Return to Superglad showcases the stand-up comedy of Ben Clover and Nick Elleray. Ben combines top-notch joke writing and silliness with whip-smart one-liners. Nick, mines his own life for… something else. Martin Walker catches up with Nick by email.
Well, there are jokes. There are a lot of hey-that's-a-joke jokes, but also some oh-was-that-a-joke? jokes, as well as some it's-a-day-later-and-I-now-realise-that-was-a-joke jokes.
“The show is called Return to Superglad and it's on the top deck of a bus – omg, random, lol, I know. I'm doing it with the very funny Ben Clover, who is a great joke writer (and teller), we do half-an-hour of stand-up each, with no overarching theme other than 'funny'. Ben mixes everyday subjects with the absurd and arcane. I talk about personal things, but purely as a means of getting to say something stupid or funny.
“Can I use the word 'funny' again? Thanks. FUNNY.”
Why did you choose to perform as part of Laughing Horse?
“To be honest, I thought I would get to meet an actual horse.”
How do you describe your comedy to those that might not have seen you before?
“Well, there are jokes. There are a lot of hey-that's-a-joke jokes, but also some oh-was-that-a-joke? jokes, as well as some it's-a-day-later-and-I-now-realise-that-was-a-joke jokes.
“Also: a lot of comics use 'self-deprecation', but I've moved on and am now using 'else-deprecation'. You weedy git.”
What advice would you give your seventeen year old self?
“She doesn't like you, get over it.
“No, she doesn't either.
“Nor her.
“Jeez, just... settle down, will you?”
If you were curating a stand-up show for television, who would be your guests?
“My first instinct is: anyone I'm funnier than. Not good for the show, but good for my thirsty, gasping ego.
“My finer instinct would be to select: Tom Ward, who is in top form at the moment and is doing a show with the wonderful Richard Todd – get both of them on; Mr Susie (Mark Davison), a man who makes me laugh just thinking of his face; Maria Bamford, because she's Maria Bamford; and Sunil Patel, because he owes me nine quid and won't return my calls.”
Broadway Baby Listing and Edinburgh Fringe Box Office: http://www.broadwaybaby.com/shows/return-to-superglad/702164
Twitter @NickElleray
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Photo Credit: Bruce Haydn
