Stephen K. Amos has always seemed like such a cool dude. His effortless comic styling’s make a lot of people laugh and rightly so. Taking a different step this year, his show is simply titled: Find the Funny. Wherever it may be and in such hard times in the UK, there really isn’t anything else to do, right? After a couple of venue changes, I caught up with him to discuss the show, Facebook and what his fans would like to know...
Can you tell us a bit about this years show?
SKA Well, it’s funny. Nothing too deep and heavy, it’s just about feeling good. There’s too much doom and gloom in the world: expenses row and swine flu. It’s just a time to forget all of your troubles for an hour and have a feel good time.
How do you think this year's show compares to last year's?
SKA Hmm…The numbers are definitely up across the board and there are a lot more people in the seats which is great. My previous shows have kind of been semi-autobiographical and delving into certain issues, but this year I’m just having fun!
What do you think your fans would want to know about you from this interview?
SKA What would people want to know about me? That’s a good question! I don’t know…it depends. There are lots of things I have kept hidden and some things that I haven’t in the few programmes I have made. What do they want to know?
Nothing, I just wondered what you thought!
SKA That is a really hard question! I’m the sort of guy you could take down the pub and have a good old drink and a chat with.
You’re also doing a show with Lionel Blair this year (School for Scandal) How did that come about?
SKA Well, there’s a company called the Comedians Theatre Company, which is run by a man named Phil Nichol and a couple of others. Since doing a big comedy ensemble with Cuckoo’s Nest about four years ago, they have done various productions that feature comedians. So, they asked me to be in it in just a little and interesting part and when they told me that the legend that is: Lionel Blair, was in it, I couldn’t turn it down.
Which do you prefer: being on your own, or being with other people?
SKA I much prefer the company of other people. I’m not one of those solitary beings…I like a good chat and a good mixture of people.
Do you prefer a bigger or smaller audience?
SKA I don’t know…a big audience is a different kind of beast to handle, but with a small audience you can do different things.
Obviously the world is constantly evolving and one of the main areas is the Internet. Especially on websites like Facebook and Twitter. What is your opinion on these sites?
SKA I used to do a whole thing on those sites, because in a good way, it brings the whole world together, but it is also a faceless medium. It can give people a platform to say whatever they like about other people. I’m all for freedom of speech, but I think you have to draw the line. Why would you make up a page that says: “I hate_____” You should just go out and meet people and talk to them. If chat rooms were that brilliant, nobody would be out of their houses.
In specific regard to Twitter and the way that now, many celebrities (footballers) have been revealing certain information that they shouldn’t. What do you think about that?
SKA I think, that if you are the kind of person who puts every little detail of your life online, that sort of says something about you as a person. I tend to talk to my friends really. I do understand them as a marketing tool and it is the 21st century so we need to keep up with the times and a lot of people do follow Twitter and watch YouTube to get references. I also can’t lie…I have a MySpace and Facebook and people have left very nice comments on them.
Were you gutted about not winning Celebrity Masterchef?
SKA To be honest, I wasn’t gutted. I just thought it would be a good laugh, my parents really like the programme and I just did it for the experience. I didn’t realise how hard it would be, working in a fully operational kitchen in the West End of London.
Out of ten, how would you rate your show? Or, if you could give it a grade from A+ to U what would it be?
SKA Goodness gracious…it would be rather churlish of me to say a D or a 1. I’m rating my audience because if they leave and they are happy, that for me is a ten…and so far, there have been no complaints!
On that note, Stephen has to head off to yet another interview (probably). He is hot property this year and seems to have been non-stop. No wonder with not one, but two shows on the go. He really was how I imagined him, just a really cool dude. Go and catch either of his shows this year and you are more than likely to be won over by his faultless style.
Stephen K Amos - The Feelgood Factor is at Pleasance Courtyard untl 31 August, 9.40pm