Paul Foot is coming to Nottingham. That’s right, arguably the most surreal, anarchic, inventive and downright eccentric comedian working the clubs and concert halls of the UK today. As well as an abundance of accolades and comedy awards he inspires an almost obsessive devotion in his fans. Thank God he’s only doing comedy.
Tell us about your forthcoming show.
Ah yes, Still Life. Well, it's all a bit of a palaver really. This time parts of the show are dictated by a hobby-horse, there's some ranting, there's a section based in an ill-thought-out pineapple-themed shop. My connoisseurs are introduced to a new type of humour, which I have called "The Glimpses". I also make a pledge; there aren't enough pledges on the comedy circuit at the moment if you ask me, they're an oft-overlooked type of humour.
Will we be meeting Skeleton Johnson or any of your other personae?
Skeleton Johnson shows his skull yes, and Penny is lurking in the show somewhere.
So you don’t have fans, you have connoisseurs. What do connoisseurs do exactly?
Fans are fans of people, whereas connoisseurs are those who appreciate a certain art form - in this case, my humours. My connoisseurs enjoy my comedy but they are not fans of me - indeed, most of them wouldn't be bothered if I were run over by a bus (apart from the fact that my work would end, of course).
How would you describe your comedy?
I usually come onto the stage. Then, if it's a good atmosphere, I'll say a few thoughts from my own mind. Afterwards I go home.
One of your recurring themes is disturbances. What exactly is a disturbance?
A Disturbance is like when you bang your head on a cupboard in the kitchen and an odd vision floats before your inner eye. They're one of the categories of my comedy.
This is your first UK tour, are you nervous?
Well I've been performing up down the UK for about fifteen years, it's just this year I decided to link the shows and write them up into a list and call it a UK tour. I don't know why other comedians haven't tried it - it makes life much easier. Things that make me nervous? Hmm. Set menus make me nervous, and so do patios, and seals make me nervous - where do you buy seal food? How do you walk a seal? I feel uncomfortable just thinking about it.
I understand you do secret shows for the connoisseurs. Do the secret shows differ from the not secret?
The Secret Shows are the ultimate shows. They're undiluted shows that quite frankly would make a non-connoisseur's head implode. They take place in secret venues of course, there are usually only about fifty people at a secret show.
Where do you draw inspiration for your surreal routines?
I became a comedian because I thought it would be my best chance of meeting Ella Fitzgerald. The surreal routines come from deep inside of me somewhere. I think they're a sort of response to the world that we live in, a world which is generally speaking down-trodden, piss-poor and full of delays.
How much do you differ in real life from your professional image?
It is the real Paul Foot that you see onstage. Offstage you usually see Jeremiah Alcove-Plarr, a session actor who looks quite a lot like me.
There is an idea, perhaps a stereotype, that great comedians are depressives? What are you thoughts on that?
I did spend a few years in a relationship with this ancient woman from medieval times called The Loneliness. But she is gone now. She borrowed a jigsaw puzzle as well and she never gave it back.
You studied Maths at Oxford, how did you get from there to comedy genius?
I no longer discuss my university years because I find it all so boring to talk about. I was a comedian for about fifteen years before I became an overnight success.
Do you ever use comedy to challenge attitudes, for example homophobia?
Well I presume you ask that because you've watched my YouTubular video entitled The Levels of Homophobia? I don't use my comedy to challenge attitudes, no. I use my comedy to pay for my car's tax sticker and to fund my growing collection of sulphur ornaments.
What advice would you to any LeftLion readers wanting to break into stand-up comedy?
I would say crack on with it, there's no time to muck about.
If we say the word ‘Nottingham’ to you what springs to mind?
Well, I am currently the face of Virgin Mobile in Australia, and I played a character called Robin Da Hood, filming my scenes in Sherwood, Brisbane; so I have good memories of Robin Hood territory. Whilst in Nottingham I might visit the Robin Hood museum so that I can stock up on non-violent replica arrows.
Anything else you’d like to share with the readers of LeftLion?
Yes, did you know the Ottoman Empire is chiefly remembered today for footstools? A sad end to an empire.
Paul Foot will be performing Still Life Tour at The Glee Club Nottingham on Sunday 23 October
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