Comedy

Tim Arthur: What was the comedy circuit like when you started?
Malcolm Hay: ‘Exciting. Chaotic. Still amateurish. There were exceptions, such as the Comedy Store, where professionalism ruled. Otherwise it was a glorious mess. It’s dangerous to get nostalgic about how things were back then. A lot of people – promoters, acts, audiences – didn’t really know what they were doing. That created a feeling of unpredictability. There was a wildness and craziness that’s largely disappeared.’

Can you remember the first comedy show you saw?
‘It was probably in 1979 in a west London pub. Tony Allen, aka the godfather of alternative comedy, was sounding off against established values. He was playful but a bit frightening at the same time. It was a tremendous experience. But I didn’t hear heavenly music or have any visions of the future. I just knew it was ten to 20 times more invigorating than any of the theatre I was seeing then.’

What were your favourite places to go and see comedy?
‘Anywhere where promoters loved comedy, looked after comedians and encouraged them to be bold. Where the audiences prized individuality. Places such as Downstairs at the King’s Head in Crouch End, where that’s happened since way back in 1981. And Banana Cabaret at the Bedford in Balham. Or Hampstead Comedy Club, where comedian Ivor Dembina always adopted a no-frills approach, with the emphasis on the show rather than on feeding your stomach and waiting for the disco. The Comedy Store, inevitably. It’s the most influential comedy club on the planet.’ Feature continues

Over your 21 years at Time Out some huge comedic personalities shuffled off this mortal coil. Whose loss did you mourn the most?
‘Here in London, Linda Smith and Malcolm Hardee. Linda did a lot of live comedy before she became really well known on the radio. She had an amazing ability to be really sharp and satirical without ever losing her basic kindness and decency. Her death from cancer at the age of 48 was the cruellest thing that happened in my career at Time Out.'

And Hardee?
'Well, he was one of the greatest characters the comedy business has known – a really good bloke as well as a complete rogue. He played a big part in putting what was known as alternative comedy on the cultural map. The clubs he ran were rowdy, sometimes dangerous and often nightmares to perform in. But he knew how to give audiences a good time.

'In the States, the death of Bill Hicks was obviously a major tragedy. He’s the best stand-up ever. I met him a couple of times and interviewed him on one occasion. He was remarkably open, intelligent and funny. One departure that I didn’t weep over was Bernard Manning’s. His humour was so unprincipled and so unpleasant. It was great to know he wouldn’t be around to peddle his noxious ideas any longer.’

Who were the comedians that most inspired you?
‘So many! You want names? I’m sure to leave out any number who I’ll only think of later. Mark Thomas and Rob Newman for their engagement with big issues. Lee Evans for his physicality and energy. Jo Brand, Jack Dee, Eddie Izzard, Ross Noble. The Doug Anthony Allstars – how many of you remember them? Donna McPhail: she’s one who got away – she went off to write and do other things. Johnny Immaterial, a lovely bloke and a remarkably honest, open comedian who followed the same route as McPhail. Ian Cognito: he’s justifiably regarded as almost impossible to work with, but he’s always uncompromisingly himself. Scott Capurro, who’s always pushing the boundaries. More recently Tim Minchin, Josie Long, Andrew Lawrence. And, most of all, Stewart Lee, because he’s come closest in this country to the special talents of Bill Hicks.’

I recently saw Phil Kay stick someone’s mobile phone up his arse. What’s the weirdest thing you saw in your time as editor?
‘Malcolm Hardee’s famous impersonation of General de Gaulle. Malcolm used his penis to represent de Gaulle’s nose. One of my big regrets is that I missed the night Malcolm played harmonica and sang a blues song with his bare bollocks squashed into a punter’s pint of beer.’

What do you think of the current state of the comedy circuit?
‘It’s probably too big. For years now, in fact ever since the start of it all, there’s been a steady expansion. Now, especially with the credit crunch, it’s bound to go in the opposite direction. That’s not a disaster. There are too many colourless clubs. Too many clubs run by comedians with no other motive than to give themselves stage time. Comics should be banned from running venues. Promoters should be forced to make more room on their bills for newer acts. There’s a lot of really good comedy still around, and we should remind ourselves it’s all achieved without the pampering and subsidy doled out to many other forms of performance. However, I suspect it’s becoming too safe and predictable. Live comedy has a more important role to play than simply being a nursery providing panellists for TV shows.’