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I was very much looking forward to today's RHLSTP. Not only was I chatting to the brilliant Sarah Kendall (do go and see her live, she's one of the cleverest and funniest stand-ups in the world), but I was also going to get a chance to see if I could delve into what makes the human dynamo that is Eddie Izzard spin. I knew that this was going to be a special afternoon and it played out even better than I had hoped. Sarah and I were silly and inappropriate (whilst managing to talk occasionally seriously about the way that comedy changes over time and the darker side of being a comedian) and Eddie was fizzing with ideas, but also talked inspirationally about what drives him, his political vision and the struggles it took for him to get where he is. I was a big fan of his before this, but even just researching him and his life beforehand I got a real feel of how extraordinary he is. He has taken on seemingly impossible challenges like performing his set in languages that he can't speak and running 43 Marathons in 51 days and however unlikely these things are to do, he manages to get them done. But like many of the successful comedians I talk to , he takes his work so seriously and puts so much into every aspect of it. It took him a decade and a half to break through, but he did it on his own terms and reaped the rewards. And also put himself out there personally, revealing and revelling in his transvestism at a time when the public mood was far from embracing that.
I was interested, I suppose, because I recognise in myself a similar (if much smaller and less touched by genius) spark of obsession and workaholism and dedication to something seemingly stupid or self-defeating. I was doubtful I could touch upon all I wanted to in the 75 minutes we had together and I didn't quite find out the mysteries at the centre of this man, but it was a real pleasure to try and to listen to him (because I am not so stupid as to get someone like this on the show and then not let the podcast be mainly them talking).
The atmosphere was properly electric and it's the first time that the Sunday afternoon recording has quite got up to the sizzling feel of some of the evening ones. But they were a really great audience, super smart and interestingly in the podcast with Sarah being smart and sensitive enough to be slightly shocked by the bits we discussed from our acts where we usually sense the audience are laughing at the wrong thing.
It will be a few weeks before these podcasts are out, but they're both well worth listening to/watching. On a weekend like this, although it's been hard work and I've been tired and ill, I can't help but feel lucky to do the job I do and to somehow have created this podcast that can be so different in spite of often being repetitious. We're 90 podcasts into the series and will have done 100 (+ specials) by the time this series is over. It's not quite running 43 marathons (mainly because it's largely a huge amount of fun), but it's still extraordinary in its own way. I had chatted backstage (as well as a bit on stage) with Sarah about the brick walls you run into as a comedian and how you get depressed or worry about what's coming next and I certainly hit a big one at the Fringe in 2014. But the real secret of success (probably in all things, but especially in comedy) is persistence and just wanting to do what you're doing, no matter what. Young, hungry, impatient comedians should listen to both of these podcast, but especially the Izzard one. Being a comedians is 43 Marathons, not a sprint. And maybe retaining the autonomy that was what first attracted you to the job is more important than anything else.
I don't think I have the dedication and drive (or natural talent) that Izzard has, nor maybe his self-belief (or is it just that he gets on with it, regardless of what other's think) and as you'll have spotted I am keen to demote comedy to being the third or fourth most important thing in my life. But I have enjoyed this weekend of hard work and the work has been very fulfilling. Maybe more so because it's no longer so important in my life comparatively. I don't know. But maybe I am just more comfortable with myself these days.
Sometimes I leave RHLSTP full of shame or feeling a sense of disappointment that I can't put my finger on. But today I left energised and inspired. I hope you will feel the same when you hear it.
