Wonderfull Discoverie at the Lowry – Thank You!
The reason I do comedy now is because I once did theatre. I spent years in a youth theatre learning to love performing, and to care about making stuff, and then eventually I decided to go off and do something similar, but where the job is to just be stupid all the time. It was so nice this month to finally repay the favour by helping to bring something from the comedy world back into a theatre space, where I learned you’re not supposed to have a drink before the show, you don’t need to run everywhere if you’re the director, and you’re not supposed to say “Do you want me to read this or not?” while giving a touch tour.
The amazing Edy Hurst came to me a little over a year ago asking if I would direct his new show, which had been commissioned by the Lowry.
We spent months since discussing and exploring his ideas and expanding them into something really imaginative and heartfelt and daft and original, and throughout I think we both had a vision that this would be much more than just a silly Fringe-y comedy show. It was that, of course, at its heart, because that’s what both of us love making, but we both wanted it to transform into a proper theatrical spectacle as well.
So it was such a joy this month to finally give the show its proper launch at the Lowry and see it really come into its own as something that looks and sounds and feels truly spectacular, and that’s all down to the incredible team Edy assembled around it. Everyone was fantastic and I’m so proud of what we made together.
It’s off on tour now! First dates are at Camden Peoples Theatre in December, and there’s more dates running into next year. Go and see it if it’s coming to a theatre near you! It’s a really lovely, brilliant show and it holds a very special place in my heart.