Steve N Allen makes a welcome return to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with ‘Alzheimer's? I Can't Even Remember How To Spell It’.
Dementia isn’t a laughing matter but neither is the loss of both your parents during the pandemic and the tricky birth of your first child and yet, somehow, that’s what Steve N Allen has to play with and discusses in this show. Caring for someone with Alzheimer's has its funny moments which some people feel bad talking about, but it’s important to highlight that there are many lighter moments against the darkness.
This show covers getting married, his wife getting pregnant and having a baby (at a relatively older age) all during a pandemic. What else was there to do? It made Steve think about what you pass on through generations, especially when you have Alzheimer's in the family.
The former chemist started out writing jokes for radio hosts before taking to the stage. A love of topical comedy led to presenting a comedy podcast for the BBC Steve N Allen’s Week and several Edinburgh shows set up as year-end reviews.
His TV credits include BAFTA nominated The Mash Report, The Late Night Mash and he regularly appears on Headliners, the comedy newspaper review show on GB News. He has also been on shows including Jeremy Vine on CH5. Radio credits include Time Radio (Alexis Conran’s show), BBC Radio 5 Live (Adrian Chiles’ show) and he hosts a daily afternoon show on Time 107.5 in London and Essex.
He has written on The News Quiz, Mock The Week, Breaking The News and Have I Got News for You. He also started a weekly streaming comedy show with Erich McElroy three years ago which he continues to do.
Steve N Allen’s ‘Alzheimer's? I Can't Even Remember How To Spell It’ is at the Gilded Balloon Teviot – Billiard Room at 9pm from 2nd – 28th August (except 14th). For tickets go to www.edfringe.com
Picture: Steve Ullathorne
What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren't sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)
Before walking on stage I do a little prayer to the comedy gods. I’m not a superstitious but I’ve lived through enough bad gigs to realise it’s worth a quick prayer just in case. It’s like Pascal’s Wager but more about hoping there are no hen nights in.
What irritates you?
There are so many things that irritate me that it’s either a personality defect or proof the world is broken. People who use the self-scan tills but wait until they have finished their transaction before getting their bag-for-life out and filling it item by item from the bagging area. It’s called the bagging area, bagging. Take the hint.
What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?
Accept a lift in a well-known comedian’s car to a gig. I won’t name names but there’s no way the DVLA don’t know who I’m talking about. Rally driving is a great hobby, I’m sure, but I didn’t realise that’s what we were going to do or I would have brought a helmet and nappy.
What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?
I once tried to fix an electric heater using a penknife and I somehow prodded the bit where the electricity is. I had arm ache for about a week and, most upsetting of all, I didn’t develop the ability to shoot the electricity back out of my hand like in X-Men.
What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?
I’m still shocked that this can be a career. It’s messing around, it’s having a laugh. It’s basically what I would have been cramming into my spare time if I’d had a proper job yet somehow I’ve managed to do this for a living. And we should all be grateful that I have or I’d annoy everyone in the office trying to be funny all the time.
Interview continues here.
