Lately I’ve felt that discourse of world and domestic politics is being scripted by a demented sit-com writer, and cynicism and disenchantment are all too easy to find. Between the cold weather and colder politicians I’m in need of an injection of warmth and humour, and a reminder that life isn’t so bad.
So it’s welcome light relief to find that Sony award winning comedian robin Ince returns to The Stand Edinburgh with his latest stand up show, ‘Pragmatic Insanity’. He describes this as “my most celebratory show yet.“, promising comedy lovers a fascinating and funny
Ince is firmly of the belief that the cup is half full. “There is so much fury and disdain readily available that I thought I would buck the trend.“ This is not easy to do in the current climate, and the show title reflects his. He explains “Pragmatic Insanity is about ways of thinking about how to be insane in the most useful way to survive the crazed tribalism and dogma that is caterwauling around us.”
Surviving and resisting dogma can be an ongoing challenge in the age of fake news. In an increasingly polarised society, social media can be dominated by vitriol and intolerance. Fortunately comedy is the perfect remedy to remind us that life is at times both absurd and joyful in equal measure. Ince is well known for his delight in the world around him and embraces topics ranging from art and science to adverts for butter. His quick fire delivery and tendency to veer off on fascinatingly wild tangents before returning to the topic are exhilarating, entertaining , and inspiring.
Ince feels that “Comedy can be about engaging. It is an approachable art form where you have the freedom to talk about whatever you want. It won’t lead to the collapse of the government, but it is a chance to encourage, excite and offer a different perspective. It can also provide camaraderie. Sometimes people feel very alone in the positions they have. If they find themselves in a room with like minded people all laughing, it can be energizing. It doesn’t have to be about changing people’s minds, it can just be about saying ‘keep on going, you are not in solitude.’
The energizing nature of comedy can excite creativity and curiosity in all of us, and this can only be a good thing. “Creativity is an act of trying to understand the world. By working out how to write about it, or paint part of it, or pick it apart to see what it is made of, we learn more about it, and more about ourselves.”
Learning more about ourselves in a room full of people laughing? Sign me up: I’m in.
Robin Ince is appearing at The Stand Edinburgh on Tuesday 20th March. Tickets available from the stand box office