Comedy

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.