Comedy / comedy box
Interview: Tom Allen (Comedy Box, Sat Dec 19)
An articulate comic with some great twists on the English language and some sharp observations on modern life, Tom Allen plays the Comedy Box this month. But will Bristol find him in festive, or frankly fastidious form?
“Allen is one of life’s true eccentrics,” opined The Guardian. Have they got you right?
I like the word ‘opined’. So thank you for that. I suppose I like taking an outsider view of things – because I think that, deep down, everyone is an outsider one way or another. Sure, they might behave like they’re in control when they’re overtaking you at the traffic lights or swearing at you for stealing their hamster – but really they’re just as lost as you. So I guess I’m an outsider in lots of ways, yes, and I guess that makes me a bit eccentric. I’ve never liked gillets, for example. Though I’ve never stolen a hamster.
We’ve seen you before and remember your delight in, and command of, language. Does the English language and its peculiarities provide you with a lot of pleasure?
Yes.
A lot of your stand-up comes from finding absurdity and oddity in life – yes?
I think most things can be viewed as absurd when you take a step back. I mean, have you seen how much time we spend looking at our phones? When I was at school I dreamt that the future would be like The Jetsons. Not just everyone obsessed with nothing.
And what do we have to show for it? There used to be a time when I looked out the window. I used to read novels!! And have actual thoughts. Now I just look at videos of ‘what a tortilla sounds like on a record player’.
We’re promised The Christmas Comedy Show… will you be in festive mood?
It’s going to be a great show. I find Christmas is quite a stressful time for everyone – a time we have to spend thinking about buying things for people who don’t want anything. And since when did the John Lewis advert become such a big deal?? No, I don’t want to hear an old pop song slowed down and sung by an asthmatic. And why do they have to be so sad?!? John Lewis sells washing machines!! Sorry, what was the question?
Will Bristol be getting a Christmassy, tinselly Tom Allen?
(I’m not nearly as angry as all these punctuation marks suggest by the way. But it’s good to have an angle). Oh – yes it’s going to be a wonderful show with a really great lineup and the perfect start to your Christmas holidays. So come! We’ll all have a lovely time!
The Christmas Comedy Show with Tom Allen and Friends The Comedy Box, Saturday, December 19. For more info and to book tickets, visit www.thecomedybox.co.uk
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