Fresher’s week is a time to do things you haven’t done before, and a time to discover new people and new past times. On offer as well as Drinking and Fancy dress are some great artists and comedians to provide a fantastic alternative for an evening out. This Fresher’s week features one of the most popular Comedians on the circuit. Fresh from his critically acclaimed Edinburgh Performances, Tom Stade has embarked on a huge UK Tour. Tom is a Canadian comedian who’s magnetic stage presence, irrepressible charm and first-class story-telling have established him as one of the most sought after performers on the UK and international circuit. Tom has appeared live on various UK comedy shows such as Mock the Week and Michael McIntyre’s comedy Road show.
On the 27th of September Tom Will be playing the Glee club in Nottingham and Platform caught up with Tom before he started his mammoth 46 date tour. During my phone interview with Tom his infectious humour rubbed off instantly and despite calling him early in the day he was as funny as he is on stage.
PM: Your Edinburgh fringe show sold out every night of the festival, how was it received by the critics?
Tom: “The reviews were all across the board, we had some 3′s some 4′s and some 5′s, but these people just come to one show, one night! So I’ll accept the guy that came on the five star night, because his opinion sounds better than the guy who came on the three star night!”
PM: So you live in Edinburgh, following a stint in Wolverhampton, as a Canadian how did you end up living there?
Tom:”Well God pointed his finger to a little rainy town in Scotland and said “Tom that’s where you need to go, you’re the only one that can drink whisky with them!” I listened to my inner voice and moved here.”
PM: Which do you prefer Wolverhampton or Edinburgh?
Tom:”Wow which do I prefer! I enjoy both towns for different reasons, I enjoy Wolverhampton for the organised chaos and I love Edinburgh because I can wear a suit and everyone thinks that I have a Job!”
PM: What can People expect on your tour, perhaps for those who haven’t seen you before, what do you get from a Tom Stade show?
Tom: “Your gonna get Laughter, a man who knows how to paint word art for the mind.”
“I like to start off with a bit of drug humour and then some cock humour and then were gonna end it all off with paedophile jokes. But seriously your gonna get comedy all across the board. There is something in it for everyone, nice humour for nice people and some Evil humour for the downright evil!”
PM: A lot of people will have seen you first on BBC Shows like Michael McIntyre’s comedy road show, how do they differ to your Live tour shows?
Tom:”They’re very different, they’re prone not to offend, BBC are very careful with what you can do, it has to be very nicey nicey. When you’re on your own stage, no one can censor you and it changes the game quite a bit. BBC gives you safety which you don’t have on your own.”
PM: You mention censorship, you also Co-wrote Tremodol Nights with Frankie Boyle how did you deal with the Uproar from that?
Tom: “Same as we always do ignore it , I don’t want to deal with that!”
“But seriously that’s one of the funniest shows I’ve done, it’s one of the only shows where we were given a free reign and when it came out everyone was kind of shocked because it was the first time people have seen something where we haven’t been censored. I think it took a few weeks for people to accept it. As for the backlash, there’s always somebody with a cause.
PM: Allot of people want to see that back, how likely is that?
Tom:”I have a feeling it was a one off. If popular demand asks for it then maybe. The one funny part is Frankie took a big hit on that one, even though he was only one of the writers, he was the one all the anger was directed at and it’s hard for Frankie to always take that.”
PM: You also did some festivals this year, how do you find playing to music festivals?
Tom: It’s a 50 50 gig on those things, I love them but once you put comedy in a tent there’s no intimacy , it only takes one guy to start of a heckle and the whole crowd is against you and you don’t even know where its coming from.
PM: Finally what advice do you have for fresher’s Joining university this year?
Tom: “University won’t save you, only your wits will! I know a lot of guys who dropped out and are millionaires and a lot of guys who stayed who make their coffee. Reading the right book won’t get you a job!”
PM: Ha-ha Some inspiring words!
Tom:”Ha-ha very inspiring! It’s the truth! You can’t handle the truth! It’s dangerous out there!”
PM: Thanks for speaking to us and we look forward to seeing you on the 27th of September.
Tom: No worries! See you soon.
Tom Plays the Glee Club on the 27th of September in Nottingham. Tickets are 3 pounds and can be purchased at the Welcome week Ticket Points.
Here’s a little taster for you!
