Up to West Hampstead this afternoon for my costume fitting for YCCYF.

The costume lady had selected various jackets, shoes, shirts and jeans for me to try on.

I changed out of my own jeans, brown leather jacket and striped short sleeved shirt and tried on a very similar pair of jeans, a striped short sleeved shirt and a darker brown leather jacket.

I had indicated previously that the character, Ian Snell, was similar to me in certain ways and I don't know how much the costume had been modelled on what the costume lady had already seen me wearing, but it was slightly bizarre to be changing out of my own clothes and putting on essentially the same thing.

The jackets weren't quite right, so I tried on the jacket I had come in and that was a strong contendor for the part. And my shoes were looking like they might be the kind of shoes that my character would wear. It seemed stupid to be going through this charade. It would probably be best if I just turned up on the first day of filming wearing whatever I would actually wear if I was heading home to my parents' wedding anniversary (which is what my "character" is doing in the script). I think it's going to be a strange experience all round, but I am looking forward to getting going with it.

When I tried on the shirt, the woman from the costume store tried to do up my sleeve buttons for me. I said that it was OK and that I could manage that myself. Apparently most actors are incapable of dressing themselves so it's amazing that they even make it out of the house. I must remember to behave like a proper actor from now on and be an arse. For the moment I am a nice guy, but soon, very soon that will all change.

But I don't know if you count as an actor if you are just being yourself and wearing your own clothes. That is just being, isn't it?

And the menage a un tour has been officially announced now. Please book early. Some of the gigs are already selling well and you don't want to end up missing it like you did with Tedstock. And though the London run won't sell out it would be lovely if you'd book ahead so I don't feel like I am on my own. Please spread the word to anyone you think might be interested. And BOOK NOW to avoid/ensure disappointment.

Here are the dates:

27th-31st March LONDON The Arts Theatre 0870 060 1742

http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/venue/278550?start=41&rpp=20&searchtype= http://www.artstheatrelondon.com

3rd-7th April LONDON The Arts Theatre 0870 060 1742

http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/venue/278550?start=41&rpp=20&searchtype= http://www.artstheatrelondon.com

8th April BATH Moles Comedy Cavern 01225 404445

http://www.moles.co.uk/comedy/view_comedy_listing.ihtml?per=future

11th April OXFORD Old Fire Station 01865 297170

http://www.livenation.co.uk/events/index.aspx?rid=224354®ionID=3

12th April OLDHAM Coliseum 0161 624 2829

http://www.coliseum.org.uk/default.asp?id=211

13th April BOLTON Octagon 01204 520661

http://www.octagonbolton.co.uk/RichardHerring.htm

14th April BIRMINGHAM MAC 0121 440 3838

http://www.macarts.co.uk/?page=home

15th April BRISTOL Hen and Chickens 01179 223 686

http://www.thecomedybox.co.uk/site/301.asp?catID=279

22nd April HULL Truck Theatre 01482 323 638

http://www.hulltruck.co.uk

23rd-24th April PARIS La Java 0153 199 888

http://www.anythingmatters.com/index1.html

25th April MILAN The Scimmie 349 0777 547

http://www.anythingmatters.com/index1.html

29th April KESWICK Theatre By The Lake 017687 74411

http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?agency=THEATREBTL&organ_val=22695&sc

hedule=list&perfcode=175C7B&perfsubcode=2007

30th April NORTHAMPTON New Roadmender 01604 604 020

http://www.newroadmender.com/gigGuide.php

3rd May TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre 01892 678 678

http://www.trinitytheatre.net/Comedy+and+Spoken+Word/item1011/

4th May ALDERSHOT West End Centre 01252 330040

http://www.westendcentre.co.uk/

8th May CARDIFF St David's Hall 029 2087 8444

http://www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk/English/whatson_detail.asp?ID=1506

9th May BLACKWOOD Miners Institute 01495 227206

10th May SWANSEA Grand Theatre, Arts Wing Studio 01792 475715

http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4268

12th May WINDSOR Arts Centre 01753 859336

http://www.windsorartscentre.org/

13th May WARWICK Arts Centre 024 7652 4524

http://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/events/id/3201

14th May OXFORD The Cellar 01865 305 305

http://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/ticketsoxford/index.asp?ID=3913

20-May NOTTINGHAM Just The Tonic 0115 912 9000

http://www.justthetonic.com/index.php?id_page=50&id_language=1&id_performer=1569&id_menu_item=

22nd May EDINBURGH The Stand 0131 558 7272

http://www.thestand.co.uk

23rd May GLASGOW The Stand 0870 600 6055

http://www.thestand.co.uk

25th May CAMBRIDGE Junction 01223 511 511

http://www.junction.co.uk/HTMLTemplates/whats_on/comedy/RICHARD_HERRING.htm?date_typed=friday%2025th%20may%20%20%7C%20%20doors%207pm%20%28show%208pm%29

26th May STROUD The Subscription Rooms 01453 760 900

http://www.stroud.gov.uk/docs/events.asp

29th May FAREHAM Ashcroft Arts Centre 01329 310600

http://www.ashcroft.org.uk

31st May ABERDEEN The Lemon Tree 01224 642230

http://www.lemontree.org/comedy.html

1st June KIRKCALDY Adam Smith Theatre 01592 412929

http://www.adamsmiththeatre.com/

2nd June CARDIFF Chapter Arts DVD record 029 2030 4400

http://www.chapter.org/

5th June SHOREHAM-BY-SEA The Ropetackle 01273 709 709

http://www.adurfestival.com/

6th June SWINDON Arts Centre 01793 614837

http://www.swindon.gov.uk/artsandculture/artscentre.htm

7th June TELFORD The Oakengates Theatre 01952 382 382

http://www.oakengates.ws/whatson/listings/listing.asp?ShowID=682

11th June LIVERPOOL Unity Theatre 0151 709 4988

http://www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk & http://www.liverpoolcomedyfestival.co.uk

And if you're interested here is the newly written press release for the tour:

RICHARD HERRING – ménage à un

“The man’s real-life failures equal considerable onstage success… the stuff of great comedy.” Brian Logan, The Guardian

Following a successful fifteenth appearance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, RICHARD HERRING takes his critically acclaimed, award winning show ménage à un on a 42 date international tour, starting on the 27th March.

ménage à un sees Herring consolidate his position as one of the UK’s most uncompromising and innovative stand-ups in a show which deals with loneliness, only-ness and Onanism, and attempts to determine whether three-in-a-bed sex romps are really better than one-in-a-bed sex romps.

Along the way he reveals why Olivio is the most dangerous spread for the confirmed bachelor, claims that we can save humanity by having sex with sea creatures and discusses the existential angst of being a comedy character who exists solely to deliver a disappointing punch-line. He also provides the correct solution to the Riddle of the Sphinx, proposes that the English should rename apples ‘sky potatoes’ in order to demonstrate the ultimate folly of the French, and controversially calls for the disenfranchisement of the stupid.

Richard says, “ménage à un is an apt title for this tour, as despite several attempts to seduce members of the audience during the show, I predict that I will be back in my hotel room alone each night, attempting to masturbate to the poor quality soft pornography laid on for sexually unambitious businessmen. So far I have spectacularly failed to persuade anyone to join me for a threesome, or even a twosome and have in fact just taken to asking any single men in the crowd if they are prepared to come back to my room and pleasure themselves next to me, so that at least I won't be alone. Who says comedy is the new rock n roll?”

RICHARD HERRING was one of the team behind the seminal BBC Radio 4 series On The Hour, and then worked alongside STEWART LEE on the cult shows Fist Of Fun (BBC TWO) and This Morning With Richard Not Judy (BBC TWO). Richard co-wrote 37 episodes of the sitcom Time Gentlemen Please (Sky One), which starred AL MURRAY – THE PUB LANDLORD. He was script editor for the third series of the multi award-winning comedy series Little Britain (BBC ONE) and the highly successful stage version of Grumpy Old Women. He co-writes and stars in historical sketch show That Was Then This Is Now, and is a regular panelist on Banter (BBC Radio 4). Herring wrote and is appearing in the comedy drama, You Can Choose Your Friends on ITV1 in June and is developing another drama Double Act for Channel 4. ménage à un was voted best live comedy show of 2006 by the comedy fan website notbbc.com.

WHAT THE PRESS SAID ABOUT …

… ménage à un

“The real stars of the Edinburgh Festival aren’t the comics who turn up twice, win a sackful of awards and vanish onto TV. The true stars are the acts who keep pitching up, year after year, not to try and get on the telly, but to try out something new. Richard Herring is one of those stars.”

William Cook, The Guardian

“Herring produces some of the most inventive, original and funny stand-up at the festival. In the glossy, free programme, he ponders why he keeps coming back to Edinburgh year after year. One answer must surely be: ‘because he’s good at it’.”

Steve Bennett, Chortle

“Herring simply improves with age… If being by yourself produces this kind of entertainment, Herring should be confined to his own company indefinitely.”

Brian Donaldson, The List

“The man’s real-life failures equal considerable onstage success… the stuff of great comedy.”

Brian Logan, The Guardian

“Brave and thought-provoking stand up.”

Les Dennis, The Daily Telegraph

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