Give the kids a laugh this Easter (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Give the kids a laugh this Easter

5:48pm Monday 6th April 2009

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James Campbell has a unique talent - he is the world’s only stand-up comedian for children. Covering everything from parents to Playstations, why we have hair and what he had for breakfast, his show will be sure to kept you kids entertained this Easter holiday. Here he talks to GRAHAM MOODY about his show and why kids make better audiences than adults.

Graham Moody: Tell us about the show?

James Campbell: The show is Comedy 4 Kids and it is aimed at parents and children at the same time. It's a family thing they can enjoy together. Most of it is improvised and I don't know what the show in Croydon will be about yet.

GM: How did you get in to this branch of comedy?

JC: I have always been writing and about 15 years ago I was going around Primary Schools telling stories. Then after six or seven years they got funnier and people said it was stand up not story telling so I did some shows on the adult circuit. But the stand up got more like story telling and vice versa and it sort of merged into this.

GM: Are kids better audiences than grown ups?

JC: Their laughter is a bit more genuine. They laugh if it is funny and they don't if it's not. Grown up audiences tend to laugh more if you have been on television or won an award. It's a lot more reserved which is why you have to drink at comedy clubs otherwise it's not funny, but obviously at my shows everyone is sober.

GM: You have your own theatre company don't you?

JC: I am a director at the Neapolitan Theatre and we produce Comedy 4 Kids. This year we are launching a sketch show for kids at Edinburgh Fringe that's a proper sketch show without any swearing in it and we don't think that has been done before.

James Campbell’s Comedy 4 Kids, Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street, April 16, 2.30pm, £6 (£5). Call 020 8253 1030 or visit croydonclocktower.org.uk.

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