Scottish BAFTA winning, Funny Woman finalist, Stand up Comedian Susan Calman took some time out of rehearsals to talk to Planet London about mixing politics with comedy, reactions to her often deeply personal stand up routines, and not Googling herself.
Calman, who is also known for excellent turns as a panellist
on a number of TV and Radio quiz shows (you might have heard or seen her on Radio
4’s New Quiz, or QI and Have I Got News For You on BBC1), has been full time entertaining
since 2005 when she quit her legal career and changed paths towards something
she loved and ‘had always wanted to do’. She says that ‘Stand Up comedian’ was not a
valid career option for women leaving school in the early 90s, and as such she
followed the more traditional route of university and life in the legal
profession. Eventually she decided it was time to give comedy a go, and she
hasn’t looked back.
Calman’s comedy is often political in nature, and her new
show is no exception – dubbed as the most political, and personal, set yet.
Fans will no doubt expect, and receive, a routine that is built upon an
idiosyncratic story telling style of universally identifiable themes,
juxtaposed with strong political beliefs . This show also unashamedly has its
cause in mind: the case of equal marriage for gay couples. It’s also an opportunity to raise the profile
of women’s, specifically lesbian, visibility in the comedy market. There’s
still a need to normalise and mainstream these issues that are seen as
alternative by some.
Perhaps it’s because she grew to love comedy in the 80s, following
the then ‘alternative comedians’ that Calman came to be interested in politics
and lay foundations towards her unique comedy style. She finds comedy a perfect
platform for politics because it provides an opportunity to get ideas across in
a way people will listen to. Indeed, political satire has always been one of
the foundations of British humour.
However, Calman warns, it’s not just about making point and
having something funny to say. Political comedy needs to be funny, make a relevant
point, and also be backed up by genuine knowledge, understanding and belief. Calman further takes the risk of creating an on stage
persona of herself that talks through personal, and real, stories in her life
to demonstrate her points. It could be tricky to take on board critical reviews
and reactions to a show that is essentially ‘Who I am’ – how does one draw the
line between the personal and the performance in these circumstances?
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| Susan Calman for President |
Calman assures me she plays very much into the hands of the
audience on the night and pays little attention to reviews (good or bad). She
protects herself from the negativity, those who might not ‘personally’ like her
work, and concentrates on delivering to the audience. She doesn’t Google
herself. She does have an active presence on Twitter, which is mostly more
enjoyable than not, but is exposure to the tweeps who comment negatively just
for the sake of it. But, she won’t be put off saying what she thinks. She just
might be more choosy in what outlets she uses.
I asked what she’ll do when gay marriage is equal in law to
heterosexual marriage. “Get married,” she responds. She wasn’t allowed a Humanist
ceremony for her recent civil partnership, so she’ll make sure she gets the
ceremony, and recognition in law, that she wanted all along. And “have a
wonderful day”.
For Calman, the pleasure of comedy is in the process.
Developing an idea of a joke- something that might be funny – into a routine
that is delivered well, and makes people laugh. Lucky us; I cannot wait to see
this put into practice next month.
Susan Calman is currently preparing to bring her successful stand
up show ‘This Lady’s Not For Turning Either” from the Edinburgh Festival to London. Selling
out in Edinburgh, and receiving glowing reviews, it plays at Soho Downstairs,
Soho Theatre, from November 13 – 24. For
more information and to book tickets (£10 - £17.50) visit www.sohotheatre.co.uk.
