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Today I went to Wells and back.
Wells is quite a lot nicer than Hell (I am guessing) and I have lots of memories of the place from the late 70s and early 80s, but as I am from Cheddar the people here are my enemies and I decided to punish them by doing two rubbish shows. That’ll show them
The people of Wells got their revenge in early. I was running mildly late and had to dash from the car park half a mile away caring heavy bags and was a bit flustered. I needed the loo before the gig and sat down in the gents. It was only when I was halfway through what I was doing that I spotted that there was no toilet paper. And without drawing you a diagram, I needed toilet paper. Because I was doing a shit. I will draw you a diagram.
My life is a rubbish sit com.
The only thing to hand was the empty toilet roll tube. Thanks Wells. You got me. This and making Wookey Hole the superior tourist attraction. It’s 2-0.
I got through it all and returned with some paper serviettes so no one else would fall victim to this. I didn’t tell the staff of the pub I was in because I felt it would be too embarrassing and they’d know what had happened to me. But I wasn’t too embarrassed to tell the story on stage in both my preview and my podcast. That’s weird right. But the on stage Richard Herring is a very different person to the off stage one. I envy him his frankness.
I had a crack at five or so new ideas in my first preview and they all had something interesting in them, though it’s a very, very long way from being a show. I mean it’s barely a show. I did loads of old stuff too. But exciting to start the journey and I’ve got two months to kick this thing into shape. It should be fun. It doesn’t feel like fun at this stage, but it was also reassuring to see other comedians about to do their early previews and be in the same unprepared state. I mean some of them aren’t, the little swots, but the true comedians, the ones who don’t believe that you should be prepared and should go on stage with some half-arsed ideas which magically form into full routines straight away because they are brilliant…
I was OK, but not as funny as James Acaster sitting backstage telling a story about an audience in Peterborough who didn’t get what he was doing. He’s the kind of prick who probably can actually go on stage and come out with full routines. I was crying with laughter. Go and see this amazing comedian if you can.
After my preview I had a couple of hours to kill before doing a RHLSTP special with Bec Hill but there were comedians everywhere you looked and the time passed quick. It was nice to get back into the flow with the podcast, though typically I had kind of forgotten how it worked. Bec is a great comedian, actor, artist, kids’ entertainer and you should check her out on Youtube for loads of fun, clever and silly stuff. I am looking forward to the new series at the Leicester Square, but this was a very nice warm up. It will be up in the next few days.
Once again the stage Richard Herring said lots of things that the real Richard Herring would be way too embarrassed to say and in many cases didn't think. It's interesting that the persona I choose to project to most people is actually much worse than the real me. But I have little control over this little demon and I like him for his unfailing ability to home in on the things that will make him look the worst.
Then came the second long and exhausting drive home in three days and once again I really appreciated how amazing it has been to have a tour manager over the last few months. Luckily I made it home in one piece
