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Picture
Who Dares Grins
Palace Theatre, Southend-On-Sea
Thursday 12 March 8pm 
Sweeney Entertainments presents an evening of comedy and combat as Big Phil Campion and Paul Eastwood take to the stage in new show for 2020, Who Dares Grins
Best-known as author of a series of best sellers and for his regular tv appearances, 'Big' Phil is for the first time embarking on a series 'an audience with' style theatre appearances. With so many fascinating and indeed fearsome stories he is able to inspire, educate and amuse in equal measure. 

Phil's story is one of enormous inspiration, proving how the human spirit can endure against all odds and achieve the remarkable. His examples and lessons learned from a life in the military elite have wide resonance. 

Former SAS man, Phil is a veteran of military operations in nearly every conflict-prone corner of the world, both as a soldier in the regular Armed Forces and as an elite operator and mercenary. A man who once had to resort to throwing a fridge full of Coca Cola to fend off Somali Pirates, Phil Campion's story must be heard to be believed. 

For this special event, Big Phil Campion is joined by hilarious comedian Paul Eastwood. 

Book your seats for Who Dares Grins this March and join Big Phil Campion and Paul Eastwood for this humorous evening packed full of fascinating stories! 

“A man who has truly been there and done it. One of the best!” Bear Grylls 
“A true SAS hero who talks the talk in the same way he walked the walk” Piers Morgan 
Who Dares Grins 
Palace Theatre, Southend-On-Sea – Thursday 12 March 8pm 
Tickets £ 23 
Box Office: 01702 351135 
Book Online: https://southendtheatres.org.uk/online/tickets-an-audience-with-big- phil-campion-southend-2020 
www.sweeneyentertainments.co.uk www.twitter.com/@sweeney_ents
Check out this Q&A with Phil Campion 
How did this theatre tour originate?
I met Paul whilst working on the cruise-liners. We became friends and got talking about how it would be fun to do something together. A theatre tour offers a great platform for us to do this.

Who is your performance aimed at?
I get a really good mix of audiences to my events…both old and young. Anyone with an interest in my stories and who wants to find out a bit more about what I have done would really enjoy this event.

What can the audience expect when they book tickets for the tour?
You would get an insight into the world of a Special Forces Operator…and enjoy a really good laugh along the way! 

What is the most interesting question you have ever been asked by an audience?
I get asked a huge variety of questions - too many to name just a few! And I really welcome question asking during events. The most common question is related to my days in the army and how many people I might have killed but there is generally great interest in the work that I have done and the life of someone who works for the Special Forces so most questions lead around this.

When did you realise you wanted to be a motivational speaker?
Becoming a motivational speaker was a natural progression having become an author and then appearing on TV shows and making documentaries. Many people have expressed an interest in meeting me so it’s really good to get out and meet as many as I can and being speaker gives me a great platform in which to do this.

Is there anything you are scared of?
My misses if I’m late home!

Is there a fact that people might be surprised to know about you?
I have both started and stopped a war!
Whilst in Gaza I was in a training team teaching members of Fatah, it sparked tensions with Hamas…enough to cause a civil war which Hamas won.
Whilst in Sierra Leone we defeated the west side boys which ended hostilities there.

What do you miss the most about being in the military?
I don’t really get time to miss the military as I still have such strong links with them. Since leaving I have done a lot of military style work for other people and I also have involvements through my work with the cadets and my sons who are both currently in the army. I also still get too as many military functions as I can. 
Paul Eastwood Q & A
​
What inspired you to become a comedian?
My inspiration for becoming coming a comedian happened after leaving school with nothing more than a uniform. After my parents pressured for me to get work I found an advert in ‘The Stage‘ newspaper for Haven mates. I auditioned in London and then spent 6 months working as a resident entertainer on a caravan park in Cornwall. I enjoyed watching the wonderful visiting comedians and thought that’s the ticket for me... I learned whilst I watched and called myself a comedian, what a long road!

What do you enjoy most about performing?
What I enjoy most is the instant reaction, good or bad! Every night is different and when it goes well it’s like flying, no holding back, live or die. An amazing drug. Comedy is such a powerful medium. A lifting speech process.

How did you get involved in this theatre tour?
Well the way in which I got involved in this theatre tour is just so lucky! I first came across Mr Phil Campion on a cruise ship…he was performing his lectures and taking questions from the crowd. Having always been so patriotic and proud of our forces, along with spending five years in the army cadets, I was over the moon to meet him and he had also seen my stand up show as well on the same cruise. We talked and we agreed we must do something together... so I thought and WHO DARES GRINS was born. 

Do you have any links to the military?
My only link to the military is the five years I spent in the army cadets whilst at school. I wanted to follow my mates into the marines or the Army but just didn’t cut the mustard as I was about 8 stone soaking wet! But the band of brothers and friends I made on camps and exercises taught me discipline and life lessons.  

What is the best heckle you ever heard?
Well wow, what a question! So there was a larger comedian on stage and someone shouted ‘you fat bastard!’ And quick as a flash he said ‘the reason I am so fat is because every time I have sex with your mum she gives me a cake!’ Genius.

How do you come up with the topics for your performances? 
Comedy and gags are everywhere, especially at the moment. Current affairs are just asking for gags, but I play off the audience as well, and talk about my family and life observations. No show is ever the same. It keeps it fresh.

What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
With so many highlights, really for me it has to be performing as comedy host for four years at the award-winning world famous THURSFORD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR, with a 1600 strong audience twice a day. Magical.

​

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