Coogan happy to quit live comedy

The Alan Patridge creator received decidedly lukewarm reviews when he returned to the stage after a ten-year absence for a UK tour last year.

And speaking in Melbourne, where he is performing the show as part of the international comedy festival, he said he would be happy when it is all over.

He told the Herald Sun newspaper: ‘Once I’ve done this tour, I’ll be very happy to get off the treadmill of live comedy.

‘I love it, but I don’t want to live in this world, I want to go and do something else.’

He added that he wants more work as a straight actor, which he feels would be more emotionally demanding than comedy

‘Being on stage is not really vulnerable – they might not laugh, they might not like my jokes, but that just means it’s not a very good comedy show,’ he said. ‘But something that’s got an emotional dynamic to it, that can make you vulnerable, but in that way, it also empowers you.

‘Acting to me is more comfortable, it’s about surrendering control, it’s about not being sure what’s going to come next, so that’s the most interesting kind of acting because it’s like life.’

Published: 3 Apr 2009