Stephen K Amos lets the sun shine in at Watford Palace Theatre (From Watford Observer)

Stephen K Amos lets the sun shine in at Watford Palace Theatre

4:39pm Monday 18th January 2010

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Bored of grumbling about the ice and snow? The antidote to moaning and groaning this winter arrives at Watford Palace Theatre this week in the shape of holistic comedian Stephen K Amos, who is bringing his smash hit Edinburgh Festival show, The Feelgood Factor, to our door. So let’s open on up and let the sun shine in.

So how will Stephen set about warming our hearts and minds after a couple of weeks of sub-zero temperatures.

The Old Town Hall audience were my focus group: I said to them, “your laughter will tell me where the best bits are”, and they duly complied

Stephen K Amos

“When I started writing it last year we were in middle of a financial crisis and there was the the MPs’ expenses scandal, so I wanted to focus on the positive things that happen in life, from childhood onwards.

“When there’s hideous weather and everyone is in a mood, it plays into my hands. You may not want to spend two and a half hours out of your house, but it won’t be cold in the theatre, so come on out and have a laugh.”

So how does Stephen stock up on his feelgood factor?

“To be honest, one of reasons for doing the show came to me when I went to visit my brother and he has two little boys of five and six and one was laughing and I said “what are you laughing about?”, and he said “I don’t know”, and then I started laughing for no reason whatsoever and when my brother asked me why I was laughing I said I don’t know and he looked at me oddly. My show is all about recapturing that wonderful sense of childhood innocence.”

Stephen’s 70-date tour kicked off with a warm-up gig in Hemel Hempstead’s Old Town Hall.

“It’s a small, initimate venue,” says Stephen. “I explained to the audience they were my focus group for a work in progress. I said to them, “your laughter will tell me where the best bits are”, and they duly complied, one person even said, “that bit there, that’s not very funny”.

“Every venue I’m in feels like a fresh show because so much of the material is of the moment. Even in Lowestoft, reading the local gazette informed me there would be a drill of a terrorist attack in a local shop and people can come and see what they should do – I had to remind them the chances of that happening were not very likely.”

As well as touring with his comedy shows, Stephen has appeared on Have I Got News for You, Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo, Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle and The One Show. When this tour finishes, he will begin working on his own TV show for BBC Two.

“At the end of February we’ll be looking at locations and filming starts in April. It’ll be a mix of stand-up and sketches and some audience stuff, condensing what I do anyway and making it accessible for a TV format.

“My comedy is made up of instants and moments. I asked for a drink at one gig and no one complied so I mentioned this during the show and someone from the audience bought me a drink and handed it to me. I left it to one side and later the same man came back and took it, saying if you’re not going to have it, I’ll have it.

“Then I was in Derby before Christmas and a young lad of about 19 or 20 said can I come down and give you a hug and the crowd went absolutely hysterical. It was such a nice unplanned moment.”

Stephen K Amos comes to Watford Palace Theatre, Clarendon Road, Watford on Monday, January 18 at 8pm.

Details: 01923 235455, www.watfordtheatre.co.uk

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