Steve Hall: We Are Klang, Writing For Russell Howard's Good News and Directing Edinburgh Shows

Kidding

Reece Kidd welcomes a true luminary of the comedy world, Steve Hall. Known for his exceptional stand-up, writing, and legendary sketch group We Are Klang, Steve is a comedic force to be reckoned with.

Steve's career has been nothing short of meteoric, with notable appearances alongside comedy giants like Lee Mack, Bill Burr, and most significantly, Russell Howard. For Russell, he not only opened shows but was a vital part of six different tours, including jaw-dropping venues like Wembley Arena, the O2, and the illustrious Royal Albert Hall. His Edinburgh Festival shows have consistently received critical acclaim, with Metro describing his phrasing as "joyous" and his storytelling as "tales of hilarious woe."

In 2022, Steve embarked on a highly successful joint-headline tour with his Russell Howard Hour co-writer, Steve Williams. The duo has further tour dates lined up for late 2023. Adding to his impressive portfolio, Steve is set to release a filmed show in collaboration with the prestigious comedy production company Go Faster Stripe.

Steve's comedic prowess extends beyond the stage; he was the first guest stand-up on Russell Howard's Good News (BBC) and went on to write for six series of that show. He also contributed his wit to six series of The Russell Howard Hour (Sky) and has penned humor for numerous comedians on Mock The Week, as well as shows like A League of Their Own and The Now Show. You can catch him as a regular guest on The Frank Skinner Show on Absolute Radio and as a participant in programs like The Rest is History, Act Your Age, and My Teenage Diary for BBC Radio 4.

Steve's comedy journey includes being a crucial part of the legendary sketch group We Are Klang, alongside Greg Davies and Marek Larwood. The group was known for its "stupid comedy done with great intelligence" (The Times), and Steve wrote and starred in their sitcom series for BBC 3 in 2009. We Are Klang was nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show in 2006 and the Barry Award at the 2007 Melbourne Comedy Festival.

As the conversation unfolds, Steve delves into the journey of We Are Klang, a riotous "fuck about tour," and why reviews aren't the be-all and end-all of comedy. He highlights the beauty of organic creativity and collaboration, finding space for a joke, and his role as a comedy creative consultant.

Join Reece and Steve for an hour filled with laughter, wisdom, and a peek into the intriguing world of a comedy veteran. This episode is a captivating blend of comedic anecdotes, insider insights, and the contagious joy of making people laugh.

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Chapters

1. Steve Hall: We Are Klang, Writing For Russell Howard's Good News and Directing Edinburgh Shows (00:00:00)

2. A sudden surge in popularity. (00:01:31)

3. Making each other laugh (00:03:59)

4. How was we are Klang formed? (00:08:21)

5. A fuck about tour (00:12:09)

6. Reviews are not all that important (00:14:07)

7. Organic creativity and collaboration (00:18:09)

8. Finding space for a joke (00:21:03)

9. Being a comedy creative consultant (00:25:37)

10. Preserving the twinkle in the eye (00:29:32)

11. A fruitful career in comedy (00:32:00)

12. Joy of performing comedy (00:38:07)

13. Getting made redundant and chaos (00:39:30)

14. Self-awareness during Edinburgh chaos (00:43:07)

15. Self promotion challenges (00:48:08)

16. Finding what's funny about yourself (00:51:03)

17. Dancing with a shoe (01:00:04)

18. Coca-Cola puke. (01:02:08)

19. Weird stand-up gig in Prague (01:05:00)

20. The writing process for stand ups (01:12:21)

21. Importance of watching other comics (01:16:06)