Self described ‘Devon based Canadian clown’ Craig Campbell speaks with Marcus Hughes about death, Wales, and maple syrup.
I spoke to Craig over the phone whilst he was stuck in unmoving traffic along the A11 on his way to his next show in the Midlands. I asked Craig if he usually saw to his press commitments whilst driving to gigs.
“Yeah well, you know, I have a hands-free system and everything so don’t worry, in case you’re one of those Swedish health and safety nuts. But know that if the line goes quiet I am probably dead.”
I point out that whilst it would be horrible to hear the sound of another man dying in a violent tangle of wreckage, it would make an undeniably compelling article.
“It would make a great exclusive, you’re the one taping it! So just brace yourself. I think it could be just perfect.”
Having gotten the death wishes out of the way early, I move swiftly on to Craig’s new touring show Don’t Look Down.
“I completed the show for the Edinburgh festival last August and I’ve worked on most of the stories that are included over the course of Edinburgh and during the Snowed In comedy tour in Canada. It appeals to all those connoisseurs of comedy in the way that it deals with awkward stories from my horrible life.”
Originally hailing from Canada, Craig has been living in Devon for the majority of his stand up career. In a very British fashion, I begin to worry that we’re responsible for his “horrible life”.
“Oh no! I think my horrible life is extraneous from the British influence really. I find my life amongst the Brits to be one of the few settling and soothing elements of my life. Mostly because their humour is such a necessary grease for the wheels of human tragedy that we all share, you know?”
Much of Craig’s stand up material centres on the cultural differences he observes, living in a country he didn’t grow up in. I wonder what he thinks of the Welsh?
“You’re so different! I love the generally surreal behaviour and attitude of the Welsh. Your oddities. Your strangeness. Your literary works, like Dylan Thomas, are very abstract in a way that’s very similar to the Irish. You’re mentally dextrous and prone to wander.”
I mention at this point that the Welsh seem to hold a similar affection for Canada, based on a quote I found from Prince Charles after a visit in 1996: “Every time I come to Canada a little more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream and, from there, straight into my heart.”
I ask Craig if he agrees that this is seems like quite a creepy way of expressing affection for a culture?
“Well yeah, I was going to say, I hope for his sake maple syrup doesn’t give you AIDs. Canada is a country that will grow on you, but I imagine his duty, among other things, is as a PR agent for the Commonwealth. And as Canada is a massive part of that, it doesn’t surprise me that that’s his position. I’m not a big fan of the Royal Family. I don’t know if you’ve ever had the privilege of flying anywhere in the world and arriving first class, but everything seems far more rose tinted let me tell you. I always used to wonder why politicians would get off the plane and look quite so wide eyed and bushy tailed…”
It’s because they haven’t had to sit in traffic for three hours whilst speaking to a queue of journalists on the phone.
“Exactly!”
Craig Campbell: Don’t Look Down, Cardiff St. David’s Hall, Tue 3 May.
Tickets: £16.80. Info: 029 2087 8444/ stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk