Ian Smith brings his latest smash-hit comedy show to Bristol

Having performed all over the world to critical acclaim, standup, actor, writer and podcaster Ian Smith is already a familiar face, and voice, to many comedy fans.

As well as being a regular guest on Radio 4’s The News Quiz and The Now Show with a recent debut appearance on Just a Minute, along with fellow comic Amy Gledhill he co-hosts the hugely popular Northern News podcast, produced by Plosive (the stable behind Off Menu).

He also has a Radio 4 stand-up series about stress commissioned for 2024. It’s a theme that is central to his Edinburgh Comedy Award-nominated show Crushing, which brought him a glut of terrific reviews – and a sell-out run – during the Fringe.

Now embarking on his debut national tour, Smith will be bringing the show to the Alma Tavern & Theatre on March 28.

Can you introduce the key ideas that underpin Crushing, and why they coalesced into a show?

“The show is about stress, love and driving a tank over a car in Slovakia with my hairdresser. Stressing out seems to be my main emotional state and I’d just been told by my dentist that I was grinding my teeth due to stress. You’ll have to watch the show to see how this resulted in me going to Slovakia with my hairdresser and smashing up an old Mondeo.”

How would you describe your comic sensibility? Are you more delighted by the silly, or the clever?

“I think I like to be silly on stage, to play the fool a bit in my stories – but I hope people can see the cleverness and thinking behind it all. Really, I just want to make people laugh as much as possible. I don’t feel I need to try and prove anything intellectually – but I always carry my GCSE, A-Level and degree results with me in a big laminated print out.”

What was your reaction to your incredible Edinburgh Fringe run?

“I was so happy with how it went – it’s always been a dream to get nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award, and I was really blown away by the reviews and press. I worked really hard on the show and loved performing it, so it’s just so nice to see an audience enjoying it and feeling some word of mouth spread around the Fringe.”

How are you feeling about taking your show on the road? Have you been surprised by any of the dates so far?

“So far I’ve just done my London run, a week at Soho Theatre, and we’ve extended that. I’m really excited to tour the show. I’m a big fan of comedy, train travel and budget hotels, so to find a career that combine all three is perfect. What I will say from London is that I’m surprised how many people from my small Northern home town of Goole came along! I didn’t realise so many of us had relocated to the big smoke.”

Do you have any particular expectations of a Bristol audience?

“I’ve gigged in Bristol quite a lot and really enjoyed it. In my head, I’m expecting some cool students, with a smattering of old people. Maybe at least one odd man in the corner who doesn’t laugh and just stares at me directly in the eye. Let’s see!”

Ian Smith: Crushing is at The Alma Tavern & Theatre on March 28 at 8pm. Tickets are available at www.chucklebusters.com.

All photos: Matt Stronge

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