Interview with Harriet Braine
CB: How long have you been gigging in comedy?
I have been gigging on and off since 2004 – more regularly since 2010. Though, I did my very first gig at DownStairs at the Kings Head in 1999.
CB: How would you describe your comedy?
JK: ummmmmm….. well its character based but very physical, clowny, slapsticky?
CB: Which comedians influence your comedy?
JK: I love the Spymonkey troupe. I was very lucky to have Aitor Basauri to direct my show this year.
CB: Did you always want to go into comedy?
JK: No, I weirdly wanted to get into Musical Theatre when I was 16 which is weird cos I am not a great singer at all.
CB: How do you go about writing your material?
JK: Writing is the last thing I do. I go out on the circuit with an idea and play with it on stage and see what what and what doesn’t. If the act gets laughs I developed it more and eventually string it together by writing it. Although a lot of my recent work contains little words.
CB: Do you gig as a comedy performer full time or is it more of a part-time hobby?
JK: If so, do you find that your main job influences your material?
CB: What do you find the most enjoyable and frustrating parts of the comedy circuit?
JK: I love where the circuit is at the moment. There’s a lot of exciting and unusual nights out there and performs are doing some exciting things. There was nothing like this, say 4-5 years ago. I guess one of the most frustrating parts of the circuit is that it’s over saturated with performers oh and badly organised gigs – it annoys me when a room is not set up properly. It makes such a difference.
CB: What’s your favourite type of audience to perform to?
JK: I don’t really have a type per se but an audience that is open minded and up for some silliness.
CB: Have you been heckled a lot since you’ve started gigging? Do you enjoy being heckled? What’s the best heckle you’ve had?
JK: I don’t really get heckled to be honest. If I do I incorporate it in the character I am playing – usually by being a bit weird and that shuts them up.
CB: What advice would you give to new acts thinking of starting out in comedy?
JK: Watch lots of comedy, discover how YOU are funny not the material, go out and take risks – if it works it works , if it bombs it bombs, try something else.
Photo Credit: Laura Jane Newman
Related posts
