 is treating me pretty well so far, thanks. Apart from the prospect of environmental catastrophe, Brexit chaos, increasing global economic injustice and West Ham still lacking truly reliable strikers.
How did your new show BrokenDreamCatcher develop? How does it relate to your radio series of the same name?
I like writing structured stories, which mix the surreal and the everyday, and BrokenDreamCatcher was one of five or six I was putting together as solo shows and for the radio series. It’s the (true, of course) story of how my dreamcatcher breaks, all the bad dreams escape, and threaten to engulf the whole of North London in neurosis, fear and wholesale raving insanity. Luckily however, with the help of my pub darts partner, Gwyneth Paltrow, disaster is just about averted. It seemed like a good title for the series, but in fact in the end, the story is not in series one. It will air if we get a second series.
Who would most enjoy your comedy, and who do you think should give your comedy a try?
Well, I think anyone who likes a thriller or a fairy story with a twist or a satirical thread in their comedy might find them entertaining. You get topical stuff, you get satirical treatment of 4th century Christian hermits, you get fart jokes.
How has your comedy style evolved over your years in the business?
I guess you get more confident and more aware of what style and subjects suit you best. When you start out, you’re terrified, don’t really know what you’re doing and are imitating other people to some degree. None of that is wrong or avoidable, but as you go along, you find your own voice. I’m probably less ranty now, and more playful.
Where is your favourite place to perform?
The Stand – Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle. And the King’s Head, Crouch End.
What most excites you about taking BrokenDreamCatcher on tour?
Hm…well, it’s the first time in ages I’ve had the chance to run a full-length show outside the Edinburgh Festival, and in many ways doing a couple of hours on your own is much more satisfying than short sets of twenty to forty minutes. It’s a challenge, but you can take the audience to different places, and play with more tones and threads. And of course, you discover out more about the show yourself every night. There’s a real joy in finding new details and improving it bit by bit every gig.
What can we expect to see from you in the future?
More shows in the same vien, I hope. I will definitely be back at the The Edinburgh Stand in August with a new one. I’ve written three so far. The Edinburgh show will probably be two of them mixed together – not sure of the title yet – could be Eurasia’s Most Eligible Sociopaths and Their Lovely Homes, possibly The Theme Park at the End of World, or maybe The Ministry of Thunderbolts and Lightning. Or, Kill Chicken, Scare Monkey. Or maybe Walk Fire Enter Demon. I’m looking at China, visiting the Underworld, and a political revolution triggered by irregularities in a Eurovision selection process.
Lee Ridley aka Lost Voice Guy is a stand up comedian from Newcastle. He first spoke to MoodyComedy back in 2014 and has since produced multiple Edinburgh shows, written a radio sitcom and even recently auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent. I interviewed Lee about this growing list of successes and this is what he had to say…
