Seven Questions With Archives - Page 6 of 10

Seven Questions With… Shazia Mirza

November 27, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Shazia Mirza is a comedian and columnist from my home city of Birmingham. Where others may stay well back, Mirza tackles difficult political topics head-on, effortlessly demonstrating to us all why comedy is so vital in this day and age and using her stand up as a platform to get us talking about important social issues. Shazia is currently preparing to take her 2015 Edinburgh show The Kardashians Made Me Do It on tour across the UK.

I asked Shazia these seven questions to learn more about her…

1) Is it important to you to find humour in serious subjects?

It’s not important, I just try to do material on whatever I feel something about. So if I’m angry, sad, happy about something, I’ll try and find jokes about that because at least I feel something about it. It’s when I don’t feel anything about anything that I feel stuck, which happens often, as you can’t care about everything and sometimes its tiring so I just think oh I’ll go to bed and have a cup of tea.

2) Which part of the country is your favourite?

I love the Midlands, because I was born in Birmingham and the humour feels very familiar when I go home. I feel like they get me, they are laughing with me, and I can make in house jokes that only we can laugh at. I can also talk ‘Birmingham’ – that is my lingo with my accent, which just makes people run from me if I do it elsewhere.

3) What is it that made you quit being a teacher?

The tipping point was when someone kept stealing my mug in the staffroom. I thought I’m not having this anymore. Also I was doing jokes in the classroom, which they just didn’t get, and I thought I could make more money doing this out in the clubs, so I did.

4) Which month of the year is your favourite?

September. I can go on holiday, it’s cheaper but it’s still hot and the kids have all gone back to school so there is peace and quiet on the beaches of the South of France.

5) Are you usually early or late for things?

Late. Because I try to fit in 20 things in one day. For some reason I still think I can do a gig in San Francisco and Leicester on the same night.

6) Do you fear failure?

I’ve failed so much that I can’t imagine progressing any further without failure. If I don’t fail at something every few months, it feels weird. Everyone needs a car crash to remind them they are not invincible.

7) Is 2015 a good time to be a comedian?

I have been a comedian in other years too, but it seems like now there is so much you can’t help but joke about. There is so much in your face that’s getting people angry and frustrated every day that there is loads to say. Everyone is being affected by something these days that can make them angry.

SHAZIA MIRZA IS TOURING HER LATEST SHOW ‘THE KARDASHIANS MADE ME DO IT’ IN EARLY 2016

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Seven Questions With… Luke Toulson

November 18, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

October’s Comedian Of The Month, Luke Toulson, is an immediately likeable stand up comedian, with his relaxed and casual delivery enabling him to secure an immediate audience connection. Undeniably slick yet simultaneously coming across as sincere, Toulson is a comic who excels on the live circuit.

To learn more about Luke, I asked him these seven questions…

1) Why are you a stand up comedian?
A combination of being the least smart of 4 kids and playing the fool to get attention, failing at an awful lot of things during my 20s, and then seeing a Bill Hicks DVD.

2) What kind of person makes you feel the most frustrated?
People at the front of self-service queues who aren’t paying attention, people who believe the Tory economic argument, and lazy comedians.

3) Do you want people to think that you are clever?
Yes, but I don’t mind when they think I’m stupid.

4) What will you always have time for?
I love every second I spend with my kids, which is sadly less than I would like. Even an amateur psychologist would suss out that those two statements are probably related.

5) Have you conquered any big fears in your life?
I guess quitting drinking falls into this category.

6) Which film could you watch on repeat?
The Blues Brothers.

7) Are there any comedians you aspire to be more like?
My favourite stand-up is Bill Burr, but I don’t want to be more like any comedian, I just want to be a better version of the comedian I am. However, I would gratefully accept Sara Pascoe’s bravery and work-ethic, Henry Paker’s mind, and the looks of various comedians it would be too embarrassing to name.

LUKE TOULSON IS CURRENTLY PERFORMING AT VENUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Seven Questions With… Magnus Betnér

October 25, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Magnus Betnér is a Swedish stand up comedian, often heralded as one of the biggest names in Scandinavian comedy. Luckily for us here in the UK, Magnus also regularly performs his material in English; he has even performed at the Edinburgh Festival multiple times. With material that fearlessly tackles taboo social topics, this comedian proves himself time and time again to be a brave and challenging performer, making him an interesting one to watch.

I asked Magnus these seven questions to learn a little more about him…

1) What makes you nervous?

Not much anymore but some gigs in English, the opening of a new tour and some TV stuff still gets the adrenaline pumping.

2) What is your favourite childhood memory?

Does anybody really remember their childhood? I guess it was pretty great most of the time and nothing really comes to mind except vacations and trips with the family. That was extra nice.

3) Which language do you prefer to gig in?

Swedish because I’m still much better that way.

4) What surprises you most about British culture?

That your system of polite “he was here first” nods in bars actually works better than the Swedish whoever pushes hardest to get the bartenders attention wins system.

5) Do you care if your comedy offends people?

I don’t like to offend just for the sake of it but I tend to do so anyway and I’m fine with that if I can justify it for myself. People have a way of being offended no matter what you say so you can’t let that bother you too much if you want to do comedy.

6) Do you consider yourself to be an outsider?

Yeah. I think I always have.

7) What is annoying you at the moment?

That fascism and xenhophobia is spreading across Europe again. And fast. That’s probably at the top of the list at the moment but in short what’s annoying me are different kind of idiots. Lots of idiots around these days…

MAGNUS BETNÉR IS CURRENTLY TOURING IN SCANDINAVIA AND HIS STAND UP SPECIAL IS NOW AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE

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Seven Questions With… Suzi Ruffell

October 18, 2015 by Becca Moody 1 Comment

Suzi Ruffell is a popular name on the British comedy circuit, having travelled the country with two stand up hours (most recently with her show Social Chameleon which explored themes involving family, adolescence and identity). She has recently supported the likes of Romesh Ranganathan, Kevin Bridges, Josh Widdicombe and Alan Carr on their UK tours and is currently writing her next show.

To find out more, I asked Suzi these seven questions…

1) What is your plan for the day?

It’s 10am and I have already been to yoga so I am feeling quite smug. I have a tea and some porridge in front of me. I’m sat on my sofa, the news is on in the background, the cat is staring at me and I am trying to write. I am currently working on what I think will be a new show for Edinburgh next year. Later I am writing with a friend then off to a gig.

2) Are you avoiding anything right now?

Bread. It’s really hard though as I love sandwiches.

3) What makes you sad?

Injustice and bad coffee.

4) What is it that appeals to you the most about stand up comedy?

I love being a comic. I enjoy life on the road. I have toured loads, I love doing the support for bigger acts, seeing little parts of the country that I never would have otherwise. I also really love playing great comedy clubs like the Glee’s or The Stand. I also really like not having a boss and that every day is different. Also I am a massive show off.

5) Who was your role model when you were younger?

My dad’s pretty good. Mum is too. Neither are comics. Comedically, Victoria Wood, in particular Acorn Antiques, French and Saunders, and Lily Savage. I found her hilarious, I remember seeing Lily on Parkinson and just thinking she was the best.

6) What animal would you like as a pet?

I have a cornish rex cat, she’s really good. Probably better than any other cat in the world, ever.

7) Do you aspire to perform comedy in the biggest venue possible?

No. My favourite venues are old fashioned music halls, I love ones that feel like they are bursting with history. It feels exciting to play somewhere that feels like it’s full of stories.

SUZI RUFFELL IS CURRENTLY PERFORMING AT VARIOUS VENUES ACROSS THE UK.

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Seven Questions With… Harriet Kemsley

September 30, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Harriet Kemsley is a delightful stand up comedian with an undeniably sinister edge. With her endearing, almost-childlike delivery of material that expertly blends the silly with cutting, bitter and sarcastic elements, Harriet is rapidly crafting a distinctive comedy persona. She has recently been supporting the likes of Katherine Ryan and Stewart Francis on their UK tours as well as appearing on The One Show Edinburgh Showcase in August.

To learn more about Harriet, I asked her these seven questions…

1) Are you at all similar to your parents?

I have inherited the best of both worlds. I got my Mum’s overwhelming anxieties and my Dad’s massive head.

2) Do you write your material down?

Yes. Because otherwise I would forget. I have to write everything in my life down or I won’t remember. I write very basic things I have to do on my hand and then I wake up with them smeared to my forehead and I go about my day.

harriet-kemsley-edinburgh-fringe

3) What did you most enjoy about university?

I really really enjoyed the last day. I found Uni unnecessarily stressful, but I did enjoy having my rent paid for by my student loan.

4) What kind of people do you like making friends with?

I particularly like fun people. They are my absolute favourite. Big idiots that can laugh at themselves. If I was to go on friend Tinder I would swipe right for big fun honest idiots.

5) Do you pay much attention to detail?

Awlays. I am completely paranoid about everything so I have to read an email about 3000 times before I send it just to check I haven’t subconsciously written something like YOU’REABIGIDIOT in the middle. It’s the same with everything. It took me ages to wrap presents last Christmas as I became paranoid I was going to wrap dirty knickers up with them.

6) Which comedians inspire you most?

I am in love with Amy Schumer and Maria Bamford and Sarah Silverman and Katherine Ryan. They are all just perfect and I want to marry them.

7) Do you know what you want?

I think so. I really like doing comedy and I really want to get great at it. I would really like a proper home as I live in squalor with disgusting boys and one day I would really like to wake up to the sound of birds singing and not someone masturbating in the shower. And I would also like a little dog.

HARRIET KEMSLEY IS SOON TO BE PERFORMING HER DEBUT SHOW ‘PUPPY FAT’ AT VARIOUS VENUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Seven Questions With… Andy Hamilton

September 23, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

ANDY HAMILTON 1 - Please credit steve ullathorne.jpg

Andy Hamilton is an award winning comedy writer and stand up comedian, perhaps best known for co-creating and writing Outnumbered, who has recently been working on satirical television shows such as Ballot Monkeys and the comedy film What We Did On Our Holiday with fellow writer Guy Jenkin. Now he is back on the road with a new stand up show: Change Management.

To learn more about this fascinating comedian and writer, I asked Andy these seven questions…

1) Which piece of your satirical writing are you most proud of?

That’s a difficult ask. A lot of what I’ve written I’ve now forgotten. But I’m very proud of Drop the Dead Donkey, Old Harry’s Game, and a TV film called 11 Men against 11. And there is quite a lot of craftily-hidden satire in Outnumbered.

2) What frustrates you most?

I find frustration very frustrating, so I try to avoid it. Sadly, however, I have to use the tube every day. So I tend to bypass frustration and go straight to rage.

3) Do you like to plan ahead?

Not really. As a freelance writer, my life is dictated by the decisions of others, so I go with the flow and see where I wash up.

4) When was the last time your job got you in trouble?

When a van-driver greeted me in the street as “Satan”. It caused a bit of a stir. I got away in the end.

5) Where would you go if you could go anywhere?

Antarctica. My boyhood hero was Captain Oates. No, I’m kidding. I’ll go anywhere there’s room service.

6) What were you most afraid of as a child?

Mr Rayner. A teacher who thought kids were percussion instruments. I’m probably safe from him now.

7) Can comedians say anything?

Yes, unless they’re mimes. And provided that what they say is funny and not just saying stuff.

ANDY HAMILTON IS CURRENTLY TOURING HIS NEW SHOW ‘CHANGE MANAGEMENT’

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Seven Questions With… Fred MacAulay

September 19, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Fred MacAulay 1 - PLEASE CREDIT Andrew Ogilvy.jpg

Fred MacAulay is a name known to many a Radio 4 listener having appeared on The News Quiz, Bridget Christie’s Mind The Gap and The Unbelievable Truth, to name just a few. The Scottish comic has also featured on episodes of QI , Have I Got News For You and Mock The Week and is currently touring his first stand up show since 2012 named Twenty Fifteen. MacAulay clearly has a great deal of experience working on the comedy circuit, having performed at the Edinburgh Festival 27 times in his career so far.

To learn more about Fred, I asked him these seven questions…

1) Are you glad that comedy wasn’t your first job?

Yes. And I’m equally delighted that it’s my last job. Can’t see me doing anything different ever. Maybe acting. Maybe singing. But they’d be sidelines. Comedy first.

2) Which time of year is your favourite?

Toss-up between summer and winter. I love the fresh crisp winter days when the hills are white with fresh snow, but I love the summer mornings when the sun is streaming in through our front door to greet me as I come downstairs to feed the dogs. If you could give me one such winters day with 16 hours of sunshine I’d be a happy man.

3) What motivates you in life?

I’ll be honest with you… I like earning, it’s not the sole motivation, but when I was a boy I was envious of the rich kids who had great skis and the best ski boots. I had wooden skis and lace-up boots, and I was determined that one day I’d be able to have the good gear. Having said that, I was doing very well in my previous occupation, so the REAL motivation is that in work terms… I get to do what I love to do. Simple as that. Ask anyone who does that and you’ll find a degree of satisfaction that is missing from people on jobs they ‘make do with’.

4) What attribute do you wish you had?

Wisdom.

5) What are you bored of?

TV shows like Cash in the Attic or Shit in the Loft or whatever it’s called. Surely there’s NOTHING left for the BBC to evaluate.

6) What is the most frightening thing about performing comedy, for you?

That I’ve no idea what the next routine is. Or even worse, the end of the current one. The former has happened, the latter thankfully, never.

7) Are you at peace with the world?

Most of it. I’m not as forgiving as I should be, so there are a few people I’ve got issues with. Given the chance to settle scores, I probably wouldn’t. I generally avoid hassle and direct encounters.

INFORMATION ABOUT FRED MACAULAY’S LATEST TOUR IS AVAILABLE FROM HIS WEBSITE

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Seven Questions With… Diane Morgan

September 5, 2015 by Becca Moody 1 Comment

Diane Morgan is a face many will recognise, having starred in countless sitcoms such as Phoenix Nights and Uncle, being half of comedy double act Two Episodes of Mash with Joe Wilkinson and also performing stand up. But Diane is perhaps most well known for her hilarious role as Philomena Cunk on Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe, where she explores various ‘moments of wonder’, such as “what is clocks?” and “where does your lap go when you stand up?” which are valid questions, I’m sure you can agree.

To find out more about the comedian behind the character, I asked Diane these seven questions…

1) Clockwise or anti-clockwise?

Are you asking if I prefer things that go clockwise? Because most things do. I don’t know why. It’s none of my business. Hey, let’s try and get John Cleese to make Anti-Clockwise! (The sequel.)

2) How do you feel about the result of this year’s election?

I found it utterly unfathomable. The Tories are an absolute unmitigated disgrace of a party. An abomination. Deluded. Lacking in empathy and devoid of all humanity. Too much? I don’t think so. If I ever meet Cameron, Osborne or Ian Duncan Smith it will take all my strength not to kick them in the balls repeatedly.

3) Who would you most like to impress?

Peter Cook. Now sadly no longer with us of course but if he was I’d gladly iron his newspapers before he read them, do his shopping and learn to make his favourite dish. I’d basically become his servant. I don’t think I’d impress him. I’d be too eager to please. It would be revolting.

4) Do you waste a lot of time?

The whole of my 20’s were wasted. I sat around staring into space a lot. I had a string of dead-end jobs. I went to drama school so I’m not qualified to do anything useful.

Most people waste their 20’s, it’s tradition. I do wish I could go back in time and shake myself. I didn’t start doing stand up until I was 28, although there was no way I could’ve done it before. Now, I feel sick if I waste a day watching videos on YouTube instead of writing.

5) Would you visit Mars if given the opportunity?

I would not visit Mars. There’s nothing up there! You can see that from down here! I can’t even be bothered to look at pictures of it in a book. Also, it’s asking for trouble. You’d probably need jabs and everything. Holidays are generally quite stressful and disappointing. So no thanks.

6) What is your favourite thing about performing as a comedy character?

It’s like wearing a suit of armour. Not literally of course. I mean you feel protected. You can pretty much say anything you like and get away with it because it isn’t you. It’s very freeing.

7) What stops you from being bored?

I’m never bored. Not now we have the Internet. I also have lots of funny friends and admin, and writing and food. I’m good at doing nothing too! (see question 4.) I can very easily just sit down in an empty room and not be bored. I’d make an excellent prisoner. I’d keep everyone’s morale up.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SHOWS AND FUTURE PROJECTS, VISIT DIANE MORGAN’S WEBSITE

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

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.

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…

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.

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.

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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