Stand-up comedian James Acaster is set to perform at The Platform on Thursday, February 28th, 2013.
Born in Kettering, the 28-year-old won the Off The Kerb “Laughing Boy” New Act award in 2010 and has made television appearances on “Russell Howard’s Good News” (BBC Three), “Dave’s One Night Stand” and Chris Addison’s “Show and Tell” (E4).
Speaking to The Linc ahead of his performance, Acaster said that he first got into stand-up comedy after his music career fell through. He explained: “I was in a band which stopped and I didn’t want to sit around at home sulking because I wasn’t in a band anymore.
“I also didn’t want to form a new band and go around setting my drum kit everywhere. So I decided I’d something that would require me to bring nothing to the gig, but still enable me to get up on stage and get people’s attention every night, so I did stand-up comedy.”
He continued: “It was meant to be a thing to do in the meantime until I thought of something better to do. I ended up really enjoying it and gigging most nights. You get a bit addicted to it at the start and I’ve never stopped really.”
Acaster has previously performed in Lincoln at the Drill Hall, where he supported Josie Long and Milton Jones. He said that the experiences have improved his material: “Their audiences are very specific, so it’s a real challenge to perform to those crowds. It’s not always easy. That meant that I got loads out of touring with them because you really have to pick it up.
“Every night you’ve got to go out and really take on the challenge. You’re not the person they want to see. They don’t want to see you getting in the way of what they actually paid money for.”
Acaster was nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy Award for his run of gigs at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Speaking about his time at the festival, he said: “All-in-all, it was great fun and getting nominated at the end for the award was a lovely surprise and a nice way to top it all off.”
Titled “Prompt”, the show comes to Lincoln at the end of February. But where did the name come from? Acaster explained: “I just like the word. It hasn’t got anything to do with the content of the show but I felt the word just suited the feel and the overall tone of the show.
He continued: “I try not to give the show a title that will make people think about anything in particular. I like the ‘mpt’ sound at the end of it.”
But what can we expect from the show itself? Acaster said: “I talk about bread for a lot of the show. I’ll do a football chant and discuss a horrific night out I had with some lads.
Tickets are available to purchase from the Engine Shed box office, priced at £10 plus booking fees.