ED BYRNE - If I’m Honest…

Local Tour Dates

SOUTHAMPTON, Guildhall


Wednesday 25th March 2020

SOUTHAMPTON, Guildhall

02380 632601

 

www.academymusicgroup.com/o2guildhallsouthampton/

PORTSMOUTH, New Theatre Royal


Thurs 11th June 2020

PORTSMOUTH, New Theatre Royal
023 9264 9000


https://www.newtheatreroyal.com/

 

 

Following his biggest ever tour last year and yet another sell-out Fringe run in August, one of the UK’s finest observational comics embarks on an EVEN BIGGER brand-new tour and has now announced an even FURTHER extension for 2020! Join him as he takes a long hard look at himself and tries to decide if he has ANY traits that are worth passing on to his children.

 

A TV household name, Ed has been seen on pretty much every TV programme in the UK including Mock The Week, Top Gear, Have I Got News For You, The Graham Norton Show, Live At The Apollo (Host), The One Show, The World’s Most Dangerous Roads, Dara & Ed’s Big Adventure, Dara and Ed’s Road to Mandalay  and most recently QI and The Pilgrimage.

 

 

www.edbyrne.com / TWITTER @MrEdByrne

A household name teetering on the brink of national treasure status, award-winning comedian Ed Byrne enjoys worldwide acclaim for his stand-up. With 25 years under his belt, Ed has parlayed his on-stage success into a variety of notable television appearances. A regular on Mock The Week and The Graham Norton Show, Ed has recently co-presented Dara & Ed’s Big Adventure and its follow-up Dara & Ed’s Road To Mandalay, and managed not to disgrace himself on Top Gear or whilst tackling one of The World’s Most Dangerous Roads. As a semi-professional hill-walker himself and fully paid-up humanist, he also brought a refreshing warmth and honesty to BBC2’s recent hit The Pilgrimage.

 

But the Irishman is still best-known and best appreciated for his stand-up performances. A quarter of a century at the comedic coal-face has equipped Ed with a highly evolved story-telling ability and a silky mastery of his craft. Yet his wit, charm and self-deprecatory observational humour is often underpinned by a consistently hilarious vitriol and sense of injustice at a world that seems to be spinning ever more rapidly out of control.

 

Having recently hit a new peak with shows such as the sublime Spoiler Alert and reflective Outside, Looking In, which explored the minefield that is modern parenting and a generational sense of entitlement, Ed’s new show If I’m Honest  digs ever deeper into a father’s sense of responsibility, what it means to be a man in 2019, and whether he possesses any qualities whatsoever worth passing on to his two sons. Occasionally accused of whimsy, If I’m Honest is a show with a seriously steely core.

 

Gender politics, for example, is something Ed readily engages with – deploying his customary comedic zeal. ‘I’ll admit that there are things where men get a raw deal,’ he says. ‘We have higher suicide rates, and we tend not to do well in divorces, but representation in action movies is not something we have an issue with. It was Mad Max: Fury Road that kicked it all off, even though nobody complained about Ripley in Alien or Sarah Connor in Terminator 2. Of course, social media means this stuff gets broadcast far and wide in an instant, which emboldens people.

 

‘The problem with men’s rights activists is that it’s not about speaking up for men’s rights, it’s about hating women. If you’re a men’s rights activist, you’re not going to care about the fact that there’s an all-female Ghostbusters remake. That’s nothing to do with men’s rights or female entitlement. That’s everything to do with being, well, a whiny baby.’

 

As ever, Ed manages to provoke without being overly polemical, a balancing act that only someone of his huge experience can really pull off.

 

‘I did stuff about Trump and the Pizzagate right wing conspiracy,’ he says, ‘and a couple of the reviewers said, “Oh, I would have liked to have watched a whole show of this”. And I think, ‘well you might have, but the average person who comes to see me would not like to see that’. I like to make a point or get something off my chest, or perhaps I’m talking about something that’s been on my mind, but the majority of stuff is just to get laughs.

 

‘People who come to see me are not political activists necessarily, they’re regular folk. If you can make a point to them, in between talking about your struggles with aging, or discussing your hernia operation or whatever it is, you can toss in something that does give people pause as regards to how men should share the household chores.’  

 

He continues, ‘It’s not that I feel a responsibility, I think it just feels more satisfying when you’re doing it, and it feels more satisfying when people hear it. When a joke makes a good point, I think people enjoy it. It’s the difference between having a steak and eating a chocolate bar.’

 

Ed, who broke through in the mid-1990s when the New Lad became a genuine cultural phenomenon, doesn’t want to submit to any unnecessary revisionism, but admits that if the times have changed, he has changed with them. He reflects a little ruefully on one of his most famous jokes. ‘There’s an attitude towards Alanis Morrisette in the opening of that routine that I’m no longer comfortable with, where I call her a moaning cow and a whiny bint… slagging off the lyrics of the song is fine, but there’s a tone in the preamble that I wouldn’t write today.’

 

 

The new show also takes his natural tendency towards self-deprecation to unexpected extremes. ‘I do genuinely annoy myself,’ Ed concedes. ‘But the thing of your children being a reflection of you, gives you an opportunity to build something out of the best of yourself only for you to then see flashes of the worst of yourself in them. It’s a wake-up call about your own behaviour.’

 

When I challenge him over the degree of self-loathing he displays, he disagrees. ‘Self-aggrandising humour is a lot harder to pull off than self-deprecating humour,’ he insists. ‘A lot of people get really annoyed when Ricky Gervais is self-congratulatory. I always find it very funny when he accepts awards and does so in the most big-headed way possible. I think it’s a trickier type of humour to pull off, talking yourself up in that way.

 

‘So no, I don’t think I’m being massively hard on myself. The fact is when you’re the bloke who is standing on the stage with the microphone, commanding an audience’s attention, you’re in a very elevated position anyway.’

 

That said, If I’m Honest brilliantly elucidates the frustration that arrives in middle age – and lives up to its title. ‘I’m bored looking for things, I’m bored of trying to find stuff, because I can never find it, and it is entirely my fault,’ Ed says. ‘Nobody’s hiding my stuff from me. Although my wife did actually move my passport on one occasion’.

 

He insists that, while the show might have mordant and occasionally morbid aspects, it’s also not without its quietly triumphant moments. ‘I thought I was being quite upbeat talking about the small victories,’ he says. ‘You know, finding positivity in being able to spot when a cramp was about to happen in your leg and dealing with it before it does. I was very happy with myself about that.’ 

 

Age, it seems, has not withered him. Especially now that he’s figured out how to head off ailments before they become a problem. ‘You see comics who are my age and older but are still retaining a level of “cool” and drawing a young crowd. I can’t deny that I’m quite envious of that. But there’s also something very satisfying about your audience growing old with you.’

 

Ed Byrne is touring nationwide. For more information, please visit http://edbyrne.com/

FULL TOUR DATES

 

 

JANUARY

Fri 17th               CRAWLEY, The Hawth                             01293 553636    https://www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/The-Hawth

Sat 18th             KINGSTON, Rose Theatre                          0208 1740090    https://www.rosetheatrekingston.org/

Tues 21st           MILTON KEYNES, The Stables                   01908 280800    https://stables.org/

Weds 22nd             LANCASTER, The Grand                            01524 64695      https://lancastergrand.co.uk/

Thurs 23rd             LEEDS, City Varieties                               0845 644 1881   https://www.cityvarieties.co.uk/

Fri 24th               HARROGATE, Royal Hall                          01423 500500    https://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/

Sat 25th             SHEFFIELD, Memorial Hall                         0114 2 789789   https://www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk/

Weds 29th          PETERBOROUGH, New Theatre                                          www.newtheatre-peterborough.com

Thurs 30th          BIRMINGHAM, Town Hall                          0121 780 3333   https://www.thsh.co.uk/

Fri 31st               HULL, City Hall                                        01482 300306    https://www.hulltheatres.co.uk/

 

FEBRUARY

Sat 1st               STOKE, Victoria Hall                                0844 8717649    https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/victoria-hall/

Sun 2nd              SALFORD, Lowry                                      0843 208 6003   https://thelowry.com/

Tues 4th             NORWICH, Theatre Royal                         01603 630000    www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

Weds 5th            LEICESTER, De Montford Hall                    0116 233 3111   http://www.demontforthall.co.uk/

Thurs 6th            CHATHAM, Central Theatre                       01634 338338    https://watfordcolosseum.co.uk/

Fri 7th                WATFORD, Colosseum                       01923 571102    https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/

Sat 8th               BASINGSTOKE, Anvil                                01256 844244    https://www.anvilarts.org.uk/

Mon 10th            REDHILL, Harlequin                                 01737 276500    http://www.harlequintheatre.co.uk/

Tues 11th           BURY ST EDMUNDS, Apex                         01284 758000    https://www.theapex.co.uk/

Weds 12th             NORTHAMPTON, Derngate                        01604 624811    https://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/

Thurs 13th          NEWCASTLE, Tyne Theatre                       0844 2491000    https://tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk

Fri 14th               GLASGOW, Pavilion                                 0141 332 1846   https://www.paviliontheatre.co.uk/

Weds 26th          ST ALBANS, Arena                                   01727 844488    https://www.alban-arena.co.uk/

Thurs 27th          BOURNEMOUTH, Pavilion                         0300 500 0595   http://www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk

Fri 28th               AYLESBURY, Waterside                           0844 871 7607  www.atgtickets.com/venues/aylesbury-waterside-theatre/

Sat 29th             HIGH WYCOMBE, Wycombe Swan             01494 512000    https://wycombeswan.co.uk/

 

MARCH

Weds 4th            WOKING, New Victoria Theatre                 0844 871 7627  www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre/

Thurs 5th            BELFAST, Waterfront                                028 9033 4455   https://www.waterfront.co.uk/

Fri 6th                BRIGHTON, Dome                                  01273 709709    https://brightondome.org

Sat 7th               CAMBRIDGE, Corn Exchange                     01223 357851    https://www.cambridgelive.org.uk/cornex

Tues 10th           CORBY, Cube                                          01536 470470    https://www.thecorecorby.com/

Weds 11th          LINCOLN, Engine Shed                            0871 220 0260   https://www.engineshed.co.uk/

Thurs 12th          TELFORD, Oakengates                             01952 382382    https://www.theplacetelford.com/

Fri 13th              SWINDON, Wyvern                                  01793 524481    https://swindontheatres.co.uk

Sat 14th             COVENTRY, Warwick Arts Centre                024 7652 4524   https://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

Sun 15th             RICHMOND, Richmond Theatre                 0844 871 7651   www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre/

Tues 17th           SHREWSBURY, Theatre Severn                  01743 281 281   https://www.theatresevern.co.uk/

Weds 18th          CHELTENHAM, Town Hall                          0844 576 2210   http://www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk

Thurs 19th             BATH, Forum                                          0844 8889991    https://www.bathforum.co.uk/

Fri 20th                   BARNSTAPLE, Queens Theatre                  01271 324242    https://www.queenstheatre-barnstaple.com/

Sat 21st                  CARDIFF, St Davids Hall                           029 2087 8500   https://stdavidscardiff.com/

Tues 24th           WALSALL, Forest Arts Centre                     0300 555 2898            http://www.walsallarena.com/

Weds 25th          SOUTHAMPTON, Guildhall                         02380 632601 www.academymusicgroup.com/o2guildhallsouthampton/

Thurs 26th          EXMOUTH, Pavilion                                  01395 222477    https://www.ledleisure.co.uk/exmouth-pavilion

Fri 27th               TAUNTON, Wellsprings                            01823 271271    https://www.everyoneactive.com/

Sat 28th             PLYMOUTH, Pavilions                               0845 146 1460   https://www.plymouthpavilions.com

Sun 29th                         YEOVIL, Octogon                                                01935 422884    https://www.octagon-theatre.co.uk/

 

APRIL

Tues 28th           HEREFORD, Courtyard Theatre                  01432 340555    https://www.courtyard.org.uk/

Weds 29th          BLACKWOOD, Miners Institute                   01495 227206    http://your.caerphilly.gov.uk/

Thurs 30th          FROME, Cheese & Grain                           01373 455420    https://www.cheeseandgrain.com/

 

MAY

Fri 1st                LEAMINGTON SPA, Pavilion                       01926 334418    www.warwickdc.gov.uk/royalspacentre/

Sat 2nd                    ISLE OF MAN, Gaiety Theatre                   01624 600555 https://www.villagaiety.com/

Weds 13th          STOCKPORT: Plaza Theatre                      0161 477 7779   https://stockportplaza.co.uk/

Thurs 14th             LIVERPOOL, Playhouse Theatre                0151 709 4776   https://www.everymanplayhouse.com/

Fri 15th               BUXTON: Opera House                            0845 127 2190   https://buxtonoperahouse.org.uk/

Sat 16th             IPSWICH, Regent Theatre                         01473 433100    http://ipswichtheatres.co.uk/

Sun 17th                         BLACKPOOL, Grand Theatre          01253 290190    https://www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk

Weds 20th          WIMBORNE: Tivoli Theatre                       01202 885566    https://www.tivoliwimborne.co.uk/

Thurs 21st          DARTFORD, Orchard                                01322 220000    https://orchardtheatre.co.uk/

Fri 22nd                   FARNHAM, Maltings                                  01252 745444    https://farnhammaltings.com/

 

JUNE

Mon 1st-Tues 2nd  DUNDEE, Rep Theatre                              01382 223530    https://www.dundeerep.co.uk/

Weds 3rd                                MOTHERWELL, Concert Hall         01698 403120    https://culturenl.co.uk/

Thurs 4th            PERTH, Concert Hall                                01738 621031    https://www.horsecross.co.uk/

Fri 5th                DUNFERMLINE, Alhambra Theatre            01383 740384    https://alhambradunfermline.com/

Sat 6th                    ABERDEEN, Music Hall                             01224 641122    https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com

Tues 9th                 ISLE OF WIGHT, Shanklin                        01983 868000    https://www.shanklintheatre.com/

Weds 10th          BEXHILL, De La Warr Pavilion                   01424 229111    https://www.dlwp.com/

Thurs 11th          PORTSMOUTH, New Theatre Royal           023 9264 9000   https://www.newtheatreroyal.com/

Fri 12th               BRIDPORT, Electric Palace                       01308 424901    https://www.electricpalace.org.uk/

Sat 13th             TORQUAY, Babbacombe                           01803 328385    https://www.babbacombe-theatre.com/

Tues 16th           BILLINGHAM, Forum                                01642 552663    https://forumtheatrebillingham.co.uk/

Weds 17th          MIDDLETON, Arena                                 01706 923160   www.link4life.org/centres/middleton-arena

Thurs 18th          DUDLEY, Town Hall                                 01384 812812    http://www.boroughhalls.co.uk/

Fri 19th               DURHAM, Gala                                       0300 026 6600   https://www.galadurham.co.uk/

Sat 20th             HALIFAX, Victoria Theatre                         01422 351158    https://www.victoriatheatre.co.uk/

Weds 24th          GUILDFORD, G Live                                 0844 7701 797   https://glive.co.uk/ 

Thurs 25th          HARLOW: Playhouse                                01279 431 945   https://harlowplayhouse.co.uk/

Fri 26th               HASTINGS, White Rock Theatre                01424 462288    https://whiterocktheatre.org.uk

Sat 27th             SALISBURY, City Hall                                01722 434434    http://www.cityhallsalisbury.co.uk/

Sun 28th                         HIGH WYCOMBE, The Swan         01494 512000    https://wycombeswan.co.uk

Tues 30th           DUNSTABLE, The Grove                            01582 60 20 80  https://www.grovetheatre.co.uk/

 

JULY

Weds 1st            STEVENAGE: Gordon Craig Theatre           01438 363200    https://www.gordon-craig.co.uk/

Thurs 2nd               EPSOM, Playhouse                                  01372 742555    http://www.epsomplayhouse.co.uk/

Fri 3rd                CHESTERFIELD: Winding Wheel               01246 345 333   https://www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/

Sat 4th               MIDDLESBROUGH, Town Hall                   01642 729729    www.middlesbroughtownhall.co.uk/

PRAISE FOR ED

✭✭✭✭✭ “A masterful display of the comics art…This is a seamless and perfectly timed show that could stand proudly next to any Izzard, Bailey, Carr or Skinner stadium-filler” SUNDAY TIMES

✭✭✭✭✭ “The hour is self-deprecating, never self-indulgent, and his packed audience are well entertained” SUNDAY EXPRESS

✭✭✭✭✭ A master of observational comedy” BROADWAYBABY

✭✭✭✭✭ “Hysterical … a must-see show. My face still hurts from laughing so much” THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER

✭✭✭✭✭ Expert stand up from the brilliant Ed Byrne” FRINGE BISCUIT

✭✭✭✭✭ "Honestly, great...a superbly crafted hour of entertainment... definitely stand-up at its best... you are in for a treat... you would be remiss not to try and catch it" VOICE MAG UK

✭✭✭✭✭ A comedy masterclass with no wrong moves” DAILY BUSINESS MAGAZINE

✭✭✭✭1/2 "Natural raconteur skills, his wicked sense of humour and a charismatic stage presence that flows from the stage... if you can get a ticket still, do it now” ONE4REVIEW

 ✭✭✭✭ “Thoroughly entertaining… he is a total pro and, on this form, terrific company THE TIMES

✭✭✭✭ Byrne is at the top of his game SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

✭✭✭✭ “It is rare for a comic to merit the word “masterful” but in this case it is no overstatement” THE SCOTSMAN

✭✭✭✭ “A show full of top –class observational humour… a great comedian making the simple sublime, Byrne gives his audience exactly what they want” EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS

✭✭✭✭ “Superior stand up from the nerd next door” THE HERALD

✭✭✭✭ There is nothing quite like seeing Byrne doing what he does best” DAILY MAIL

✭✭✭✭ Hilarious… a good, honest night’s work” CHORTLE

✭✭✭✭ You can’t help but love him” IRISH SUN

✭✭✭✭ As sarcastic, caustic and self-deprecating as ever...deliciously blindsiding... terrific" THE ARTS DESK

✭✭✭✭ Byrne is one of the funniest and most articulate of our established comedians” THE MORNING STAR

✭✭✭✭ There is a reason why he has become a household name” ED FEST MAG

✭✭✭✭ "Edgy, energetic, sharp-witted and thoroughly likeable... observational comics as good as Ed are few and far between" SCOTTISH FIELD MAGAZINE

✭✭✭✭ "I challenge you to find a performer in Edinburgh with a more infectious personality than Ed Byrne. Byrne is a comedian par excellence... had the audience grinning from ear to ear" THE 730 REVIEW

✭✭✭✭ As self-deprecating and cynical as ever in this hilarious hour of comedya class comedian and storyteller…Byrne is a riot… you’d honestly be a fool to miss out” THE WEE REVIEW

“At the height of his powers…it’s no wonder this is selling out nightly” THE OBSERVER

"His set had the audience in stitches for most of the evening - they roared their approval at the end” THE STAGE 

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Credits:

ED BYRNE SYNDICATED INTERVIEW By Jason Barlow, Tour dates By Arrangement with Vivienne Smith Management, Images Idil Sukan 

 

 

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