The Steve Williams Interview by Alan Evans

Steve Williams is one of the best comedians in the U.K. at the moment. Steve hails from Newport andtakes a lot of his inspiration from observing people. He is having great success with the BBC seriesRussell Howard’s Good News. I interviewed Steve by telephone during a break in his successful U.K.tourI began by asking Steve how the tour was going.

Brilliant, its all up and running and exciting. Its coming to Wales and I’m coming home. I’m reallylooking forward to it. Your down in Carmarthenshire aren’t you? I’ve worked with Rhod Gilbert quite abit he’s a great bloke, and Carmarthenshire’s finest home grown talent.

What got you into comedy?

If you live in Wales you know what gets you into comedy. Wales is such a funny place and you grow upbeing funny. To come home and tell the stories about what you see is a real privilege. Observations ofpeople make you laugh. I make mental notes in my head. I was reading the paper the other day and it saidthat policemen put a bouncy castle under a suicide jumper in Swansea.

Who is your favourite comedian?

It has to be people like Eddie izzard, Dylan Moran, Billie Connolly and Frank Skinner. They are all greatin their own right.

I was brought up in the politically incorrect days of Benny Hill and Bernard manning. Has comedymoved on a long way from that or has it just placed a more polished façade over the taboo subjects suchas sex, race and religion?

I’m 34 and I was brought up on comics like Lenny Henry, Alexei Sayle. It has moved I don’t think thatcomedians try to offend people these days. Those comedians are victims of paradigm shifts in attitudes.That’s how things were then but comedians play by different rules now. Comedians have a code and Iwould never do anything, which offends. We write our own stuff and its more interesting for the audienceand me.

Do you use any material about the Welsh or being Welsh in your routine?

Yes of course. Sometimes you can’t help it. The day Welsh people stop doing dopey things will be theday I stop talking about them.

Are you looking forward to performing in West Wales?

I love it, its brilliant but you still have to pay on the bridge when you are going home.

Will you be sampling the delights of Welsh cooking whilst you are here and if so, what is your favouriteWelsh dish?

My favourite dish? Welsh rarebit but its just cheese on toast isn’t it.

Do you have a favourite place in Wales to visit?

I love Newport and Cardiff they’re great cities and Swansea has also gone up in my estimation. Whenyou go further west like Tenby and Narberth its pretty cool. The camping sites and coastline it’s so prettyand it’s a lot Welsher than Newport.

Is there anyone in comedy you would like to work with as a double act?

I would like to work with Billie Connolly I’ll just sit on a stool behind him. You don’t want to tamperwith his genius. I would just pick up the gate receipts for his sell out tours. I write for a programme calledRussell Howard’s Good News and that satisfies my appetite for writing at the moment. It is a massivelysuccessful show and I have been fortunate to be part of it

Could you tell us what the key to being a good comedian is?

I think observation and enjoying the behaviour of other people and recording it in your mind. Verbalisingit later that night and having the confidence to tell the story later that night. Comedians have a code Iwouldn’t say anything that’s deemed racist or offensive. You let the audience be the judge. If you saythink something t is funny you say it and you should be prepared to stand behind it you let the audiencebe the judge. These are the things I saw and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Have you ever considered coming to perform at the Laugharne weekend?

I’d love to; I’m just waiting for my invite

What are your plans for 2011?

The tour for February, Russell Howard’s Good News series four and series five in the autumn so the yearis mapped out.

More information on http://www.stevewilliamscomedy.com/