Comedy 4 Kids.
James Campbell quite cheerfully admits he hasn't held down a
job for about eight years. "Actually I've never really had a
proper job," he summarises his career trajectory to date.
The reason? He's so busy touring 'Comedy 4 Kids' around the festivals of the world, dashing home to London periodically to do a load of washing, I assume.
"I can't really do anything else, so I've concentrated on it, the comedy shows. I've forgotten what a real job is like...
"I'm quite good at growing vegetables, so I could do that. If I did that it'd be okay, so I could survive with good quality vegetables. I'm fed up with the quality of food in England..."
This guy covers some ground, doesn't he? Like many people, he deplores the rubbish food which masquerades as 'fresh' in the average supermarket. I warn him it's no better here, and we discuss the lifespan of a head of broccoli. In any case, I'm having trouble believing he can grow vegetables in London in the first place, and that they don't die during his frequent absences. "I get someone to pop round and water 'em once a week, don't I?"
The big question for Campbell is usually the first one he's asked: how did you get into doing a standup comedy routine for children?
Having started as a professional writer he found himself working on a story for children, then working in schools, and he liked sitting in front of kids telling stories. In the evenings he was performing as a standup comedian, and over the course of the next 12 years or so "the stand up became more like storytelling and storytelling became more like comedy".
"Children are better at concentrating," he notes. "I love doing adult gigs 'cause at the end of the hour they often can't remember even my name, but kids are great.
"Comedy for kids..." he muses. "Some people refuse to believe it can work, I get that in radio interviews a bit. They seem to think the kids just sit there and stare at me." Not so, he assures me, adding that lots of adults like the idea of a standup comedian who isn't swearing like a trooper.
Audiences for 'Comedy 4 Kids', who he tells me are usually split about 50/50 between adults and children, might hear a mention of the latest thing to catch his eye: the Adelaide City Council's 'You Are Here' promotional campaign. "What does it mean? Where is it? Where am I, exactly?" he muses, and I warn him it's a sore point for those of us who believe advertising consultants really do get paid to come up with rubbish.
Alex Wheaton
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James Campbell performs 'Comedy 4 Kids' at Queens Theatre until Sun 19 March
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