Two WEIRD Guys Who ARE Gay(!!!!) (Work-in-Progress), Canal Café Theatre
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Two of London’s weirdest and most exciting queer voices on the comedy circuit – Dick Denham and James Murphy – bring their split bill stand-up comedy show to the Camden Fringe for one night only at the Canal Cafe Theatre (29 july).
But one night or not, we are always keen to chat so we caught up with Dick and James to probe them on what that one night is going to entail.
What can audiences expect from the show?
DD: Weird and queer comedy, working and progressing! I will offer up my observations on being gender queer in a heteronormative world and British culture.
JM: I’ll be offering a delightful insight into life as a 6 foot 8 gay guy, from popped lungs to marriage and kids.
Is Camden Fringe going to be the show’s first time on stage, or have you already performed elsewhere?
JM: We already took this baby for a test drive at Brighton Fringe, as well as holding a couple of WIPs in London earlier this year.
DD: This will be our last WIP before heading up to Edinburgh, so please expect our Camden performance to be nearing a blinding and kind of red-hot perfection, as we add the final few finishing touches (and flourishes).
What was your inspiration behind the show?
JM: As the title hints we are very much drawing on our own common features – being a pair of unusual homosexuals (but this doesn’t have the same ring as ‘2 weird guys who are gay (!!!!)). Thankfully we have pretty distinct perspectives that give the show a nice mix of material and styles.
Is this version how you originally envisioned it or has it changed drastically since you first put pen to paper?
DD: Changed drastically for sure!! The majority of stuff I think of as a comedian I think is the funniest thing ever, then I perform it in front of an audience and they’re like “erm, sorry, what?”. So there’s definitely been quite a bit of churn of material throughout our various WIPs!
What brought you all together?
DD: Oh, James and I have been friends on the comedy scene for years!!
We’ve even competed against one another in some comedy competitions: he bested me in the 2Northdown semi-final showdown of 2021!! He got through to the final, whilst I just had to slope off home as a semi-finalist, haha!!
It’s fine though. Really it is. So it’s just been great to have an opportunity to put all that behind us – all that resentment and bitterness – and work together as fellow queer comedians to put on a show, despite whatever feelings of hurt and injustice may or may not linger.
JM: I beat him.
If you had to describe your show as a colour what would it be?
DD: A deep, primal red, as we’re two red-blooded males, with scarlet red blood throbbing through our veins, powering our every striking movement and fueling our immense (and funny) brains. Also because our show poster is red.
If you had to describe your show as a meal what would it be?
DD: As it’s a split bill I think it would be a pizza with different toppings on either side.
The weirdest pizza I’ve ever had was in a supposedly “British pub” in Japan: cabbage and corned beef. So maybe my side of the pizza would be that? Except I’m a vegetarian, so instead of the corned beef, some nice crispy and salty fake bacon. I ain’t naming a specific brand though because I ain’t getting any money for that and also I don’t want my haters to start saying that I’ve sold out and am shilling it for Big Soy!!!!!!!
JM: In that case my side would have piles of rainbow Haribo, to give it suitable height and match the enjoyable chewy pride of most of my material. I hope they also serve this in Japan.
If you could perform this show anywhere in the world where would it be?
JM: The Canal Cafe theatre for sure. To be taking to the stage where iconic acts like The League of Gentlemen, Eddie Izzard and The Boosh have gone before is very exciting! Otherwise, Switzerland. I just feel like they’d get us there.
What words of advice/encouragement would you give anyone thinking about doing Camden Fringe next year?
JM: For a fraction of the price of a certain Scottish Fringe I won’t name you can put yourself on the map in one of the coolest bits of the capital! There might not be a better place to experiment and find an audience.
DD: OMG just do it!! The Sun is going to explode one day!!! So definitely make sure to do it before then!!!
Thanks to Dick and James for chatting. You can catch Two WEIRD Guys Who ARE Gay(!!!!) at Canal Cafe Theatre on 29 July.
They will also be performing as part of EdFringe’s Free Fringe. Further information available here.
