Narc. Magazine Online
Reliably informed
Cameron Wright talks to the Blyth comedian about how the sometimes surreal experience of travelling informed his latest show, Gallivanting
Image by Troy Edige
If you can overcome the stage fright and heckling, there is no job that sounds more exciting, engaging and constantly thrilling than that of a stand-up comedian. Life on the road, laughing for a living and inevitably ending up in precious, spontaneous situations from one night to the next has become the life of Kai Humphries.
Off the back of a world tour supporting friend and podcast co-host Daniel Sloss, Kai had performed in over 55 countries across the globe. The Blyth comic has seen, smelt and heard it all, and clearly found inspiration on the road. Gallivanting is his new tour, which pitches up at Newcastle’s Stand for an incredible six night run in January and February, recalling some of the more ludicrous interactions, all interwoven with a poignant slice of introspection. “I was always kinda bollocked by my parents for gallivanting when I was out on the streets as a kid.” He explains. “But when I looked it up, it literally means ‘travelling around in the pursuit of happiness’. To me that’s not a bad thing, that’s the goal!”
This candour consumed most of our chat, as we swapped travel stories, compared cuisines and gushed over the giddiness of backpacking across the globe. Referring to life on the road as “micro-dosing dementia”, a jet-lagged Kai let slip of a recent mishap, as his road tired ears picked up on a Geordie accent, leading him very eagerly to run over and ask questions about where exactly they were from, only to remember that he was currently at Newcastle Central Station.
From stories of questionable train journeys through South Africa, to proposing to his fiancé in a villa in southern Thailand, the anecdotes flooded out with a warmth and a zest that left two things exceptionally obvious. Firstly, that Kai is sincerely passionate about the joys and importance of travel, and secondly, Kai is a fantastic storyteller.
I’m constantly doing something surreal or talking to someone interesting. It reminds you every day how big the world is
“I am lucky,” he concedes, “I get to see all these things for work, talk to all these people and make these connections across the world. I’m constantly doing something surreal or talking to someone interesting. It reminds you every day how big the world is and how much more important it is than yourself.”
Adapting routines across the continents, Kai chuckles about the trusty Geordie accent. “Overseas there’s a lot of changing ‘Divven’t’ to ‘doesn’t’ etc., but the real struggle is America. The routine hinges on certain words, I was bombing until I changed the words ‘dressing gown’ to ‘bath robe’, it pulled the routine together until I came back home, if I call it a bath robe in Blyth I’m getting bottled!”
Bringing the show home, Kai reflects on his early days of stand-up. “I remind myself there is that other life, if maybe I hadn’t had the right education or if I hadn’t had the right parents, or the right opportunities, maybe I’d be kicking around Newcastle protecting statues and hating the wrong people. It could have been me if things hadn’t gone differently, that’s kinda what the show touches on, in a silly way.”
Kai confesses that his six shows at The Stand was perhaps an admin error in not booking a larger venue, but with a wry smile admits that it has worked in his favour, as each new gig is either the day before or after a big game, so he has time to visit St. James’ when he returns. Another case of everything coming up rosy for Kai Humphries.
