© AJ Green Not a mourning person...
Mark Watson does his show in the street after venue closes out of respect for the Queen
Mark Watson wasn’t going to let the Queen’s death stop him from performing his gig last night – even if the venue wanted it to.
When Kettering Arts Centre chiefs ruled that they shouldn’t be hosting comedy out of respect for the late monarch, an undaunted Watson decided he would go ahead anyway.
He gathered an audience outside the venue for a free gig – and even laid on wine and beer for the interval.
After the cancellation was announced, the stand-up wrote on Twitter: ‘It's disappointing, and I already have my train tickets. So I'll be outside the venue at 7.30pm for a (free) unofficial gig.’
Several dozen punters turned up for the show – dubbed ‘Self-Kettering’ –and hundreds more watched on Instagram Live. He led his crowd through the streets of the town before setting up shop in the market square.
Gig cancelled but @watsoncomedian doing at set starting outside Kettering Arts Centre in the street pic.twitter.com/n9ZTV7IatK
— Alison Bagley (@AlisonBagley1) September 10, 2022
We'reoutsdie the Kino in #Kettering watching @watsoncomedian do an impromptu gig pic.twitter.com/fNfCjUSM6u
— Alison Bagley (@AlisonBagley1) September 10, 2022
The comic – who is famed for unique gigs such as his 24-hour shows – spent much of his show talking about Kettering, including inviting deputy mayor Emily Fedorowycz on stage and discussing a local save-the-woods campaign.
His decision to go ahead anyway won praise from fans. One, using the Twitter handle Ramzi, said: ‘Mark Watson is an absolute legend. Not only did he go to Kettering despite his gig being cancelled to do his show for free outside, he bought a massive round of drinks for the interval.’
Another, David Norbury, wrote: ‘This is the most Mark Watson thing I can possibly think of! Lovely stuff.’ And Flo said: 'Thank you Mark for putting on what can only be described as an absolutely mad time. I felt like I was part of something really special!'
AJ Green, who took the photo at the top of this page, said it was an 'amazing' gig.
@watsoncomedian Mark Watson in Kettering Market Place pic.twitter.com/dT0stoTLCn
— Nathan Thomas (@natoon0) September 10, 2022
Watson said he respected the venue’s decision to pull his tour show, especially as the arts centre is housed in a church which was serving as a place of condolence.
At the end of the gig he said: ‘I’ve done quite a number of unusual gigs in my life but its certainly up there for a number of reasons.
‘I respect everyone who wishes to observe this period of mourning by not doing this sort of thing but I think it is also nice that people have the opportunity to have things like entertainment and sport and other things because at the end of the day we’re quite a resilient nation.
‘I didn’t know the Queen – obviously – but I think she’d have not minded what people did as long as it increased the net happiness of people.’
His show This Can’t Be It has been rescheduled for the Kettering Arts Centre on November 23.
You can still watch the show on Instagram:
• Mark Watson is also spearheading a Fairer Fringe fundraiser to try to level the playing field of performing at the Edinburgh festival. Support it here.
Published: 11 Sep 2022
