Star of BBC’s QI and Jonathan Creek, Alan Davies brought his sold-out Little Victories tour to Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn on Wednesday 18th November.
Entertainment reporter Jenna Feasey caught up with Alan ahead of his performance.
Your show is called Little Victories – what is it all about and where is the title taken from?
It basically follows on from my earlier show, Life Is Pain, and covers quite a lot of topics including family life, parents, and the kids driving you mad. I think the title helps to differentiate it from my last tour and shows that it’s two hours of brand spanking new material; ‘Little Victories’ comes from an anecdote about trying to get one over on my dad.
How do you feel the audiences have responded to the show?
They’ve responded really well. I started out in Australia, before taking the show to Europe, covering Zurich, Geneva, Dublin, and Belfast. I’ve also recently performed it in New Zealand. The tour began in 2014 and continued into this year, so I’m now gearing up for the final leg and taking it to the towns I’ve never been before. I haven’t ever been to Shrewsbury so I’m looking forward to taking the show there.
In 2011 you made a return to stand-up for the first time in years. During that time period did you find that much had changed within that particular area of comedy?
I think there have been a lot of changes. I did Edinburgh in 2001 and then, in 2011, performed in Australia, so there was a ten year period in which I didn’t do any stand-up. Within that time there has been so much more in the way of stand-up and comedians on television. When I started out they used to say stand-up would not work on tv, as people watching at home won’t enjoy it and will just wish they were there instead. But these days there are many more comedians, appearing on panel shows and the like – such programming has proven to be popular and you find there is now a lot more competition.
The downside of it all is that it’s the comedy clubs that are suffering; local acts are not getting as much support as they once would as everyone is out watching touring comedians. I think it will all contract and reach a breaking point soon. Not all people see me as a stand-up comedian, or are even aware it’s something that I do; they may come to watch me perform because of the popularity of QI or Jonathan Creek, so it can be an eye-opener for them.
Do you think your own brand of comedy and humour has changed much over the years?
I do, yes. I try to be as funny as possible but think there is a smidgeon of wisdom there now, that comes with age. As a comedian you get older and get better; I’ve lived through more and know more, so now there is also more to say and draw humour from.
What do you love most about stand-up?
I started out doing stand-up, it’s my strength and it’s what I’m best at. I consider it my trade; if everything were to fall apart and there were to be no new television series then it’s something I can fall back onto. Stand-up has been something I have always loved doing and wanted to do ever since I was a student, and I have been lucky that no one has ever told me I should stop.
What do you consider to be the key to pleasing an audience?
I’m not really sure what I would say the key is. I think it’s important to enjoy yourself on stage as then the audience will enjoy themselves too. I’m not worried about the material of this tour, as the response so far has shown that it works.
Do you plan to continue with stand-up after this tour comes to a close or will you be taking another hiatus?
After this tour I’m not sure when the next one will be. I do have some things on the back burner but will not be touring next year. I may start looking at some dates in 2017 or 2018.
In terms of television what can we look forward to?
There will be a new series of Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled and hopefully more Jonathan Creek and QI too. I’m lucky to be a part of such popular shows, which keep on going and people want to see more of.
Interview by: Jenna Feasey