Comedy / John Tothill
John Tothill: ‘I probably shouldn’t have to have got a life-threatening disease in order to do a comedy show’
When he was planning his first foray up to the “notoriously expensive” Edinburgh Fringe in 2023, primary school teacher-turned comedian John Tothill found himself in need of a cash injection.
His solution? “I signed up for flu camp” he explains, “- which is a paid medical trial for out-of-work actors, comedians and bored students – all of which, at various points in my life, I have been. What could possibly go wrong?”
The answer is, as it turned out, quite a bit – though the £2,500 he was paid (mercifully tax free, since it qualifies as compensation, not income) provided him with far more comedic inspiration than he could have anticipated.
is needed now More than ever
John Tothill
“I probably shouldn’t have had to have got a life-threatening disease in order to do a comedy show, but I don’t regret it” he admits.
“It was either that or work a regular nine-to-five in the hope of saving money. Given my impulsive approach to finances, it was really a choice between a death sentence and a life sentence. I chose the death sentence and thankfully got away with it. And I’d do it again!”
Recovering in time for the Fringe – where he was forced to miss some shows due to acute appendicitis – Tothill met with a slew of critical praise and sell-out crowds for his show, Thank God This Lasts Forever.
He is now embarking on his debut UK tour, which calls at The Alma Theatre on April 3.
“I can’t wait to take this show back to Bristol,” he says. “I read the other day that Bristol is ranked as Britain’s ‘kindest city’.
“So if you don’t want to come to my show, do please consider buying a ticket as an act of charity. You don’t even need to show up, honestly. I’m putting this show on in the hope that Banksy will come. And there’ll be no real way of knowing if he does either way.”
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John Tothill: Thank God This Lasts Forever is at The Alma Theatre on April 3 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at www.chucklebusters.com.
All photos: Rebecca Need-Menear
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