It is August which only means one thing – it is Camden Fringe time! Over the next few weeks we are chatting to acts that are performing at the festival and finding all about their show and what they would call this years iconic Camden Fringe Pigeon! Today we speak to Stephen Portlock find out about the show Stephen and Hamlet: Blind and Mad

Date: 2nd / 23rd / 24th August
Time: 19:00 / 20:30 / 19:00
Price: £8 / £9
Location: Etcetera Theatre / Museum of Comedy
Ticket Link: https://camdenfringe.com/events/stephen-and-hamlet-blind-and-mad/

How did you come up with the name of your show that your taking to the Camden fringe?

Surprisingly easily. Notwithstanding the rather highbrow literary joke, it really just describes what I am, namely blind and mad (with OCD and with, ahem,a dog Hamlet). I tried to abbreviate it but Blad just makes me sound like a Michael Jackson fan with a lisp!

Tell us a little bit about your style of show?

Well I’m a middle aged blind man with OCD and that makes me a bit of an outsider – too weird for a blind comedian but too blind for the fruitcakes. Given my ambivalent feelings about identity politics, I muse on how we all, disabled and non-disabled alike can just be nicer to one another.

My style is low energy, gentle, affectionate and deadpan, possibly the consequence of having a soft voice. Perversely my show is quite rude at times (it’s 18 rated) with a certain amount of sexual themed content and some rather dark humour about OCD. There’s a bit of audience participation but it’s absolutely consensual and never threatening. Oh and I bring along a cuddly minion, and burst into song close to the end!

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe?

Nick Everritt. I’m such a fanboy! He’s going to think I’m a stalker (although in fairness I’d probably wouldn’t make a very good stalker for obvious reasons). I once accompanied him to a gig and I felt like a total groupie.

Don’t tell anyone but I absolutely worship the bonkers brilliance that is Nicky Vere-Compton and she’s just as amazing when paired up with Rubynia Reubens.

I really like Nick Ellerey and enjoyed his previous Camden Fringe show but let’s not pretend otherwise, I’m namechecking him to trick my OCD as I don’t like doubles (Nick Everritt, Nicki Vere-Compton, Nick Ellerey geddit!)

What advice would you give to others who want to perform at Camden Fringe next year?

Listen to Michelle and Zena’s podcasts – they’re really good and I love the kooky opening music.

What is the best thing about performing at the Camden fringe?

It’s local to me! Hooray! I don’t have to stumble around a hotel room trying to find things.

London can be an expensive place to perform in – what key advice would you give to performers that is a sort of life hack?

If you want to be treated like a professional, behave like a professional. Years ago I met Keith Duffey of Boyzone (my background is journalistic) and he advised me “put concrete

in your shoes”. Wise advice from a wise man.

What are your favourite things about Camden?

Well there’s certainly the sense of accomplishment whenever I get home alive and in one piece at the end of each day. Have you seen their roads? If so then do tell me what they’re like because they seem a bit dicky to me!

It has a hipster vibe and the people seem mostly nice although it could be that the rum ones just avoid me.

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

One who laughs loudly, buys my merch, possibly joins me onstage, subsequently leaves a rave review on my website and on social media, and doesn’t walk out before the end. I once did an afternoon open mic show in Brighton, misread the audience, did the one and only 18 rated joke in my show and the entire bloody audience walked out!

The iconic image of the Camden Fringe is the Pigeon – if you could call this years pigeon a name to represent its style what would it be and why?

Well when I did my first degree I had a cuddly toy bird called Abnuceals (any Frank Zappa fans out there will recognise the reference) and I’d like to see him (the bird, not FZ)

reincarnated and relocated to Camden.

If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?

X: @stephenpor87175

Facebook stephen.portlock.7

www.stephenportlockcomedy.com

And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show?

Blind mad comedian