For those who have somehow spent the past forty-odd years underground, Rich Hall is an award-winning comedian, writer of snort-inducing prose and gloriously absurd sketches, irreverent musician, actor, and the inventor of the word “Sniglet”. His past work includes writing for Saturday Night Live and The David Letterman Show, contributing articles to The Guardian, and authoring several books, including Magnificent Bastards, the memoir Nailing It, and my personal favourite, Things Snowball – a collection of witty, far-fetched, and delightfully bizarre tall tales.
He’s also a familiar face on UK panel shows such as QI, Have I Got News for You, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and 8 Out of 10 Cats. As if that weren’t enough, Hall even inspired the creation of Moe Szyslak from The Simpsons – now I’ve got your attention.
Hall’s comedy leans into exasperated mockery of US politics, cultural absurdities, and sharp observational humour. Having lived in the UK for over twenty years, he skewers both sides of the Atlantic with equal relish, backed by a wealth of anecdotal evidence.
Storytelling is where he truly shines, his gravelly voice instantly recognisable. Occasionally, he slips into improvised musical mode via his alter ego, Otis Lee Crenshaw – a hard-living, guitar-playing country singer. Songs like ‘I Blame the Dog’ and ‘Women Be Shopin” are unexpectedly hilarious.
Catch ‘Chin Music’ at The Fire Station on Thursday 4th June or Darlington Hippodrome on Saturday 6th June. Expect wit, music, and audience interaction – front row at your own risk.
Tickets, priced from £23.00 in advance, are available at thefirestation.org.uk and darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk.
