In a show filled with hilarity, an undignified manner and a devil may care attitude, Lou Conran heads to The Forum Music Centre in Darlington this month. Lee Allcock caught up with Lou to speak about drama school, working with Sarah Millican and more.
Having originally trained as an actress back in the ‘90s at the Oxford School of Drama, what made you turn to comedy?
I was always the class clown and was constantly being told off at drama school for not taking Shakespeare and dramatic stuff seriously. And when I was at stage school when I was a teenager, it was always the comedy parts I got given, so it was only natural that I turned to stand-up. It just took time to get the courage to do my first gig.
And you were the winner of the Best MC Award 2020/21. That’s some achievement…
Yeah, I was thrilled to receive an award in a pandemic when no one was working! Well, I was, actually, I was MCing online for Sarah Millican’s new material night which was so much fun, but it was great to be awarded this from my colleagues – it meant the world.
You’ve shared the stage with some big names of comedy including Sarah Millican and Joe Lycett. What was that like? And did they give you any advice?
I’ve been good chums with both for a long time so it’s always a joy to be able to mess about with friends before shows, and after. The only advice I’ve been given is “don’t poo in the shared dressing room toilet”.
Your new show, which heads to Darlington this month, is literally titled ‘A Show’. So what can we expect?
Expect stories with no real message, but simply silly joyful true tales to make you laugh and smile. I’ve done shows in the past that have been emotionally draining and after the couple of years we’ve all had, I think we all need a bit of stuff and nonsense which I’m happy to provide in abundance.
Lou Conran head to The Forum Music Centre, Darlington on Wednesday 20th July. Tickets, priced at £10.50 in advance, are available from theforumonline.co.uk.
