Interviews, reviews and all sorts of news about comedy!
Rob Rouse is an award winning comedian on tour around the U.K. with his new show Life Sentences. Rob has also previously appeared on 8 Out of 10 Cats (Channel 4), Dave’s One Night Stand (Dave), Spoons (Channel 4), The Friday Night Project (Channel 4), Celebrity Juice (ITV2), and Sean Lock’s 15 Storeys High (BBC2), to name but a few.
Add these to his numerous radio shows, UK and European tours, a run at this year’s prestigious Montreal ‘s Just For Laughs Festival, and even an internet phenomenon with his now famous pet duck, Shaniqua (R.I.P.), and you’ll see why Rob has always been known and loved for his hugely lively, loveable, honest, frank and seriously funny stand up comedy.
★★★★★ “Comedy guaranteed to lighten even the darkest of moods… always a step ahead of your expectations…” EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS
★★★★★ “Bursting with originality, energy and enthusiasm, Rob Rouse is a delirious but hilarious man” THE LIST
★★★★★ “Frankly brilliant” SUCHSMALLPORTIONS.COM
★★★★★“Hilarious, well-performed and incredibly endearing” PUBLIC REVIEWS
★★★★ “Just go and see it” THE SUNDAY TIMES
★★★★ “Belly Laugh funny” THE HERALD
★★★★ “Brilliant, uplifting fun” CHORTLE
★★★★ “Hilarious” THE ARTS DESK
★★★★ “Eye-wateringly hilarious” HAIRLINE
“A phenomenal performer… Rob Rouse is a born clown, a latter day Stan Laurel” TIME OUT
“Rob Rouse’s cartoon face and cheeky banter allow him to get away with murder” THE INDEPENDENT
*Contains strong language*
Miranda Hennessy is a comedian, actor and writer. Having just returned from the Edinburgh Fringe with her sketch group Hennessy & Friends, Miranda, David Seymour and Stephen Shapland are set to perform their debut sketch and character comedy show at the Leicester Square Theatre on 4th October. The show is a hilarious whirlwind of ageing Disney princesses, environmentalist foxes and a sickeningly good little boy named Jimmy.
Directed by Natalie Bailey (The Thick Of It, Hotel Trubble).
‘Talent to keep tabs on’ (Guardian)
‘More ideas per minute than most sketch groups manage in the space of an hour’ (Guardian)
‘A delightfully screwy affair’ (Guardian)
Comedy Blogedy: How long have you been gigging in stand-up?
Jacinta Hunter: I started gigging a little over a year ago but only very occasionally. I just started gigging more regularly in the past month or so.
Comedy Blogedy: How would you describe your comedy?
Jacinta Hunter: I always find this question difficult to answer! I asked my friend and he said it was whimsical, which apparently means playfully quaint or fanciful, which I like to think is pretty accurate. I think it’s quite easily accessible and light-hearted as well as I talk a lot about dating and flirting and things that most people have experience of and therefore can engage with.
Comedy Blogedy: Which comedians influence your comedy?
Jacinta Hunter: Probably Lou Sanders has influenced me the most – it was the first set I saw which was just really fun and slightly anarchic and wasn’t just standing on stage telling jokes (which I was always pretty sure I couldn’t do) and that made me think: ‘Hey, it’s OK to be different and a bit eccentric and weird. I can totally do this!’ I also saw Celia Pacquola and Angela Barnes the same night as her and I remember being very encouraged and pretty inspired by seeing so many hilarious women in the same line-up.
Comedy Blogedy: Did you always want to go into comedy?
Jacinta Hunter: Well, I’ve wanted to appear on ‘Just a Minute’ ever since I was about 10 and first started listening to it with my Dad. But I guess I first started thinking about it more seriously when I was 16 and started watching a lot of comedy and flyering at the Fringe and realising that this seemed like a pretty fun world to get involved with.
Comedy Blogedy: How do you go about writing your material?
Jacinta Hunter: I always carry a little red notebook around with me everywhere specifically for comedy ideas and then, if anything at all strikes me as potentially funny, I write it in there. Then I try to put the best bits of that together into a set.
Comedy Blogedy: Do you gig as a stand-up full time or is it more of a part-time hobby? If so, do you find that your main job influences your material?
Jacinta Hunter: Definitely part time at the moment. I currently waitress and do some occasional office work to earn money but I wouldn’t say it affects my comedy very much at all. I do definitely try to observe different types of people while waitressing though and I do take notes sometimes so it might slip into a set at some point.
Comedy Blogedy: What do you find the most enjoyable and frustrating parts of the amateur comedy circuit?
Jacinta Hunter: It can be a lot of fun and it’s nice to meet other starting out comedians who are usually very supportive of each other and open-mic nights are an excellent way to hone your material and get it really good. It is very difficult to get seen though. A lot of open mic nights are fairly badly run and are just attended by other new acts and so it’s unlikely that someone who could actually further your career and get you paid gigs is going to ever see you there.
Comedy Blogedy: What’s your favourite type of audience to perform to?
Jacinta Hunter: I guess a fairly relaxed and friendly and not too drunk audience is good as my material’s quite gentle and seems to go down well with that sort of vibe.
Comedy Blogedy: Have you been heckled a lot since you’ve started gigging? Do you enjoy being heckled? What’s the best heckle you’ve had?
Jacinta Hunter: I’ve actually only been heckled once (so far) and it was at my most recent gig. I was talking about a comedian I’d had a ‘Fringe Fling’ with one year in Edinburgh and then a few people (including the compere) started shouting: ‘Who was it? Tell us his name! etc’ and I realised I probably wouldn’t be able to carry on unless I told them. So I did, and none of them knew him, but they spent the next few minutes making jokes about how they had all had sex with him. In that situation I thought it was pretty fun as it was fairly benign heckling and they were all still laughing and enjoying themselves, but I’m not sure how I’d react to a nasty heckler.
Comedy Blogedy: What advice would you give to new acts thinking about starting out in comedy?
Jacinta Hunter: Buy a notebook and write everything down as soon of you think of it. Once you’ve got enough for what you think could be a fairly alright set then look up some open-mic nights and email them to book spots so you can’t easily get out of it. Once you’re there accept that you’re nervous and enjoy it because if you seem like you’re enjoying yourself the audience will almost definitely relax and enjoy it too. And don’t be put off if the audience don’t laugh! That’s the best advice I was ever given. Also, watch as much comedy as you can and network!
Comedy Blogedy: How long have you been gigging in stand-up?
Michael Sterrett: I’ve been going since October 2011 so I’m fast approaching a year in stand up.
Comedy Blogedy: How would you describe your comedy?
Michael Sterrett: Well, I tend to get tagged with ‘dark’. I was under the misapprehension that everyone had dreadful unhealthy thoughts so dark isn’t really how I would describe myself. I would say what I’m trying to do is raw confessional stand up.
Comedy Blogedy: Which comedians influence your comedy?
Michael Sterrett: I lean towards American comedy, people like Marc Maron and Dave Attell. I’m kind of fascinated by damaged guys who own their own neuroses and anxiety but are still tough and cut through the bullshit. I’d say though that I’m equally influenced by writers like Charles Bukowski and John Fante, I think they were coming from a similar place but just worked in a different medium. And I absolutely love a guy called Tom Scharpling who has a radio programme called The Best Show on WFMU in New Jersey, I think he’s probably the funniest most original voice working in comedy at the moment.
Comedy Blogedy: Did you always want to go into comedy?
Michael Sterrett: I think so, but I’m such a coward that the fear of trying it and failing put the kibosh on any remote dreams I might have had. Luckily, or unluckily, I reached a point in my life where I really had nothing to lose. The toxic combination of intense self-loathing and narciccism that fuels most comics reached fever pitch and the idea that a bunch of people in a comedy club might hate me seemed relatively inconsequential in relation to the horror show that is my personal life.
Comedy Blogedy: How do you go about writing your material?
Michael Sterrett: I don’t really writes gags as such, it’s more my skewed take on things. I talk a lot about relationships and issues I have with certain things so I’m essentially just dipping into the well of my experience and pushing myself to see how far I’m willing to go. I don’t write anything down, it’s more like I’m trying to make a psychoanalyst laugh at my pain.
Comedy Blogedy: Do you gig as a stand-up full time or is it more of a part-time hobby? If so, do you find that your main job influences your material?
Michael Sterrett: I’m still at the early stages but I’d say it’s a full time preoccupation. I think it’s a bit like doing crack or something, it might begin as a hobby but give it a couple of weeks and you will have sold all your belongings and your kids will be in care. I’ve worked all manner of menial jobs but the only real influence they have is that they give you some money to keep being able to travel to gigs and they force you to interact with other people outside of doing comedy.
Comedy Blogedy: What’s your favourite type of audience to perform to?
Michael Sterrett: The best audience is a group of complete strangers, late at night in a tiny dark room.
Comedy Blogedy: Have you been heckled a lot since you’ve started gigging? Do you enjoy being heckled? What’s the best heckle you’ve had?
Michael Sterrett: I’ve had my fair share. There tend to be two types of hecklers; ones who think they’re helping and joining in with the conversation, and ones who just want the attention and resent the fact that they aren’t the main focus in the room. I hate both equally. The best heckle I’ve had was more a critique after a gig. A guy came up to me and said “You’re really not funny, you’re like a cross between Frankie Boyle and Russ Abbott”. He then proceeded to tell me that I should do more jokes making fun of people in wheelchairs. One of the dumbest people I’ve ever met.
Comedy Blogedy: What advice would you give to new acts thinking about starting out in comedy?
Michael Sterrett: Don’t be scared, don’t be worried about failing. Don’t listen to any advice from your friends, family or co-workers – 99.9% of them don’t have a clue what they are talking about when it comes to comedy. Find other comics that are on your wavelength and start booking your own gigs and creating your own scene. Be in it for the long haul. Developing a drinking problem will also help.
Interview with Alex Edelman by Humour Me (Comedy Blogedy) on Mixcloud
Alex Edelman, an American comedian, talks to Sara Shulman about the art of stand-up comedy.
Comedy Blogedy: How long have you been gigging in stand-up?
David McAndrew: I did my first open spot in November 2008 and it was a complete disaster – microphone too near my mouth, too drunk, too much swearing, lack of quality, material and practice. What also added to my nerves was that the room had a bad atmosphere even before any act had been on due to some guys who had been drinking in the bar all day.
I was completely hooked.
Comedy Blogedy: How would you describe your comedy?
David McAndrew: Place the flour, sugar, cocoa and chocolate chips into a large bowl. Add the oil, creme fraiche and eggs. Beat together until smooth and slightly fudgy.
Hang on… that’s the description about how to make Chocolate and Vanilla Cupcakes!
Er…. Next question please.
Comedy Blogedy: Which comedians influence your comedy?
David McAndrew: “When I was growing up, I loved Eric & Ernie, the Two Ronnies, old films of Bob Hope, Norman Wisdom, Peter Sellers and episodes of Sgt Bilko (still do). Now it’s John Shuttleworth, Ivan Brackenbury, Frank Skinner, Lee Mac, Sean Lock & Mickey Flanagan.
Comedy Blogedy: Did you always want to go into comedy?
David McAndrew: I have always wanted to do something that involved being creative. The whole process of thinking of an idea, finding the right words, testing your material, editing it or binning it. The feeling when an audience laughs at something you’ve created and then performed is possibly the best feeling in the world.
I’ve come to stand-up a lot later than most starting out (I’m now 41) but I can’t imagine not being involved with it, it’s like………….
“HONEY I’M HOME!”
Comedy Blogedy: How do you go about writing your material?
David McAndrew: I get inspiration from all over. I may see something, someone might say or do something, memories, imagination, everywhere really. I very rarely sit down with a blank piece of paper and write.
I tend to put notes on my phone or scraps of paper and go back to them at a later date, look at what I’ve hurriedly wrote thinking …. What the bloody hell did I write that for?
Comedy Blogedy: Do you gig as a stand-up full time or is it more of a part-time hobby? If so, do you find that your main job influences your material?
David McAndrew: It’s just a part time hobby. I work full time in Finance & Procurement in Leeds so as for inspiration that’s about as funny as a bone marrow transplant. I also work every other weekend with adults with learning disabilities. You’re trying to improve people’s quality of life so I try and bring as much fun into my role as is possible. The main influence for my material are my experiences in life and my family (especially my dad). He does strange things like makes his own braces from string and key rings. He boiled his spectacles and once left his false teeth behind in a café.
Comedy Blogedy: What do you find the most enjoyable and frustrating parts of the amateur comedy circuit?
David McAndrew: Enjoyable – making new friends, travelling, the buzz of going on stage and the high of when everything has gone fabulous.
Frustrating – Not getting replies to my emails from promoters, (they are soon deleted from Facebook).
What’s your favourite type of audience to perform to?
Breathing and if possible… awake.
Comedy Blogedy: Have you been heckled a lot since you’ve started gigging? Do you enjoy being heckled? What’s the best heckle you’ve had?
David McAndrew: I’ve had a few heckles but not that many. I actually don’t mind a bit of banter. It’s always either someone who’s really drunk and wants to be the centre of attraction or someone who genuinely thinks they are doing you a favour. As for best heckle, nothing springs to mind as most are just a drunken slurred shout!
Comedy Blogedy: What advice would you give to new acts thinking about starting out in comedy?
David McAndrew: Gig as much as you can. Write as often as you can. Don’t keep churning out material that’s bilge. Get a solid 5, then 8, then ten etc. ENJOY IT !
Comedy Blogedy: How long have you been gigging in stand-up?
Ryan Withers: Good thanks. I mean 4 years. Sorry I’m such an idiot.
Comedy Blogedy: How would you describe your comedy?
Ryan Withers: It’s kinda silly, I like doing big fun theatrical stand-up shows but make them weird. What’s with all the questions, what is this a Comedy Blogedy interview?
Comedy Blogedy: How long have you been gigging in stand-up?
Si Finnigan: I’ve been doing stand up a little over a year now. My first gig was an Open Mic in Huddersfield, my friend drove me all the way to the venue and I remember being so nervous. I walked to the guy behind the bar and asked when the comedy will start; he told me it wasn’t till the next night. I had to go through the whole thing all over again 24 hours later and proceeded to bomb in front of 4 acts, 2 punters and the bartender I spoke with the night before. It was the 20th April, 2011.
Comedy Blogedy: How long have you been gigging in stand-up?
Madeleine Culp: I’ve been doing solo stand-up comedy from January this year (2012). Before that I worked in a duo for 3 years. Doing solo stand-up is fun but took sometime to get used to. I’m still working it out. It’s like a roller coaster… one where you have the fear of popping your pants while you are on it… but it rarely happens. Rarely.
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