In his tenth solo show, Rob Auton finally turns the spotlight on himself

In recent years, Rob Auton has turned his creative attentions to a myriad of themes, all carefully considered through his unique lens, blending stand-up with thoughtful poetry and lyrical spoken word.

In so doing, the former graphic art student and advertising creative has found a loyal following that allows him to tour nationwide.

Following a smash-hit Edinburgh Fringe run, it is a process he is once more about to undertake from winter into spring 2024 with his most autobiographical work to date: The Rob Auton Show.

For many, it is Auton’s emotional openness, reflection and enduring fascination for everyday life, in all its mundanity, that makes him so beguiling.

Even when going through bleak times, it is that aspect of his nature and outlook that prompts him to repeat the mantra “I love today”.

Photo: Julian Ward

What are you focused on today, Rob?

“Today I’m focused on putting energy into the right places such as my laptop as I’m writing some new episodes of my daily poetry podcast that’s coming back next year. Right now I’m focused on the fact I’ve started self promoting within a few words of this interview starting. I hope that’s OK. I’ve also been focusing on the Lidl bakery section.”

After nine thematic shows on everything from yellow, to hair, to sleep, what inspired you to shine the spotlight on yourself?

“It seemed like the right time to do it. The ninth show – The Crowd Show – was about crowds, so it felt like the next one should be about me. I realised I hadn’t really gone into my past very much with previous shows; I used my imagination a lot, whereas this one is more set in the reality of my life.

“There’s some stories that I’ve wanted to share for a while but they never fitted in with a theme before; now I’ve been able to get them in.”

Photo: David Monteith-Hodge

What are the challenges and freedoms of a more autobiographical approach?

“I think the challenges include finding the stories and memories from life that can mean something to other people who aren’t me. I wanted to find passages and nostalgia that made people think about their own lives through me talking about mine, whether that be my first job in a restaurant or my first memory or my first girlfriend or how I feel about myself when I’m around others.

“The freedoms were me being able to go into my life and memory and try stuff out at work in progress shows and see if the material I was sharing worked or not. I think I did 31 of these before Edinburgh, so I had the freedom of trying lots of different bits until I found a combination of material that worked together as a whole piece.”

Photo: Julian Ward

Has your relationship with yourself changed as a result of the show?

“I think it has actually. I vocalised a lot of images that had been in my brain for years. Events I think about that I had never said out loud. Saying them made me think ‘did that really happen?’

“I think my relationship is better with myself now than it was before I wrote this show. That might sound like a grand statement but I definitely feel like I now know a lot of people have got strange specific memories from their lives just like I have.”

Photo: David Monteith-Hodge

Lastly, how do you feel about the incredible critical and audience response to The Rob Auton Show? Does it leave you wondering where to go next?

“It does a bit. I thought this one would be the last themed show I did but I’m starting to have a few ideas that might lead to something. I’m really glad the audiences at the Edinburgh Festival seemed to get what I was on about. Meeting people after the show when I was selling my merch was the highlight of the month for me for sure.

“I’m chuffed that it got some good reviews but I think it’s important to go into every show knowing that if I don’t do it properly it’s going to be an absolute nightmare. A show can have good reviews but if the cast or the performer doesn’t turn up and attempts to phone it in on the day then there’s nothing there. ‘Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games’ as Babe Ruth said. So I’m really looking forward to coming to Bristol and Bath, and trying my best to deliver a show I’ve worked hard on.”

Photo: Julian Ward

Rob Auton is on a nationwide tour with The Rob Auton Show from January-May 2024, including dates at the Rondo, Bath on February 6 and Tobacco Factory Theatres on February 9. For more info and tickets, visit www.robauton.co.uk.

Main photo: David Monteith-Hodge

Read more: Genre-defying Rob Auton takes on crowds, and explains why he stands up in front of them

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