Stephen K Amos Tour & Interview
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Sat 04 Nov 2017
Stand-up comedian and broadcaster
Stephen K Amos is known for being uplifting, so as he returns to the Midlands following a world tour, his main aim is to cheer everyone up from Brexit and Donald Trump.
Amos brings his new tour Bread and Circuses to the
Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham on November 4 and then returns back to the Midlands to
Warwick Arts Centre on January 18, 2018.
The comedian, known for his BBC Radio 4 series What Does The K Stand For? along with appearances on Have I Got News For You, UKTV's Celebrity Storage Hunters and Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled, plans to put on 'a circus' of entertainment to distract people from the political turmoil of current times.
So why a circus? Amos explains: "
The way I'm looking at it is that the world now is one big crazy circus. And circus was one of the earliest forms of entertainment to keep the masses appeased in the same way that we have all these crazy distraction techniques now.""
One of the biggest TV shows of the year is Love Island", he adds. "
If that's not a major distraction technique I don't know what is.""
One of the things I'm talking about in this show is where we are today and why it seems like we're regressing and not moving forward. I am certainly more politicised, but I don't want to be one of those angry people who moves away from rational debate and goes to the extremes of being bitter and vitriolic: that's not in my nature at all."
Touring is something Amos still gets a thrill from, even after 16 years in the business, which includes three nominations for Chortle's Best Compere Award in 2004, 2007 and 2008. This latest one follows on from previous UK tours of Find the Funny tour, The Feelgood Factor and Laughter Is My Agenda.
Amos adds: "
I love the fact that I go around the country and see the odd place that still has character and not just the same bog-standard high street. I like the fact that you can engage with people and do jokes that are social commentary or maybe a bit risqué, and people will get them."
I was recently doing some gigs in the Newcastle area in old working-mans clubs from the 70s that haven't been decorated or anything; it was like stepping back in time. But the sheer joy of those people simply because we were there was incredible. Those people weren't jaded. But because we sometimes feel disappointed and disenfranchised and upset about things happening in the world, it can be hard to keep that optimism and joy alive."
Alongside the joy-filled subject matters of the tour will also be topics that are more uncomfortable for audiences but discussed in Amos' distinctive style. Racism has never been too far from the comedian's mind on and off stage, and in Bread And Circuses, he'll be musing over the fact that golli dolls can still be found on sale in seemingly civilised nations.
Not only is he exposing the lunacy of such aggressively racist objects, he aims to highlight people's ignorance of the golli's origins and meaning. Amos says: "That bit just gets bigger and bigger, and I like the fact that it's uncomfortable: people just go, 'it's not a problem anymore is it?' I think it's good to put things into people's minds that they don't really think about. But generally, I'm keeping the show loose due to the worldwide events that seem to just keep on happening."
Stephen K Amos will be at
The Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham on November 4 and
Warwick Arts Centre on January 18. Visit
Stephen K Amos' website for more information on the tour or the venue websites for tickets. Tickets cost £17.50 - £18.50 but can vary between venues.
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!date 04/11/2017 -- 04/11/2017
%wnbirmingham
69246 - 2023-01-26 01:37:42