The award-winning Alasdair Beckett-King brings his whimsical style of comedy to The Stand later this month. Newcastle Sparkles catches up with the Durham comedian to chat all things Fringe, falafel and Flamingo Land.
What drew you to the world of comedy, and how did you get started in stand-up?
I always wanted to make films, until I realised that stand-up comedy was a much cheaper medium to be unsuccessful in. It used to take me months to make a short film that no one would see. But anyone can do a short comedy set at an open mic, and you don’t even have to hire equipment. Once I started getting a few laughs, I was hooked.
Can you describe your comedic style?
My style is ‘work experience Viking’ meets ‘Gandalf in the 70s’. You could call it whimsy, but there are punchlines, I swear it.
How do you prepare for a stand-up performance?
Not to be too rock and roll, but I like to have a cup of black tea and a little peek at the audience from backstage. For some reason, they’re less intimidating if I’ve seen them.
The Edinburgh Fringe - did it live up to your expectations, and what was your most memorable moment?
The Fringe is about nine different festivals, all superimposed on top of each other. Sometimes it’s an unalloyed delight, and at other times it’s a kind of purgatory for lost souls, queuing for falafel at 3am.
My most memorable moment was a drunk audience member falling over in the middle of a show, breaking his chair and pouring three pints down me. (He was holding three pints when he fell.) It’s hard to write a joke that will get a reaction like that.
What's your favourite thing about performing back home in the north of England?
Honestly, it’s just nice to be in a room full of people who know what Flamingo Land is. If you say ‘Flamingo Land’ to a southerner, they flatly refuse to believe that such a place exists. But we know.
What can the audience expect from your Newcastle show?
Nevermore tackles all the big, hot-button issues of the day: the challenge of being an Englishman with a Scottish face, what train guards are actually guarding, and how to handle a phone call from the Big Bopper.
If you could be remembered for just one joke or sketch - what would you want it to be?
I would be delighted to be remembered for ANYTHING at all. It would probably be my most viral sketch, which is a spoof of Nordic/Scandi Noir dramas. It’s a few years old now, but people still say ‘Gunnar Gunnarson’ to me.
Nevermore comes to The Stand Comedy Club in Newcastle on Saturday 27th April, 2024, with two shows at 2pm and 5pm. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.thestand.co.uk/whats-on/newcastle.
Photos: Edward Moore
