Jordan Brookes: ‘That’s the most enjoyable thing, seeing people who are laughing but not knowing why’

Edinburgh’s ‘longest reigning’ comedy award winner Jordan Brookes (whose 2019 accolade was the last year the awards took place) is warming up for an Autumn UK tour of his new show This Is Just What Happens.

The tour will be prefaced by a three week run at London’s Soho Theatre in May and June, for which Brookes is now doing work-in-progress sets.

On April 28, he will be headlining the brand new new material night from Bristol comedy promoters Chuckle Busters – which will be happening on weekly Thursdays at the Tank Room, King Street Brew House.

So what’s it all about this time? Brookes tells Bristol24/7 about coming back to live comedy, his relationship to audiences, and the horrifying idea of success:

How are you, and what have you been up to?

“I’m good! Wait, no. I feel terrible. Nope, I’m good I think. I’ve not been up to much, unless you count watching Married At First Sight Australia at an alarmingly fast rate, in which case I’ve been a very busy boy.”

What are your current preoccupations, both creatively, and more generally?

“As in, what stuff is currently on my mind? I’m staying in the shallow end at the moment. No big thoughts, no big worries. Total lockdown on the noggin. I only think about is it time to eat, is it time to sleep, does that person hate me, will I ever be happy, why do I keep waking up screaming?”

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How does it feel to be gigging again after what the last couple of years did to live comedy?

“There’s a morbid part of me that wanted it to never come back, just to see what I’d do. Some time off was good though; none of it seems as important as it used to.”

You’re currently warming up for a UK tour of This Is Just What Happens. Can you tell us anything about it, or is it another one like Bleed, for which it’s arguably better for audiences to go in cold?

“It’s definitely nothing like Bleed, which was an all-out assault on the senses and more theatrical.

“This is just currently an hour of anything and everything I think is funny. No huge themes or tricks really. Can’t be arsed with all that. Too stressful. Here’s some funny faces, enjoy your weekend.”

Jordan Brookes – Bleed – photo: courtesy of Jordan Brookes

What sort of personalities do you most enjoy playing to? What is your internal response when the live experience throws up moments that some audience members may find difficult, while others are delighting in them?

“I don’t have any preference of personality to be honest. I’m always surprised by who likes my stuff, and sometimes they look surprised that they like it. I guess that’s the most enjoyable thing, seeing people who are laughing but not knowing why.

“I don’t like seeing audience members deeply distressed, it doesn’t bring me any joy to know I might be ruining their evening. But everyone’s threshold is different, there’s only so much awareness I can pay to that.”

How do you feel about your own success? Can you see it, objectively?

“I deeply wish none of this had happened. I could be married with kids now, living a quiet humble life, just getting on with things. Instead I’ve chosen to make my living off the dumbest thing. I’m an idiot.

“It’s deeply embarrassing telling people you’re a comedian. It’s like admitting you’ve got a weird disease.”

Tank Room Thursdays is a weekly new material night from Chuckle Busters at King Street Brew House, at 7.30pm. Jordan Brookes is appearing on April 28. Other upcoming headline guests include Alisdair Beckett-King (April 14), Josh Jones (April 21), Ahir Shah (May 5), The Death Hilarious (May 19), Celya Ab (June 2), Anna Thomas (June 9) and Jenny Bede (June 16). Tickets to all shows are £6.50, available via www,chucklebusters.com.

Main photo: Jordan Brookes

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