CHATTING about moral standards isn’t perhaps the first topic of conversation that would spring to mind when interviewing a comedian.
However, when the show in question is called An Evening of Swearing and Shouting, talk with comedian Gavin Webster inevitably turns to what is and isn’t acceptable these days.
The general perception is that back in the day, everything was fair game while these days people are just queuing up to take offence.
Not so, says the Tyneside funnyman, who has been making people laugh since first taking to the stage at the Barley Mow pub, at the end of Gateshead High Street, in 1993.
“People tend to think we didn’t get offended by anything in the old days, but you have to remember we used to have things like blasphemy laws which led to the Monty Python film Life of Brian being banned in loads of cinemas,” he says.
“People back in the day also said you couldn’t take a rise out of the royal family – the Sex Pistols’ version of God Save the Queen was outselling Rod Stewart but only got to number two.
“If you actually listen to the lyrics, they’re not that bad, it was just a different set of moral standards.”
His show, which comes to The Witham, Barnard Castle, on Saturday, September 28, began life as An Hour of Swearing and Shouting at the Edinburgh Festival.
“It’s me explaining the history of shouting and swearing and attitudes towards it, in television and the media,” he explains.
Expect routines delivered in his “crash, bang, wallop” style, culminating with a big finale about shouting and swearing on the box.
In more than three decades of performing stand-up, the 54-year-old reckons his approach to comedy hasn’t changed all that much.
“As long as you can justify what you are saying you can still do a routine talking about life and the world, satirising the social and political situation,” he says.
“I don’t think there is a lot wrong with that.
“Some people might take offence but most people understand you are sending things up.”
When push comes to shove, Gavin says he is a swearer rather than a shouter.
“Each to their own, but I have never liked it when people hammer home their point by raising their voice.”
For details and tickets, go to thewitham.org.uk or call the box office 01833 631107.
