Phil Kay

Phil Kay

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.

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Phil Kay: Alphalfa Male

Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

Phil Kay’s such a genuine free spirit that when he tells us he’s been living in a ditch these past 15 years, we almost believe him. 

A dishevelled, ramshackle presence, he has been peddling his freeform stream-of-consciousness on the comedy circuit for more than 30 years, a living reminder of the placeless roots of those vulgar troubadours who evolved into comedians.

He’s happy to be finally settled in an unfurnished flat above a fish and chip shop, he tells us in one of the few fragments of the show which feels like it might have been premeditated. But for most of the hour he jams like a jazz musician, riffing on words and phrases that drift into his untidy mind, occasionally prompted by the audience, in the hope of finding a comedic melody.

Sometimes he finds connections as his random noodling forms into primordial jokes, fragments of wordplay and ideas that he rolls around in his mouth. Often it’s just a gentle babbling of notions, partially accompanied by his strumming on the guitar. 

You won’t see the show I saw, that’s guaranteed, but, on this occasion, his flittering brain alighted on Tom Daley, a ditty about regionally protected foodstuffs inspired by somebody mentioning camembert, and relaxation breathing exercises as a substitute for drugs. Speaking of pharmaceuticals, he also mentioned he was unvaccinated, not through any great misplaced principle, but Kay is not the sort of person who ever gets anything done.


There’s bafflement among those expecting a more traditional stand-up monologue. Others – probably those who have seen him before – indulge him, knowing that sometimes this alchemy fizzles and pops to create gold.

Tonight? Pyrites maybe… a few glistening sparkles of magic, not quite crystalising. Plenty of gentle titters, no huge guffaws. ‘You have been incredibly tolerant,’ he says at the end. ‘I can do better, I promise.’ 

That’s a needlessly harsh self-review, as there were some laughs here. And he’s an engaging presence even when cruising. Having zero pretence is endearing, and he seems genuinely delighted when a gag does present itself. 

Inspired whimsy or self-indulgent drivel? Somewhere between the two… but Kay’s too long in the tooth to change now.

• Phil Kay: Alphalfa Male is at the Laughing Horse at Bar 50 at 12.45pm tomorrow.

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Published: 23 Aug 2021

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Past Shows

Edinburgh Fringe 2001

Goose Nights

Phil Kay


Edinburgh Fringe 2003

Express Excess

Phil Kay


Edinburgh Fringe 2005

All In The Timing

Phil Kay


Edinburgh Fringe 2007

Phil Kay [2007]

Phil Kay: Justice


Edinburgh Fringe 2011

Phil Kay: Free Hash


Edinburgh Fringe 2014

Phil Kay: The Wholly Viable II


Edinburgh Fringe 2016

Phil Kay: Laugh & Death


Edinburgh Fringe 2017

Phil Kay: Euphoric


Edinburgh Fringe 2018

Phil Kay: Lighter Hour


Edinburgh Fringe 2021

Phil Kay: Alphalfa Male...


West End run

Crack


Agent

We do not currently hold contact details for Phil Kay's agent. If you are a comic or agent wanting your details to appear here, for a one-off fee of £59, email steve@chortle.co.uk.

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