Comedy / Interviews
Interview: Spencer Jones as The Herbert
Comic Spencer Jones returns next week with his exhilaratingly silly alter ego The Herbert, who creates joyful moments of comedy from sound, props, situations, costumes, and your imagination. Since his last Greenbank gig, Jones has won both Best Performer and Best Show at the Comedian’s Choice awards. Here’s Spencer on Herbertism and more.
Tell us how and why The Herbert came into being.
How: Three and a half years ago I did a week-long clown course with Doctor Brown. I was rubbish but I fell in love with clowning. Or rather, the ideas behind it and new ways of getting a laugh out of an audience.
I was hooked. Obsessed.
Why: People laugh so I keep on doing it. When they stop laughing – and they will – I will stop.
Who and what has fed into The Herbert – comedians, sitcoms, comics you read as a kid…?
Every single comedian, good and bad I have ever seen and every single person I have ever met all play a part. How could they not? I’m certainly not trying to be anyone. On stage I am just trying to make people forget about their work for a bit.
Is an act like this more high-risk than conventional observational stand-up, with its familiar jokes about sex and relationships?
No matter what type of comedy you do, there is a risk people won’t like it. I think the riskiest thing is doing something that’s not something you love yourself. I personally think my Herbert is very mainstream. I want as many people as possible to like it, so I do really silly stuff I hope everyone will like. It doesn’t always work. 50/50, I reckon!
How do you feel just before clambering onstage as The Herbert?
Before I go on stage I am a mess. Panicking, sweating, swearing, spewing. Not pretty at all. When I finish, regardless of how it’s gone I am just relieved and crumple into a corner. I only started comedy because I wanted to be a straight actor.
Now I am an idiot. A total idiot.
Spencer Jones as The Herbert Wednesday, April 6, The Greenbank. For more info, visit www.bristolpunchline.com
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