Award-winning comedian Stewart Lee brings his A Room With A Stew to the Theatre Royal Bath on Monday January, 18.
A Room With A Stew, is a work in progress towards the material for Series 4 of the triple BAFTA nominated Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle.
Throughout this extensive tour, the comedian will explore new subjects, try-out brand new material and will cut and add sections … see it live now ahead of transmission.
Max Castle spoke to Stewart to find out more:
What is the idea of the Room With A Stew tour?
Stewart: There’s a fourth series of Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle for BBC2 in the spring of 2016, so I am trying to work out six half hours of new material, which I will be working out on this tour.
Most stand-up comedians on television use teams of writers now like in the 1970s, although they don’t admit to it, but that doesn’t really work for me because I don’t really do jokes as such.
It’s more about mood and attitude so you can’t just buy in things wholesale from the anonymous humour content providers that all the others use.
It is quite hard to generate that amount of material, even if you talk as slowly as I do, and repeat yourself all the time, and use pauses.
The tour is billed as work in progress towards the TV series, and prices are pegged a bit lower than the other TV stand-ups wherever the theatres will allow it, and where we’ve managed to stop tickets showing up on tout websites like Stub Hub at massively inflated rates.
Hopefully, as it continues, I’ll have about three hours of material on the go, although I won’t perform all of it every night!
How is the writing of the tour and the fourth series going?
Well, it’s a challenge this time. I’ve got three or four half hours on the go which are coming together nicely but the news is so volatile at the moment.
I recently re-jigged and expanded an old bit about the banal tabloid newspaper assumption that comedians need to do more anti-Islamic stuff, and don’t because they are scared, and this bit was working quite well. But since the Charlie Hebdo murders people’s reactions to it are all over the place.
You can’t really use irony because people in the public eye have said much worse things for real than comedians would say as jokes.
I have a funny half hour on the go about UKIP but any massive fall or rise in their fortunes would probably change how it works.
Initially I was worried about doing it on tour because Paul Nuttalls of UKIP was leading a campaign to have comedians that did jokes about UKIP banned from theatres, but he seems to be saying the opposite of that since the Charlie Hebdo murders.
He is now saying that making jokes is a democratic right in a free society so I am pleased about that.
I mean, I’ve got kids and a mortgage and this is my job, and you do worry about would you be allowed to carry on working if a far right group like UKIP got in.
I’ve got another half hour on poverty, which is always going to be topical sadly, and a bit on urine, which I think is timeless.
Will touring help you to generate material?
I’m really excited about going on the road. I like sitting in the van and having music on in the day, even though I miss the kids.
But I can’t remember a time in my life when the country has seemed so fragmented in terms of politics, culture, wealth, attitudes, so it’s going to be fun seeing how badly and well different bits go in different places and then bringing what I’ve learned from that to bear on the finished routines when I film them for the telly.
In the ’90s, when comedy was labelled “The New Rock and Roll”, you were a kind of youthful comedy pin-up. But now you are really showing your age, and no-one is going to buy a ticket to see you based on your looks. Do you feel ashamed of what has happened to you?
Well, I find that question quite offensive. You’re comparing a man in his late 40s to a boy barely out of his teens, and I don’t think many people would benefit from that comparison. I am what I am.
In a way my physical collapse has been a huge advantage, it’s given the stage me some tragedy, some gravity.
Also I am going deaf, and now wear hearing aids, which has been an interesting challenge on stage.
My knees are shattered and don’t work – I think I ruined them during the 200 dates I did of a show where I pretended to be Jeremy Clarkson kicking a tramp to death – and that has had an interesting effect on my physicality.
If I jump off stage now or climb things there’s a genuine element of pain and danger. I’m like Eddie The Eagle or something.
Stewart Lee: A Room With A Stew tours to the Theatre Royal Bath on Monday, January 18 at 7.30pm. Only a handful of standby tickets priced at £15 each are now available – maximum two per person – from the Theatre Royal’s box office on 01225 448844.
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Rudeness, Youtube
Rudeness, Youtube
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Borathigh5, Youtube
Borathigh5, Youtube
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
Anamatronix, Youtube
Anamatronix, Youtube
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
Etienne, Chortle.com
Etienne, Chortle.com
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Funday’schild, youtube.
Funday’schild, youtube.
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Jackmumf, Twitter
Jackmumf, Twitter
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Clampdown59, Twitter.
Clampdown59, Twitter.
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
A D Ward, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Guest1001, Youtube
Guest1001, Youtube
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mearecate, Youtube
Mearecate, Youtube
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
Bosco239, youtube
Bosco239, youtube
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Sidsings000, Youtube
Sidsings000, Youtube
Peter Fears, Twitter
Peter Fears, Twitter
Chez, Chortle.com
Chez, Chortle.com
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Idrie, Youtube
Idrie, Youtube
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Mpf1947, Youtube
Mpf1947, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Visualiser1, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Shit Crit, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
Danazawa, Youtube
Danazawa, Youtube
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Tokyofist, Youtube
Tokyofist, Youtube
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
Z-factor, Twitter.
Z-factor, Twitter.
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Jamespearse, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com