Comedy / Simon Amstell
Simon Amstell on his journey into the Spirit Hole
Although he has garnered huge success not only in standup, but as a writer, actor (Grandma’s House) and director (Carnage; Benjamin), Simon Amstell’s unique brand of self-deprecating warmth has endured.
Characterised for confessional and empathetic comedy, Amstell has in recent years come to know himself better than ever before, and has a decidedly no-holds barred approach when taking the mic.
“I feel like I clear away a lot of shame by saying out loud that I’m worried about saying,” he admits.
is needed now More than ever
“What I’m really scared of is leaving something out and then it remains this little demon in my head that’s making me feel like there’s something wrong with me.
“But the second I say the thing out loud that I feel embarrassed or ashamed to say and realise that nothing happened, nobody walked out of the room, it’s incredibly freeing.”
At the heart of his latest tour show Spirit Hole – coming to The Redgrave Theatre for two back to back performances on May 28 – is his search for enlightenment.
Simon Amstell – photo: Harry Carr
He delves into his experiences of a Berlin sex club; an ayahuasca ceremony; and magic mushrooms, whose hallucinogenic effects have had a profound impact on his psyche.
“Thanks to a lot of magic mushrooms, I feel like I really know some stuff now that I didn’t know before,” he reflects.
“I’m very respectful of the mushroom. The mushroom is very powerful. I mean, it can be fun, but it’s not just a fun trip to me. It’s a healing, spiritual journey. I do it very ceremonially. There’s a lot of ritual.”
Simon Amstell – photo: Harry Carr
Amstell turned 40 before the pandemic, and for a period, he found himself to be unhappily preoccupied with ageing process.
And, like much of his personal life, his decision to talk about it in the public forum of his standup has helped him to come to terms with it in a meaningful way.
“I think making fun of myself every night on stage, in relation to the panic about getting older, is a really healing thing to do,” he says.
“It means that if I start to feel those anxieties again, there’s material already written about how ridiculous I am.”
Simon Amstell, Spirit Hole – image: courtesy of Mick Perrin Worldwide
Simon Amstell: Spirit Hole is at The Redgrave Theatre on May 28 at 3pm, with a second show at 8pm. Tickets are available at www.redgravetheatre.com.
Main photo: Harry Carr
Read more: Inaugural Bristol Comedy Festival promises to fill Old Market with laughter
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
