Paul Foot

Edinburgh Review: Paul Foot – Image Conscious

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© Paul Foot

4 out of 5 stars

Paul Foot’s shows are always absurd, with only a vague grasp on reality. But this year there is something far more tangible about his material. Image Conscious has more popular culture references scattered throughout than previous years; has the world worn this comic down? This new turn for Foot is definitely a step in the direction of mainstream, but the reliability of it is somewhat refreshing.

The core of the show, a winding narrative about how to host a decent orgy, has Foot’s trademark madness written all over it. He layers details of setting, character and circumstance until he works himself up into a shouting frenzy. This is what Paul Foot’s fans come for.

These moments where Foot’s material flirts with reality are very satisfying. A particular stint about his hatred for Greg Wallace is particularly entertaining. We’re used to seeing Foot screaming at the top of his lungs about shire horses and fire engines, not BBC cookery shows. Foot is an expert at introducing various celebrities and celebrity has-beens into his ridiculous narratives, and this show is no disappointment. The things he has us imagining the likes of Clare Balding and Ronny O’Sullivan doing should not be repeated.

Leaving Paul Foot’s show feels like waking up from a dream; reality becomes a bit of a haze. At one point Foot had thrown pickled gherkins at the audience. Classic Paul Foot with an edgy twist, Image Conscious is unlike anything else you will see at the Fringe.

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Paul Foot

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Paul Foot’s comedy is an energetic whirlwind from the offset. Extravagant but softly-spoken, brutal yet always endearing, this comedian’s latest show ‘Tis a Pity She’s a Piglet is one that you should make every effort not to miss. Foot will be performing at Underbelly Cowgate throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

The Edinburgh Festival is the most shows I ever perform in a consecutive run of days. At no other point in my year do I get to perform for 25 nights in a row. Worra lot of excitement that is. And I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Paul, every performer has to have a day off from performing their show in Edinburgh. It’s festival policy baybayy.” Well, true, but on my day off (which, this year, is the Moonday 14th Augustus) I fly down to London to perform a Secret Show for my Connoisseurs. I can’t let my 25 day streak be ruined by stupid Edinburgh Fridge Festival red tape. I’m on a roll baybayyy!

2) What was your first Edinburgh show about?

My first ever Edinburgh Fridge Festival (so-called because it’s so friggin’ cold all the thyme) I did a show called ‘Simple Pleasures’. And it was about simple pleasures, like making your own compost, or watching Nicky Clegg lose his seat, or eating a peach. One must find joy in the small things in life you see, because the big things are all such a friggin’ mess.

© Paul Foot

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

I wouldn’t say so. All sorts of people come to watch my comedy. People of all ages, from the age of approximately 7 all the way up until total decomposition. All the ages are welcome. And all the races, and all the genders. Also, all the various states of consciousnesses are welcome. Once a sleeping man attended. But he was very welcome because sometimes the sleeping mind is at its most imaginative and creative, and imaginative and creative people are often attracted to my comedy, so we can’t blame him really.

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

Once I shared a tiny little 3-bedroom flat with 7 other comedians. It was a shambles. I slept in a cupboard like a vampire and there were strange women and men coming and going all times of the day and night. Imagine the queue for the bog in the morning. And imagine the state of the bogbrush!

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

I remember some years ago I was doing a show in Edinburgh, and I came out on stage and the atmosphere was terrible. A real shocker. People looked miserable and no one even applauded at the start and I’m pretty sure there was a man sleeping. The first ten minutes of the show was really difficult, but slowly I managed to build some atmosphere and start to win people round, and by the end of the show it had turned into one of the best shows ever! Everyone had become hysterical. That was a very special show.

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

I love Brian Gittins. He is a top quality comedian and I would very much like to see his show. Malcolm Head too. He does strange poetry and unusual humour.

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

I hope to eat at least 14 pies. And also I’ll be writing my new show for next year, which will premier at the Edinburgh Festival 2018. I am very excited about the new humour.

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

I couldn’t possibly say. One cannot predict the future. Or maybe it will be about Judy Murray OBE. She is absolutely hilarious and will probably live for ever.

BOOK TICKETS FOR PAUL FOOT: ‘TIS A PITY SHE’S A PIGLET, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

Review: Paul Foot: Hovercraft Symphony In Gammon # Major

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Another year means another Paul Foot show that I just had to see. This year, Paul brought along a support act in the shape of comical poet, Malcolm Head. Malcolm has a refreshing persona on stage, with his quirky dress sense, aka an over-sized jumper, schoolboy rucksack and small bongo drum, with a National Trust cap to top it all off, to promote the charity (inner workings at play there, as there’s a lot to be gained from having the National Trust on side, apparently).

This poet’s haikus are almost anti-jokes: deadpan and literal, but delivered intentionally tentatively. Malcolm came prepared for heckles of any kind (you’ll have to see him live to learn more) and also had a supply of observational poems and odd thoughts he sometimes writes down. He is a very quaint comedian with a quiet, calm voice but a powerfully funny comedy behind it; I really liked him a lot.

Paul FootPaul’s show, on the other hand, was mismatched and frantic but planned meticulously and performed effortlessly, with a double-bluff fake entrance and lots of shouting and running around in circles- this style of comedy is niche, to put it mildly.

I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a performer so happy to be on stage in front of a crowd, or so eager to become a part of the audience himself (at the expense of a poor man on the front row). Armed with a stack of whimsical stories, which we are assured are all lies, and a whole new batch of brilliant Disturbances, Paul had the audience in the palm of his hand. A hand that can’t keep still, mind, for this strange comedian’s physical ticks and exaggerated jolts, almost convulsions, are enough to convince an audience that he may be having some form of breakdown before their very eyes. His movements are air-guitar-esque, with hair flicking and head banging that tired him out so much, he had to take off his snazzy jacket.

But a talent of Foot’s is that he can effortlessly swap in and out of his seemingly uncontrollable lunacy, and come out with something quite profound, whether that be in the context of his ‘Hindu Humour’ or his take on homophobia (an extension, perhaps, of his infamous ‘levels of homophobia’ routine that explained the very worst kinds of homophobia, that are increasingly extreme, to say the least).

Paul showed his wicked side with pointless hypotheses, and here again I draw comparisons with Rich Fulcher’s Tiny Acts Of Rebellion, which highlights the most pointless but life-affirming ways to get your own back on the world, like deliberately upsetting owners of a bed and breakfast by abusing the unspoken rules of the breakfast diner. He also managed to mount the same man three times, scream at another man for being allegedly homophobic, and also give us insight into his life as a dinner party host.

I loved this evening of absolute madness and look forward to Paul’s next tour (you can still buy tickets for his current tour here) and I have also found a new hobby of meticulously checking Malcolm’s Twitter feed for more of his hilarious poetry.

READ MY REVIEW OF PAUL’S SHOW FROM LAST YEAR: WORDS.

TV Review: The Alternative Comedy Experience

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The Alternative Comedy Experience is important because it aims to show what intimate comedy gigs are actually like so for people who don’t see a lot of live comedy, or only have experience of big arenas, it really shows a whole new world. The show consists of a whole load of individual stand up sets that have been chopped up into small sections and made into thirty minute episodes with as many as four or five comedians featuring in each one. The premise of the show was thought up by the genius that is Stewart Lee and features snippets of interviews conducted by Lee with each comic. The general criteria for the comedians is ‘alternative’ with some being more commonly known than others and I was drawn to the show because many of my favourites feature such as Paul Foot, Tony Law, Henning Wehn and of course, Stewart Lee.

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Programmes like this are great because they introduce a whole range of new comics to the viewers. For example, I fell in love with David Kay’s down beat tone which had everyone laughing in the breaks between talking, which is a talent. I had only ever seen Josie Long on panel shows before but I adored her brilliant political views that were hilarious and not too heavy. I think it’s important for comics to discuss politics in their material because young people especially need to be more familiar with things that directly effect them. And Britain’s politicians are laughable in themselves, lest us forget.

I only own series one of The Alternative Comedy Experience and know a second series was released early this year so need to get myself a copy of that. From what I did see though, I definitely wish there could have been more of Paul Foot in particular as I know he is a genius but he didn’t seem to get much stage-time. There were others who I would like to have seen more of also, including Bridget Christie, Robin Ince and David O’Doherty (I have many of his weird songs on my iPod- he’s fantastic, like the love child of Tim Minchin and a child? a chimp? I don’t know).

Tony Law got quite a lot of time which was brilliant because as you know, he’s one of my all time favourites. I worship that guy, seriously- his material is quick, insane and SO surreal which is everything I could want. Henning Wehn was also on top form as usual (he is rapidly becoming one of my favourites) and I can’t wait to watch the DVD I have of his latest stand up tour: No Surrender.

I am looking forward to series two of this show but in the meantime, I will be looking out for names like David Kay, Alun Cochrane and Bridget Christie in particular as these new names stood out for me. Also, I have an important query- HOW ON EARTH IS BRIDGET CHRISTIE 42?! She must be a time traveller or something, she looks wonderful.

I don’t really know anyone who watches this show, so let me know if you do and restore my faith in humanity thanks!

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