© Steve Ullathorne John Dowie writes his memoirs
Stories from the forerunner of modern comedy
John Dowie is writing a memoir about his time laying the groundwork for alternative comedy – which he quit to indulge a passion for cycling.
He has now launched a crowdfunding campaign to get the The Freewheeling John Dowie published.
On his page on the Unbound website, Dowie describes trying to perform stand-up in folk clubs, fringe theatres and universities in the 1970s long before there were comedy clubs.
He writes: 'If you're thinking of becoming a stand-up comedian (and who isn't?) then here's some advice: don't start doing it in 1972. I did, and it was a mistake. In 1972 there were no comedy clubs, no comedy agents and no comedy future.'
In meant that by the time the alternative comedy scene exploded as the 1970s turned into the 1980s, he was well placed. 'With it came more gigs, more money and a lot more comedians,' he says. 'By the 1990s, comedy was big business and about to get even bigger. It was then, with impeccable comedy timing, that I packed it all in.'
After quitting stand-up in 1995, he worked as a director and wrote for radio and TV as well as the theatre, most notably Jesus My Boy, which was performed in the West End by Tom Con
Dowie says it was at this time he became besotted with cycling, going for long, meandering rides with a one-man tent on his back, and in 2005 he retired from theatrical work altogether so he could concentrate on his hobby.
He explained that The Freewheeling John Dowie is about both his life as a cyclist and as a comedian, joking: 'In one of those lives, starting off slowly then going rapidly downhill is a good thing. In the other, it's not. It would have been nice if, just once, I'd got them the right way round.'
Published: 24 Mar 2016
