ECOMEDY Q&A WITH ROBIN INCE

ESP is backing the Ecomedy special at the Key Theatre on June 4 as part of the city’s Green Festival. Robin Ince headlines the night and our reporter Steve Gonzalez grabs a word…

What was it like touring with Ricky Gervais?  On the Politics DVD it seems like you put up with a lot of his pranks and you must’ve been tempted to get your own back. Is he still like that when you see him ?

“Some people think the screeches, howls and physical humiliations were done for the camera – nope – this has been our relationship since the mid 90s. On occasion I forget how bizarre it is sometimes and then see a stranger looking on and realise being gaffer taped upside down to a coat rail while a middle-aged man daubs you in make up while howling is not part of everyone’s day. That’s why, for the sake of my sanity and fear he might tattoo my face while I slept, I decided against joining the Science tour.”

The Key Theatre is renowned for being an excellent place to perform in.  Last year Stewart Lee did his latest Edinburgh show, and more recently Dirk Benedict from the A-Team played TV detective Columbo. I also saw my first ever panto there in the mid-80′s with Charlie Drake playing Buttons. How excited are you to be following in the footsteps of these iconic performers?

“I hope I can still smell Benedict’s cigar smoke and possibly cut my foot on an ancient broken plate left by Drake. To join the team of Lee, Drake and Benedict is akin to being allowed into the League of Justice.”

As your performance is part of the city’s Green Festival – How concerned are you about the state of the environment and what would you say to people who are dismissive of the scientific evidence?

“Like many people I am an eco hypocrite, I worry about the state of the world then buy ludicrously packaged snacks and forget to turn my lights off while heating my house with the carcasses of polar bears. I think the biosphere of earth is very delicate, so far we’re the only planet that appears to have life, so a very delicate balance is required to maintain it, so we should all think a little more on the magnitude of being conscious beings on a lump of rock.”

You also had a small cameo in the first series of The Office playing Stuart Foote who applies for a job as David Brent’s secretary. If you could choose, which actor would you like to see play your character in the American version?

“Lance Henriksen (of Aliens and Millennium fame)”

A  few years ago you told me that you were toying with the idea of an Office spin-off with your character called One Foote in the Algarve where he moves to Portugal.  Is this still happening ?

“I wrote a spoof show for Edinburgh in which I played an insane version of myself who believed his blink or you’ll miss it part in The Office was the reason for its success. Sadly, some people believed I really was having a nervous breakdown as I punched a melon that represented Vernon Kay’s face until it exploded.

“Still high hopes for “Tudors and the Stuart” in which I play a harassed neighbour who lives next door to some noisy battle re-enactors.”

Catch Robin Ince at The Key tTheatre show with support from Tony Law, Richard Brophy and Adam Tempest – it’ll be a scream!

Tickets are £15 (£13 concessions) from The Key box office or call 01733 207239.