Little Lark of London

After being named one of the top-rated comedians at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this past August, comedian Ian Smith has been taking his show, Crushing, on a tour across the UK. A few weeks ago, Smith announced that, due to popular demand, more dates would be added to the tour. Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with Smith about bringing Crushing on tour. We discussed how he first got into comedy, his creative process and what it is like to perform on tour versus at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

How did you first get into the world of comedy?

I performed sketches with my friends in Secondary school – we put on a few shows at our local theatre and I loved the feeling of making people laugh. We liked drama at school and joined a youth theatre group, but only really seemed to be bothered about doing funny things, much to the annoyance of some of the teachers. When we went to college it was obvious we wouldn’t be able to do that forever, so I knew I’d have to look into whatever solo comedy was and do that.

What is your creative process like for stand-up shows like Crushing?

I tend to have a meltdown and question whether I have anything to say and slowly realise I do and that I’ve just been over-thinking it. It’s not the best method, but it works for me! I try and have a theme or something personal in mind and build from there – and then I’ll go off and do a few things that are to do with that theme. This year the show is about stress and being told I grind my teeth in my sleep – and I ended up going to a sensory deprivation floatation tank and then went to Slovakia with my hairdresser and smashed a car up with some hammers and drove over it in a tank. Classic stuff.

What was it like performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival?

It was really fun, it’s great to get to do an hour every day – and you’re performing to people who have chosen to see you so it feels really special. Sometimes on the comedy circuit you turn up at a gig and there’s three works parties in and half of them didn’t even know comedy would be on! As I type this I’m about to embark on a run of dreaded Christmas gigs – when the works events start and drinking reaches its peak! Wish me luck! The Fringe is an intense month of gigging, but I really love it.

What is it like performing on tour after the Fringe?

This will be my first UK tour, so you’ll have to ask me again at the end of April! I’m looking forward to it though. I’ve done runs of my show in New Zealand a few times after the Fringe and that is an incredible experience – but, no disrespect to the UK, I think the weather and scenery in Jan-April might not be as good!

What do you hope audiences take away from Crushing?

Just that they’ve laughed a lot and enjoyed themselves – that they’ve forgotten their stresses by letting a more stressed out man shout at them about his.

How would you describe Crushing in one word?

Loud.

For more information on Ian Smith, including tour dates and locations for Crushing, please click here.

Photo Credit: Mark Stronge