A punchline powerhouse with a genuinely unique act, Lee Ridley is adept at skewering his audience’s unspoken prejudices. Unable to speak due to his cerebral palsy, Lee communicates entirely through an electronic aid, on- and off-stage.  We discuss how he overcomes the specific challenges this presents to a comic, and learn in more than usual detail how he “found his voice”.  And why he chose that accent…

Follow Lee’s work at [lostvoiceguy.com]

Get tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour

@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com

And don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here.

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Alternative Comedy, BBC, disability, Diversity, Heckles, Improv, iPad, Lee Ridley, lost voice guy, Stereotypes, Success

Immaculate in appearance, delivery and hit-rate, Rhys Nicholson is a perfectly-balanced cocktail of a comedian.  We discuss the relationship between his face, his “face” and the world of drag, and zero in on the pressures of following up an award-nominated show…

Get tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour

@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com

And don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here.

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Australia, Character, Competitions, Diversity, Drag, Edinburgh, Gender, Melbourne, Persona, rhys nicholson, So You Think You’re Funny, TV

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Filed Under: Alternative Comedy, Audiences, BBC, Edgy, Edinburgh, Jeremy Hardy, Jobs, political, Political Humour, Radio, Radio 4, Soho Theatre, Stage Persona, Stewart Lee, Success, TV

Aunty Donna are a six-man sketch team with specialists in video, sound design and stage direction reinforcing the classic clown family of octopus Statham, wild-eyed loon and wanking sex-monkey.  We talk about the method behind the madness, the effect their online presence has on their creativity, and the meetings required to steer a six person/six partner battleship.

www.youtube.com/user/TheAuntyDonnaChannel

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Aunty Donna, Australia, Character, Criticism, Diversity, Edinburgh, Jobs, Melbourne, Sketch, Success, TV, YouTube

Having grown up in Tasmania at a time when her very sexuality was illegal, Hannah Gadsby has forged her anger into an annihilating comic weapon. Her new show “Nanette” is a heart-wrenching piece of work that rails against the failings of comedy itself to tell enough of the truth. We talk about honesty and accessibility, and her decision to stop being a comedian.

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Audiences, Depression, Edinburgh, Equality, Feminism, Gender, Hannah Gadsby, Melbourne, Mental Health, Storytelling, TV

No interview this week, but loads of great ones on the way, so this week I’m giving you an update of what’s been happening in Melbourne.

If you’re going to the Melbourne Comedy Festival then make sure you see Deanne Smith, Aunty Donna, Aaron Chen, Tom Walker, Des Bishop, Ahir Shah, Becky Lucas and Rebecca Walker.

Stu’s current tour of UK and Melbourne: www.comedianscomedian.com/tour

Support the show www.comedianscomedian.com/donate

Download Stu’s stand-up www.comedianscomedian.com/shop

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Australia, Melbourne

One of the most iconoclastic, pioneering and influential comedians in Britain, Stewart Lee has forged his post-punk ideals into a thrillingly funny live act, with the very form at his fingertips. We explore the deliberately uncomfortable tension between the man and the stage persona; discuss his self-imposed exclusion from the comedy community; and investigate his unshakeable conviction that he is in fact unsuccessful.

Follow Stewart on tour www.stewartlee.co.uk

Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders

@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com
And don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here.

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Age, Alternative Comedy, Argument, Audiences, BBC, Character, Criticism, Double Act, Edinburgh, Fame, Fear, Heckles, Improv, Isolation, London, Reviews, Stage Persona, Stewart Lee, Storytelling, Success, The Guardian, Touring Comedian, TV

An electrifying live performer, with a casual brutality that has audiences laughing despite themselves, Paul Chowdhry sells far more tickets than his mid-level TV profile might suggest. We talk about his outsider status, the racial abuse he suffered as a child, and the responsibility or otherwise of the comedian to challenge the status quo.

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Filed Under: Age, Audiences, Criticism, Dark Humour, Def Jam, Diversity, Inspiration, Mainstream, Open Mic, Paul Chowdhry, Stereotypes, Storytelling, Success, TV, YouTube