We talked to Phil Green about his background and his show, Four Weddings & A Breakdown.
You can't really diagnose a breakdown
Phil, You're relatively fresh face on the comedy scene - where have you been?
I didn't start doing stand-up until my mid(ish) 30s, so I'm delighted to be called fresh-faced! I worked in the big bad corporate world for many years before comedy, so I've mostly been in pointless meetings.
And what took you to the path of comedy?
One of my best friends had been saying for years he wanted us to do a comedy course together. I had always been a bit of a comedy nerd but never had the confidence to actually do it. Then a few years ago he split up with his long-term partner and wanted to finally do the course to take his mind off things, so I went along to support him. It was six weeks and we had a showcase performance at the end in a London comedy club which went well. He quit after our second gig but I had the bug so carried on, and now, here I am still doing this!
From the title Four Weddings & A Breakdown, are these your own four weddings and your own breakdown you're talking about?
My own breakdown certainly (although, as I say in the show, you can't really diagnose a breakdown). The weddings though are four weddings of couples from four different generations I went to last year. I found it interesting how differently each generation viewed what a life path should be. Four times married, even at my age, would really be going some!
Do you find it easy to turn a serious subject into a comedy show?
Quite easy actually. Although the show does talk about some serious subjects, I'm never too far away from a silly joke. I think if you can talk about serious issues in a humorous way it helps people connect with what you're saying.
For a relative newcomer, you've already been nominated for awards. Who would be your dream host to present you your next one?
Oh Eddie Izzard! I loved those specials as a teenager and, as a storyteller comic myself, that would be the ultimate honour.
Where has been your favourite place to perform so far?
I did a preview of my new show at The Bedford in Balham recently, which was one of the first places I saw live comedy 20 years ago, so to perform there was pretty special to me.
And where would be your, "Yes! I've made it" venue to perform?
It's a cliché but has to be The Apollo!
Finally, if there is one thing you could do this Fringe that you've never done before, what would it be?
I've still never had a deep-fried Mars Bar, so probably finally try one of those – washed down with an Irn-Bru, of course.
