Stewart Lee in Conversation with Oliver Double Review

Stewart Lee in Conversation with Oliver Double 
10th June 2015 - Gulbenkian Cinema.

The second ‘in conversation’ event,   features the “41^st Best Stand Up Ever”: Stewart Lee, where he assesses his comedic career on behalf of the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive. Doctor Oliver Double hosts the discussion, taking place in The Gulbenkian Cinema, with a reflective demeanour supported by his articulate questions.

The conversation started by analysing Lee’s performance on the previous day, looking at his abrasive  techniques and poignant routines which he is mastering for the fourth season  of  his BBC Two series:   Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle.

Lee discusses a lot about himself and his onstage “character”.   The viscerally volatile persona onstage is significantly differently to the humbly modest man offstage, which creates an impressive and fascinating duality.

The dialogue gradually shifted to talk about Alternative Comedy as a whole, focusing on the gig diary of Monika Bobinska who ran The Meccano Club in the late eighties. Lee gives insight into the background workings of his early years by displaying the hardships of trying to get gigs.

The foundation of the talk is rooted with hilarious anecdotes and concludes with questions asked by the audience.  Lee earnestly demonstrates why he is the most talented and innovative performer in Britain.