‘Eric Morecambe was probably 20 times funnier on stage than he was on telly’
Sir Lenny Henry embarks on a British tour this month after the publication of his memoir, Who Am I, Again? With dates coming up in Nottingham and Leicester, JAMES RAMPTON caught up with him
THERE is really very little that Sir Lenny Henry cannot do. As well as being one of Britain’s best-known and most celebrated comedians, he is also an acclaimed writer, radio DJ, TV presenter, co-founder of Comic Relief and an award-winning actor. In addition, Lenny has a PhD in Media Arts – “Dr Henry, I presume” – and in 2015 was awarded a knighthood for services to charity and drama.
But now, Lenny is returning to his first love: live performance. His new show, An Evening With Lenny Henry – Who Am I, Again?, follows the publication of his memoir, also entitled Who Am I, Again?.
It is not a conventional stand-up show. In the first half, Lenny treats us to a series of anecdotes – triggered by writing his memoir. He recollects growing up in the Black Country, puberty, school, friendship, family secrets – and racism. He remembers how – with his mother’s mantra of “H’integration” ringing in his ears – he did his best to overcome those obstacles and make his way in the world.
Lenny proceeds to regale the audience with memories of his stellar career. After he burst into the public consciousness in 1975 as the gifted 16-year-old winner of TV talent show New Faces, he appeared on TV shows such as Tiswas, Three Of A Kind and The Lenny Henry Show.
In the second half of the show Lenny will be interviewed by friend, broadcaster and author Jon Canter, offering further insights
into his life and career.
The performer says he can’t wait to be back on stage.
“Live performance is just the best,” asserts Lenny, a captivating and compelling presence both on and off stage. “Being in front of an audience is the best thing you can do. Films and telly are extra, but live is you unfiltered. It’s just you stood there talking to an audience.”
The performer, who has also starred in such sitcoms as Chef! and The Fosters, goes on to recall the greatest live show he ever witnessed.
“What Morecambe and Wise did in front of a live audience was very different to what they did on telly. Their TV show was brilliant, but Eric was probably 20 times funnier on stage than he was on telly.
“I worked with him in Bournemouth in 1979, and it was one of the most extraordinary live experiences I have ever had. It was so funny and loose.
“I try to get to the same space when I perform live, create a real sense that this is unmediated and unmitigated. I attempt to communicate to the audience that ‘We’re gonna have a great time for the next 90 minutes, and then we’re all off home! HOORAY!’
“People show up – sometimes not all at the same time! To be honest, it is a long time since ‘Katanga, my friends!’ or ‘OOOOOKAAAAY!’, but it seems that people still want to come and see the show and be entertained.
“What is lovely is that my audience has grown with me over the years, they get me – and what I’m trying to do. I really cherish that.”
The other aspect of live performance that he adores is that he can improvise – live and direct in the moment.
“With this show, the audiences are not just going to get a prepared, scripted presentation, but the bits in between, too.
“My favourite comedians are the ones that have not only put in the hard work on their show, but they can also (once the show is up and running), swim between sections of their script and fool around.
“Those are my favourite performances: where you’re allowed to improvise right then and there, and the audience gets that.
“That’s what’s really exciting about live performance; you’re not watching a robot; you’re watching a human being. If you come to play, the audience really appreciate that.”
Even though his live show is tied to the publication of his memoir, the performer is swift to point out that this is very far from a conventional book tour.
“I thought, ‘I’m not going to do the normal book tour thing.’ How can I do that? I’m not sure comedians are supposed to do book tours in the way other people do them.
“There is a weight of expectation about a book tour, and people would be severely disappointed if a comedian started to navel gaze and talk about how his parents beat him viciously as a child. People are not going to get therapy on stage from me. They will get stories, character stuff and songs.
“I’m sure he’s a great guy, but It’s not going to be a Julian Barnes type evening, OK people? We don’t get down like that…”
“The show is going to be loose, fun, insightful, and revelatory. Did I say ‘fun’ yet?”
An Evening With Lenny Henry UK tour comes to Nottingham Royal Concert Hall on Thursday, November 14, and Leicester De Montfort Hall, Thursday, November 21. Tickets: lennyhenryontour.net or trch.co.uk (£32-£35) or demontforthall.co.uk (£31£34).
■ Lenny Henry’s autobiography Who Am I, Again? is published by Faber, £20.