Ahead of his tour of Scotland, Ross Noble tells Andrew Youngson why life is just a great excuse to play
You’re just about to set off on your Tangentleman tour. What material are you tackling?
The show doesn’t really work like that, actually. It’s becoming more and more apparent that, for other comedians, certainly at the Edinburgh festival, it’s all about having a theme. Whereas my theme is “just whatever comes up”. So it’s really about whatever’s in my head. I don’t really have a mission statement saying “this is what the show’s about”.
Have you had more of a structure in the past?
A long time ago, I used to think “I better have something”. But the things that I think are thematically linked aren’t necessarily in other people’s minds. It depends on how you categorise things.
So your brain is wired a little differently?
Yeah I think so. But then also, it’s all about mood as well, at the risk of sounding a bit hippy. There’s this dilemma where the best of stand-up is when it’s very personal and the sort of stuff only you could do. But the problem with that is it’s very personal to your thought processes, too. I’m always torn between talking about what’s happening in my life, but I’m also aware of the fact that there’s nothing I find more boring than a stand-up telling you about themselves. I’m not that self-obsessed. So it’s a fine line.
Are you a leaf blowing in the wind in all areas of your life?
This idea of a leaf blowing in the wind is poetic and I like it, but it’s taken me a long time to work out. This was always the case, but I could never really define it before. For a long time, people wanted to categorise what I do as this “danger” element like a high-wire, risk-taking, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants thing. But what I’ve come to realise, like in my TV show (Freewheeling), my live shows and my life, is that it boils down to playing. On stage, I go up there and just play. And the people who like what I do tend to be anyone that are playful and want to come and play.
What about your home life?
Well yes, I’ve got a family, but rather than going “oh hang on, now I’ve got to be responsible, and start taking life serious”, it’s actually just another fantastic excuse to play. Because I’ve got two kids and a very playful wife – though to be honest she tends to keep them alive and I’m in charge of playing. (Laughs)
Now, when I’m out and about and I want to do something childish and childlike, it’s great because if you’ve got a baby in your arms, or a five-year-old next to you, people just go “oh, look at that guy entertaining his kids”. Whereas actually it’s more “um no, this is just a legitimate excuse for me to be in fancy dress in the street”.
So it’s only in the past few years that I’ve suddenly realised that this is what I’m all about. Which is mad, because I always knew it, but I just couldn’t define it.
Tell me about the warm-up gigs for this tour. Why have you chosen small venues in the Highlands and islands?
When I do the tour, I’ve got this enormous set and video projection and so on and it fills the whole of these concert halls. But there are a lot of venues it won’t fit in. A few years ago, I did a massive venue at the Edinburgh fringe and sold loads of tickets, but I thought “this isn’t very Fringe-y”. So instead I started touring the Highlands and islands and playing these little village halls, arts theatres and what have you.
And I love it. It’s all this amazing scenery, and stopping at really nice country pubs. And the gigs are great, too, because, as a rule, other comedians can’t be bothered to travel up to Shetland, Orkney, Mull, Skye and all that, but I love it. So the warm-up gigs don’t have the big set but, other than that, it’s an excuse to do smaller venues.
Any funny memories from previous tours in this neck of the woods?
Yeah definitely. One time I played in Skye and there was a guy with his hand up. I said: “Yes, mate, what would you like to ask?” He said: “Nothing”. It turned out he was working on a roof and chopping slates and had accidentally severed his finger. But he just taped it up and kept it elevated. He just said: “I was thinking: what are the chances of getting tickets to see you up here again in the near future?” So he came, saw the gig and once I was done, only then did he go off to hospital and get it stitched back on. (Laughs)
Ross Noble will take his Tangentleman tour throughout the north of Scotland this month, beginning with warm-up gigs at Mareel, Lerwick, tonight, August 11, followed by The Warehouse Theatre, Lossiemouth, tomorrow; Druimfin, Mull, on Sunday, Aros Centre, Skye, on Monday, and Corran Halls, Oban, on Tuesday.
The tour will begin fully at Eden Court, Inverness, on Thursday, September 25, and will next be in the region with a gig at Caird Hal, Dundee, on Wednesday, October 1, then at the Music Hall, Aberdeen, on Friday, October 3.
For further information on the tour, including booking details, visit www.rossnoble.co.uk