Norfolk man tries stand-up routine

Matt Taylor, who works in Environmental Science at the UEA, but is also training to be a comedian for a performance in London, using his childhood diary in his act.

TARA GREAVES
25 September 2009 15:00



When dealing with the serious subject of climate change there is not much to laugh about.

But Matt Taylor, who works for the pioneering CRed carbon reduction campaign, based at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, hopes his funny side will shine through on Saturday when he gives stand-up comedy a try.

Matt's routine for the Stand Up and Be Counted performance in London, which features nine other comedy newcomers, talks about how he feels out of touch with the youth of today, using an old teenage diary for material.

The 38-year-old father of two from Wymondham said: “I have learned that there is a universe of difference between being a funny bloke down the pub with a few pints under your belt to being a stand-up comic. It just doesn't translate.”

He has done two training sessions with a former stand-up comic and said after the first one he realised just what he had agreed to.

“I got on stage and the routine just fell apart; the bits where I had expected laughs got little titters and I started editing it on the hoof. We are meant to perform five minutes but I got to 4.50 and just said 'I don't want to do this any more'.”

Thankfully, after a rewrite and another training session, Matt is feeling more confident, but he admits he is not planning to give up his day job.

He was invited to perform in front of the 200-strong audience by his best friend from school Paul Thomas who has organised various charity events, including training 10 men to become drag queens and then perform.

The chosen charity this time is Anti-Slavery International - the only charity in the UK to work exclusively against slavery and related abuses.

Matt's performance takes place at London's Blackall Studios. To donate or for more information visit www.justgiving.com/matt-taylor-09-09/

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