During his time at the Edinburgh Festival, 25-year-old Rhys James, well-known as a stand-up comedian, gag writer, and prolific tweeter, sat down with The Guardian to discuss his early beginnings in student comedy, his food hang-ups, and youth. When asked how he was enjoying his time at the festival, James shared that the constant rain and wind made it hard to enjoy Edinburgh fully and that it was challenging to put on a good show when the audience was already unhappy from the weather. James joked that he tries to "smile more" to uplift their moods.
When asked about his comedy heroes, James cited Louis CK as his favorite comic, though he doesn’t aim to emulate him precisely, unlike how he would watch Jimmy Carr’s DVDs and model his jokes after him when he first started. He quickly learned that he had to find his unique voice and style. Russell Brand and Demetri Martin were also in his list of influences, but it was Jack Whitehall who got him to start comedy at the age of 17. James was inspired by Whitehall’s success at such a young age and realized that he could start himself right away.
James commented that playing to audiences older than him was challenging at first since he started performing when he was still in university, doing gigs in villages on the outskirts of Manchester. He initially thought he wouldn’t do well with northern crowds, but he found that youthfulness became his selling point. While he likes having a mix of audience ages during his routines, being young still plays a significant role in his acts, such as his jokes about Umbro trainers and lack of life experience. Interestingly, he found that older generations appreciate his spoken word poetry routines more than younger ones, which he attributes to impressing moms with his quick rhyming skills.
The interview turned to James’s quirky food preferences, such as his distaste for wet foods and having his food touching each other. He joked that he was always referred to as "polite," but his friends’ parents didn’t like him much because of his pickiness. Despite growing out of some of his food aversions, he still cannot get behind baked beans.
Finally, James amusingly shared that nobody knew him at Manchester University, where he went to college. He was already doing comedy at that time and simply wanted to focus on that instead of going to lectures or discussing globalisation after a late-night gig.
Living just a brief 100-meter stroll away from Manchester’s Comedy Store, I had the perfect opportunity to try out my comedic chops in their 10-minute open spots. Even though the gigs were unpaid, I took advantage of them repeatedly and found myself on friendly terms with the man who did the bookings. Not everyone had the guts to show up, so when that occurred, I frequently got a phone call asking me to go fill in for them. While my roommates went to the bar, I headed down there.
What words of wisdom would you offer individuals hoping to become comedians?
It’s beneficial to capture recordings of your performances and listen to them afterward. Often, you’ll become aware that you’re unintentionally copying someone else’s catchphrases or mannerisms. For instance, a period arose when Nick Helm’s signature phrase of shouting, "This is happening!" caught on, and everyone was replicating it. In addition, people started imitating Carl Donnelly, saying "guyyys." Although it’s difficult to become aware of it while you’re doing it, listening to your performances enables you to catch these subtleties. It might be painful, but it’s without a doubt the most efficient technique to improve.
You ultimately obtained a 2:1 in Political Science and International Relations, which isn’t terrible…
To tell the truth, I still don’t know anything. I wasn’t completely invested in the theory. The other political science pupils in my seminars were pretentious beyond words. And composing my dissertation was excruciating. I was even diagnosed with a stomach ulcer during that process.
Don’t forget that Rhys James: Forgives can be seen at the Pleasance Courtyard at 4:45 p.m. until August 28th, with an additional show scheduled for 9:45 p.m. on August 26th.
