Phil Kay: Comedy Health and Safety Video FULL VERSION

A proper corporate video

More Phil Kay videos

Phil Kay burst on to the comedy circuit in 1989, when he won the new act contest So You Think You're Funny in only its second year.

His unpredictable, freestyle approach won him a Perrier nomination in 1993 and the award for best stand-up at the 1994 British Comedy Awards, and he was given his own Channel 4 show, Phil Kay Feels..., in 1997, which was recorded in front of a live audience to try to capture his manic energy

However, the showcase failed to make him a star and, aside from the occasional panel game appearance, his career is now limited mainly to shows at Edinburgh and other festivals.

He has recently started hosting kids’ shows on the festival scene, where his silly style has proved popular with the younger audience.

Here for The Crack
Live Review
Udderbelly South Bank

The Crack is the more chilled-out cousin of cabaret sensation La Clique, trading some of its stablemate’s elegant, vibrant sleaze for a more artful, if sometimes less thrilling, line-up.

PVC-clad sword-swallower Miss Behave hosts this six-night run in the South Bank’s Udderbelly, with the help of frequent inserts from Doctor Stewart’s staccato dance vignettes, perfectly lip-synched to mashed-up club tracks.

All live shows involve some level of conspiracy between audience and performer, but it’s crucial to a decadent underground cabaret such as this, requiring both sides to believe they are part of an almost illicit happening.

Some acts are better at building this relationship than others, but following the opening routine by Kalki Hula Girl, Phil Kay created a lovely rapport, thanks to his improvised ten-minute song about people who catch his eye in the audience. As someone who regularly talks for hours at a time – not always advisedly – this slot was barely enough to let him hit his stride, but his benign playfulness worked as an impeccable icebreaker.

A more mellow musical offering came from Earl Okin, who might not look the part as a self-proclaimed sex symbol with his squat frame, distinctively outdated dress sense, and scouring-pad hair. But close your eyes and you could almost be listening to a vintage scratched 78, with his sultry lisp and mellifluous voice. The way he rolls his consonants sounds like creaking wood – and the audience (which tonight included one Eddie Izzard, incidentally) was suitably appreciative when he produced the brass section to his bluesy numbers My Room and Bessie using his mouth alone.

Dutch clown Mr Jones was something of a disappointment. In baggy checked suit and carrying an outsized suitcase full of props he proceeded to go through every staple of the street performer’s act, pulling out juggling clubs, a lasso, a whip and diablo in a deliberately desperate attempt to win our attention. His shtick is that he’s a bit of a rubbish entertainer, far too willing to please – but there’s a fine line between faking that and coming across as the real thing; and in his overlong set, Mr Jones fell the wrong side of it. You’d be better off in Covent Garden.

Jon Hicks initially appeared to be another slow-burning act; coming on in paint-splattered decorator’s suit, and attending to some silent comedy business at a snail’s pace. But when the soundtrack kicked in, his true talent emerged as he started chucking paint at the 6ft canvas behind him. He’s a speed artist, and created a mighty impressive portrait in just a few minutes, with a sort of ‘can you guess what it is yet’ tease as the image gradually formed. Eat your heart out, Rolf Harris.

Nina Conti was a crowd favourite with her polished post-postmodern ventriloquism, cleverly deconstructing the deconstructions and with an ambitious, funny and very impressive finale – as seen in her last Edinburgh show – more than excusing any of the obvious-but-effective ‘hand up the backside’ jokes. She is a consummate entertainer, with some brains behind the banter, almost guaranteed to go down well in any room.

She was followed by Andrew Lawrence, who quickly divided the room. He began with a rather odd description of a lump of snot that had lodged up his nostril, delivered without his usual fierce intensity. The site of a strange, whiney man discussing his mucus unsurprisingly failed to catch the attention – so when a heckler interjected, it was hard to predict on whose side the audience would fall.

But by the pure force of his diatribe, Lawrence won at least a narrow majority of the crowd, to enable him to continue with his planned routine: a savagely aggressive rant he imagines giving to the petty traffic cop who once pulled him over on the outskirts of Leicester.

What you can say of his act is that it brought a genuine frisson to the marquee, creating an atmosphere that could so easily have turned nasty. But as he demanded a standing ovation, the cheers outnumbered the jeers. Just about.

The best was saved to last, however, with the brilliantly ridiculous anarchy of Woody Bop Muddy; a barnstorming act who probably hasn’t been seen in the comedy clubs for a decade or more, although he does make occasional appearances on the outdoor festival circuit.

His bonkers Record Graveyard act is easy to describe, but hard to explain. He chucks around great handfuls of rice, then produces an Oxfam shop’s worth of cheesy, ancient LPs whose fate is decided by mob rule. Will these vinyl atrocities be destroyed by his golden hammer, or allowed to ascend into record heaven?

It’s a superbly daft act combining inspired madness, irrefutable high energy and liberating audience participation, sold with 100 per cent conviction. It’s a genuine joy to see him back.

To say he’s worth the £17 to £21 ticket price alone might be overstating the case, but he does provide a barnstorming finale to this eclectic variety line-up.

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Was lucky enough to catch Phil yesterday and I have to say i havent' laughed that hard in ages! I was literally crying! Purest mad gold! I remember his show back in the day too, I'd love to get hold of that now but what are the chances? Definitely worth a see if you can, for the energy and madness alone! Loved it!

Keeno, June 2009

I saw Phil lat night. Excellent show...humour was bang on. Looks a bit too much like Jesus but wont hold that against him. Definitely see him again if the opportunity arises.

Iain, March 2009

Er.... just seen Phil being escorted off stage by security at the Ku Club in Soho. He started ok and then bombed so badly it hurt. How can I put this.... I hope he remembers it in the morning. It only cost a tenner and first comic was mainstream and funny, then after seeing Phil's chaos.... what a night. Brilliant. Although possibly not the way Mr Kay meant it to be.

Laurence, March 2009

Phil you were on form at the Universal Hall in Findhorn October 18, 2008,for those that took the trouble to come to the gig. Thanks for an entertaining evening.

Douglas Thomson, October 2008

Saw him last night in Greenwich and he was excellent. I can understand how some of his stuff would bomb and I definitely got the impression that a tougher crowd would have gone against him at times so I can easily understand some of the negative comments here, but if you're happy to go along with him he's about the most entertaining comedian I've seen (and yes I have seen quite a lot before you ask..). Apart from having everyone laughing he generated an incredible amount of energy in the room that I don't think many will forget. Admittedly there were a few people who looked a bit shocked at the end but at least no-one was bored!

Stuart, October 2008

I saw PK at the Ed Fringe this year and he had a bad show, but was still ace,.

lee, August 2008

I love Phil. He is brilliantly funny, and never (or rarely I don't know) unkind, to anyone or anything.

Theresa, May 2008

Seen the two sides of Phil now. As a true improvisor, I accept that some times he will get it wrong, but the show on Sataurday at the ABC Glasgow was verging on the embarassing....w ith the silences making everyone uncomfortable. Even Phil seemed to admit that the interval that couldn't come quickly enough for him. I do ope he gets it right next time, because when he's funny he really is great, but will he?

WeeTel, March 2007

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5