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INTERVIEW
Geoff Norcott: Taking Liberties
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
11th October 2019
Geoff Norcott: Taking Liberties
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
11th October 2019
As seen on Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, The Mash Report and Question Time Winner of Best Comedy at the BBC Radio & Music Awards, March 2019 Biggest UK Tour to date: 19 September - 16 November, 2019 ‘He’s a class act with a mature, sharp take on modern politics’ Sunday Times Geoff Norcott’s unique brand of provocative stand-up is hitting the road again with ‘Taking Liberties’. Whatever the contentious subject – he’ll be honest and blunt without being a dick. Mostly.
Here's what he has to say about his latest tour and performing at the Palace Theatre.....
1 What is Taking Liberties about?
I’ve realised that – above party politics and even Brexit – is an intense dislike of being told what to do. Remember that feeling of when your mates Mum would tell you off? I get that every single time someone tries to interfere in my life.
2. What don't you like to be told to do?
I think the private things are the worst. What we eat, the language we use. These are intimate things that an increasing amount of do-gooders feel at liberty to instruct us on. They need to get to grips with the fact that sometimes humans want to do bad stuff. And salt is great. If it was socially acceptable to drink soy sauce in public I would.
3. Is there anything we should be told to do?
Don’t eat avocados. Not only are they a hideous symbol of the middle-classes they’re also gross. How are they ‘fruit’? Nothing with a texture so meaty and oily should be called a fruit. Just stop showing off and eat a pear.
4. What's your position on the free speech in comedy debate?
The problem with comedy is when these furores erupt, people are often reading the jokes in print. One-liners aside, stand-up is not meant to be consumed this way. When people read they apply their own levels of anger and indignation. A certain section of the public have become incredibly sensitive. I got pulled up for joking about my dad’s disability. I had to grow up with a dad with a dodgy looking Captain Hook prosthetic. No-one is gonna tell me I can’t make light of that.
5. Your documentary about class recently aired on the BBC, how did it come about?
The BBC came to me and said ‘It seems like you have a big chip on your shoulder’. I said I did, though my mine was a proper chip and theirs was probably triple-cooked or something. They asked if I’d like to explore my hunch that large sections of the middle-class are engaged in sophisticated chicanery. I did, so we made the show.
I won’t lie, my life is better economically now than it was growing up. But maybe that’s what drives it: self-loathing because I have known the taste of brioche.
6. What are your future plans?
Well if I was one of these TV types I’d say something about ‘irons in the fire’ and ‘exciting projects’ but what that really means is ‘nothing definite yet’. I’m mainly focused on making the tour show good. All the TV work in the world won’t matter when you’re staring down 400 people at a Corn Exchange.
7. What's your memory of the Palace Theatre?
Last time I gigged here in the smaller room I pledged to come back and do the big room. The audience gave me a patronising cheer, like I was one of those numpties on X factor pledging to out-sell Bruno Mars. That's what I love about Southend, the audience are funny too.
1 What is Taking Liberties about?
I’ve realised that – above party politics and even Brexit – is an intense dislike of being told what to do. Remember that feeling of when your mates Mum would tell you off? I get that every single time someone tries to interfere in my life.
2. What don't you like to be told to do?
I think the private things are the worst. What we eat, the language we use. These are intimate things that an increasing amount of do-gooders feel at liberty to instruct us on. They need to get to grips with the fact that sometimes humans want to do bad stuff. And salt is great. If it was socially acceptable to drink soy sauce in public I would.
3. Is there anything we should be told to do?
Don’t eat avocados. Not only are they a hideous symbol of the middle-classes they’re also gross. How are they ‘fruit’? Nothing with a texture so meaty and oily should be called a fruit. Just stop showing off and eat a pear.
4. What's your position on the free speech in comedy debate?
The problem with comedy is when these furores erupt, people are often reading the jokes in print. One-liners aside, stand-up is not meant to be consumed this way. When people read they apply their own levels of anger and indignation. A certain section of the public have become incredibly sensitive. I got pulled up for joking about my dad’s disability. I had to grow up with a dad with a dodgy looking Captain Hook prosthetic. No-one is gonna tell me I can’t make light of that.
5. Your documentary about class recently aired on the BBC, how did it come about?
The BBC came to me and said ‘It seems like you have a big chip on your shoulder’. I said I did, though my mine was a proper chip and theirs was probably triple-cooked or something. They asked if I’d like to explore my hunch that large sections of the middle-class are engaged in sophisticated chicanery. I did, so we made the show.
I won’t lie, my life is better economically now than it was growing up. But maybe that’s what drives it: self-loathing because I have known the taste of brioche.
6. What are your future plans?
Well if I was one of these TV types I’d say something about ‘irons in the fire’ and ‘exciting projects’ but what that really means is ‘nothing definite yet’. I’m mainly focused on making the tour show good. All the TV work in the world won’t matter when you’re staring down 400 people at a Corn Exchange.
7. What's your memory of the Palace Theatre?
Last time I gigged here in the smaller room I pledged to come back and do the big room. The audience gave me a patronising cheer, like I was one of those numpties on X factor pledging to out-sell Bruno Mars. That's what I love about Southend, the audience are funny too.
'Objectively funny regardless of your political leaning' **** Fest
'A right laugh...from the hitherto little-known loveable end of the conservative spectrum.' The Guardian
‘A comedian with a big future’ **** The Mirror
‘Funny, sharp and well-polished’ ****The List
‘A refreshingly brilliant comedic voice.’ The Spectator
‘Master of anecdotal story-telling’ **** Edinburgh Festival Magazine
‘Genuinely has something original to say’ **** The New European
‘An equal opportunities satirist’ Evening Standard **** Mail on Sunday
‘Repeatedly and satirically incisive’ The Scotsman
‘By comedy standards, Norcott is an out and out rebel’ Daily Express '
These are sharp, topical gags; while some of his other his punchlines are funny precisely because they contain an unfashionable opinion.' Chortle, August 2018
‘Norcott delivers a brilliantly funny, tight hour of gags…dialling up the working class angst.’
Recommended by British Comedy Guide, August 2018
'A right laugh...from the hitherto little-known loveable end of the conservative spectrum.' The Guardian
‘A comedian with a big future’ **** The Mirror
‘Funny, sharp and well-polished’ ****The List
‘A refreshingly brilliant comedic voice.’ The Spectator
‘Master of anecdotal story-telling’ **** Edinburgh Festival Magazine
‘Genuinely has something original to say’ **** The New European
‘An equal opportunities satirist’ Evening Standard **** Mail on Sunday
‘Repeatedly and satirically incisive’ The Scotsman
‘By comedy standards, Norcott is an out and out rebel’ Daily Express '
These are sharp, topical gags; while some of his other his punchlines are funny precisely because they contain an unfashionable opinion.' Chortle, August 2018
‘Norcott delivers a brilliantly funny, tight hour of gags…dialling up the working class angst.’
Recommended by British Comedy Guide, August 2018