Comedian Omid Djalili comes to Kettering

Comedian Omid Djalili is bringing his new show which touches on a number of contemporary subjects to the Lighthouse Theatre in Kettering.
Omid DjaliliOmid Djalili
Omid Djalili

Shmuck for a Night takes place on Wednesday November 2.

Omid said: “I like the word schmuck. It means fool or buffoon.

“You have to be a schmuck to do comedy in today’s climate. I’m embracing the schmuck in me to take on the big issues of our day.

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“Plus, it’s a word that ends with ‘uck’ which can only be a good thing.”

And while he tends to be energetic when doing stand up, he’s a little more controlled in his latest show.

He said: “I’ve become less frenetic. I used to dance every two minutes in between the stand up. I can’t even remember why.

“It was mentioned to me that when I danced audiences were laughing at me not with me.

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“So it was either stop dancing or ban my manager from the gigs.”

The show also touches on Brexit, ISIS and Donald Trump, subjects which might disappear during the tour which runs until May next year.

Omid said: Well, I think the show will change even while I’m on stage. It’ll be so current sometimes audiences won’t laugh until they get home and turn on the TV.

“Of course I am looking forward to the challenge of that.

“Although, my main challenge is getting the audience in a good mood again after my support act Boothby Graffoe has been on.

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“Sometimes people haven’t finished boo-ing until a few minutes into my act,” he jokes.

He has worked with the likes of Brad Pitt, Russell Crowe and Sarah Jessica Parker, but he didn’t pick one of those as his favourite performers to work alongside.

Omid said: “That’s a tough one… (thinks) I’d say, and anyone who’s worked with him as an actor would agree, Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones, was probably the most extraordinary.

“He played the father of Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 3’. His character shoots and kills my character for no reason.

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“This seemed to bother him. In fact, he shot me about 14 times and after each take he’d come up to me and say, “listen, you do know I don’t mean this?” After every take. It was almost like a joke but it wasn’t. Bang! and he’d shuffle up and say “nothing personal mate, I hope you realise”.

Tickets for the show cost £24 and the show starts at 8pm.

For further details or to book tickets call the box office on 01536 414141 or visit www.lighthousetheatre.co.uk.