Q&A on Sam Eley is Basil Crumbwick: Soul Sewage

Basil Crumbwick feels like someone audiences instantly recognise even though he’s completely bizarre. Where did he first come from? The character arose naturally rather than intentionally. I was fed up of following the rules of stand-up that I’d learnt on the circuit, which can produce material that’s reliable, but sometimes lacks the magic of truly mind-blowing comedy. So I started writing down weird, absurdist thoughts, without the expectation that I’d ever read them to anyone, which felt so freeing, compared to the restrictiveness of writing to impress a traditional comedy club audience. These thoughts weren’t in character at first, but I realised over time they suited a deranged old man far more than they suited me, and eventually they coalesced into Basil.

Your influences include Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer, Alan Partridge and Brass Eye. What do you love about that tradition of surreal British comedy? All comedy needs to do is make you laugh, so it’s always been baffling to me that a night in a comedy club usually involves several people talking about dating, kids, and calling Croydon a shithole. There are so many ways to be funny. If you restrict yourself to purely relatable, observational, everyday jokes and routines, you’re limiting the breadth of the art form. As soon as you get rid of rules about what’s realistic, or understandable, the landscape opens up, and becomes so much more unexpected, which is where comedy thrives. I’m not sure why the UK is traditionally more accepting of surreal comedy than places like the US, but I’m incredibly glad of it.

Your comedy feels both ridiculous and deeply observed. Do you think absurd characters sometimes reveal truths more honestly than realistic ones? I think they can do. We all exist in everyday life bound by the rules of social norms and expectations. Absurd characters are just characters who don’t have to follow those rules, so you can look into their souls without other things getting in the way. Sometimes an absurd character is just purely silly, but other times it can be far more revealing than a character who has to abide by the homogenising laws of society.

The show combines stand-up, clowning and character comedy. Did you always imagine it living between those different styles? I had no idea what the show was going to be when I started making it, and I still don’t think it neatly fits into any single category. I just wanted to make a vehicle for the character that was as funny and engaging as possible, and it seems only natural to borrow from as many different areas as possible to do that. I did know I wanted the show to feel unique though, so I suppose it makes sense that I avoided sticking to the norms of a particular genre.

Winning Leicester Square Sketch-Off was a huge achievement. Did that recognition change your confidence at all going into Edinburgh? If it wasn’t for Sketch-Off, I wouldn’t have done Basil at Edinburgh. I had no idea that anyone would have any interest in what originated as an entirely stupid idea, purely designed to amuse myself. I entered Sketch-Off on a whim, and definitely didn’t expect to win. I’m still slightly stunned that people seem to really like it.

Sam Eley is Basil Crumbwick: Soul Sewage is coming to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from the 3rd - 30th August (not 18th). For more information visit: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/sam-eley-is-basil-crumbwick-soul-sewage