Virginia-born comedian Rich Hall will be bringing a taste of the Deep South to Epsom with his successful show Hoedown.

The show, which had a sold-out run at London’s Soho Theatre, is a collaboration of music and comedy bringing the rustic Deep South to the market town with Hall's country-style performance.

Multi-award-winner Hall will be performing with his regular band of talented and chronically unemployable urchins.

The comedian, who has had a career spanning 35 years, says his love for stand-up is the immediacy of it.

He says: "Having the gamut of TV panel shows, after a while you know how to do them and they are not so fun any more.

"But now I know I’m going to be on stage somewhere is really exciting.

"For those two hours, no one is looking at their phones. It’s a true non-media event.

"Those sorts of occasions are rapidly disappearing, and that’s why I value them so much."

Winner of the Perrier Award in Edinburgh and Barry Award in Melbourne, Hall has been described as a "transatlantic messenger lampooning each country he visits with his common sense, and he is no less harsh to his homeland".

The comic, who has also won two Emmys for his work, says: "I do what Americans call crowd work.

"I really enjoy that because I can turn it into improvised songs, which is a big thrill for me.

"I always have a guitar beside me on stage in case something happens.

"It’s funny, the less information you get from people, the more you can improvise.

"Nothing is out of bounds. I want them to tell me, ‘I’m a clerk,’ rather than, ‘I work for the council finance department and am involved in the end of year expenditure’.

"As soon as I hear the word clerk, my head immediately starts formulating rhymes for it.

"People don’t even listen to President Obama speaking without looking at their phones all the time.

"So maybe those two hours when I’m up there on stage provide a respite from all of us slowly turning into gadget-pedalling robots."

With a string of notable performances in shows such as Stand Up For The Week, QI, BBC's Live At The Apollo and Have I Got News For You, Hall looks certain to have the undivided attention of his audience in Epsom with this show.

Rich Hall, Hoedown; Epsom Playhouse, Ashley Avenue, Epsom; November 15, 8pm; £17.50; call 01372742555; visit www.epsomplayhouse.co.uk.