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| It was time to give up the Kays catalogue day job |
Luke Wright
Sell your act in a line... 'I'm something different. Acerbic and aware that I can be a bit of a twat'
Age 24.
Manor Essex ‘with my folks until after the marriage’. Before that it was Whitechapel.
Who is he? Wright’s an incisive performance poet with the attributes of any impressive stand-up. He was the 2002 Glastonbury Festival Slam Champion and, two years later, runner-up in the first televised poetry slam. He’s played all over the country with his spoof poetry boy band, Aisle 16.
Wright was inspired to write and perform poetry by watching John Cooper Clarke. ‘You can do so much with poetry – make them laugh, make them cry, or just show off with words. I love stand-up too. Stewart Lee is as big an influence as JCC.’ His subjects range from Ikea riots to Richard Madeley. ‘They’re about the world we live in. I’m not a joke poet. They’re real poems that use comedy as a device, not a genre. It’s funny, I hope. But not all laughs.’ Feature continues
Born in Hackney and raised in Essex (‘I went to school in Colchester, a violent soldier town’), he earned his bread for a while as a bellboy (‘Less demeaning than your average comedy gig’). He’s an English literature graduate who briefly produced ‘late-night porn – sorry – bubblegum TV; I worked on a horrible show called “Babe Station”.’ He went to HarperCollins, where his task was marketing the Bible. ‘But I’ve always been a poet.’
Worst gig ‘A few weeks ago when Aisle 16 did John Betjeman’s centenary in Cornwall. We were on last. After Martin Clunes. It was late and the audience were quite old. We reduced 600 to 40. Those who stayed liked it.’
Favourite comedians Josie Long and Isy Suttie. ‘I love them both. Lee and Herring are my heroes. Particularly Rich – I think he laughs at the same things I do.’
Favourite London clubs ‘I guess Robin Ince’s Book Club. I really want to gig there.’
Look out for Luke compèring an Apples and Snakes show at the Whitechapel Gallery on October 5. Also a tour next spring.
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7 comments
i think and i believe YOU,
JOSIE LONG, are the absolute and totally TOP nOTCH Improvisation and brilliantly hilarious STAND UP show i' ve ever and very Forever piece of FINe comedy i ve ever ENCOUNTERED in my life...
"i am ONe of your top GREATEST FANs everywhere and anywhere combined" I LUV YA, LOADS!!!!!!!!! May GOD BLESS YOU FOREVER AND ALLWAYS...
This is the voice of The Electric Head - I am telepathically beaming these words directly into your brain, I'm sorry about that, but I have no choice. Go to www.myspace.com/theelectrichead and follow the links to itunes for more information...a new age of comedy is dawning...
She's well funny. She made me actually want to go out and buy a load of chickpeas and eat them. I don't even like chick peas. She didn't even talk about them in her act. I didn't even see her act.
Bloody terrifying, actually, when I come to think about it. But she is well funny. If a bit freakily higher power psychic with the chick pea thing.
All this is well and good...but...Josie Long is simply not REMOTELY funny.
I have since seen Sarah and she is now a member. You to can be one by typing The Stuffed Owl Consortium into a search engine of your choice. Its great fun.
i saw josie long last night at and she is a sweet sweet slice of sunshine. i think i'm a bit in love with her
Bloody Hells Bells. I used to work with Sarah Millican. And now she's getting in Time out. Thats great that. If you see her tell her she can join my new club what I've started up. Its called The Stuffed Owl Consortium.