FMC - Schedule
Live
Live
Publish Date
Feb 11, 2025
Rollup
Excerpt
Tags - Relation
Tags
Luke Kempner, Les Misérables, comedy, impressionist, musical theatre, The Only Way Is Downton, Thénardier
Introduction to Luke Kempner
In this episode of the Five Minute Call podcast, hosts Oren Boder and Claire Underwood sit down with the multi-talented Luke Kempner. Known for his roles as a comedian, impressionist, and actor, Luke has made a significant impact in the theatre world, particularly with his current role as Thénardier in Les Misérables. His journey from musical theatre to comedy and back again is filled with fascinating stories, challenges, and triumphs.
A Leap of Faith
Luke Kempner's career began in Surrey, where he was drawn to theatre from a young age. After studying at the Guildford School of Acting, he faced a challenging nine-month period without work. However, his perseverance paid off when he joined the 25th anniversary tour of Les Misérables. Despite his success in musical theatre, Luke took a leap of faith into the world of comedy, creating a viral YouTube video of Downton Abbey impressions that caught the attention of Stephen Fry. This led to his one-man show, 'The Only Way Is Downton,' which toured internationally.
Finding His Voice
Luke discusses the importance of finding his own voice, both literally and figuratively. His journey through stand-up comedy helped him discover what makes him unique on stage. He shares insights into how he develops his impressions, focusing on the nuances of voice placement and character interpretation. This skill has been crucial in his portrayal of Thénardier, where he balances the character's comedic elements with his darker, villainous traits.
The Return to Theatre
After a decade away from musical theatre, Luke returned to the stage with a newfound confidence. His role as Thénardier in Les Misérables has been a dream come true, allowing him to bring his comedic flair and vocal talents to a beloved character. Luke reflects on the support he received from industry veterans and how his diverse experiences have enriched his performance.
Balancing Work and Play
Luke emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between work and play. He candidly discusses the pressures of constantly seeking new opportunities while ensuring he has time for his family. By setting aside dedicated time for creativity and family, Luke manages to keep his passion for performance alive without burning out.
Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Claire: Hello, and welcome to the Five Minute Call, the podcast that takes a deep dive into the stories of [00:00:05] the people that make theater happen.
[00:00:07] Oren: In this episode, we're talking to Luke Kempner, an [00:00:10] incredible comedian, impressionist, and current narda in Les Mis Arrived.
[00:00:13] Claire: Luke talks about [00:00:15] work versus play, his leap of faith from musical theater into the world of comedy, [00:00:20] and offers insights into how his vocal control informs his character development [00:00:25] process.[00:00:30]
[00:00:31] Intro Voices: Members of the company, this is your five minute call. All [00:00:35] beginners, please make your way to the stage. This is your five minute call, your five minute [00:00:40] call.
[00:00:41] Claire: Luke, thank you so much for coming and joining us on the five minute call. [00:00:45] It's really lovely to have you here. We are all about people's stories and how they got to be doing [00:00:50] what they're doing.
[00:00:50] Luke: Okay.
[00:00:51] Claire: So. Tell us your story.
[00:00:53] Luke: Ha ha. Well, [00:00:55] it started, you know, like I grew up in, uh, Surrey, the sort [00:01:00] of rubbish end of Surrey. I'm allowed to swear? How much swear are you allowed to do? The [00:01:05] shithole end of Surrey. Um, the sort of Gatwick area. Um, and you know, it was always a [00:01:10] performer at school. Um, always singing, always doing musical theatre, very into Les Mis [00:01:15] from the age of about I don't know, 10 when I first got the, um, [00:01:20] the 10th anniversary video.
[00:01:23] Luke: Um, so, [00:01:25] yeah, so I was always sort of heavily into, heavily into theater and then, um, and didn't just, you know, I, [00:01:30] I studied, I went to drama school, went to Guildford School of Acting, um, and then left [00:01:35] Guildford School of Acting and went, uh, I'd sort of had about nine months out of work and thought my life was [00:01:40] over.
[00:01:40] Luke: Um, but then went into Les Mis, the 25th anniversary. Uh, tour, [00:01:45] which I did and then, um, you know, which culminated at the O2 [00:01:50] and the Barbican, which was amazing. And then I did Avenue Q and South [00:01:55] Pacific and then a show called Lift at the Soho Theatre. And then I decided to stop [00:02:00] doing all of that. Uh, and start doing comedy.
[00:02:02] Luke: So I, I did a video, [00:02:05] uh, where I did 10, 12 Downton Abbey impressions, um, on YouTube. This [00:02:10] was in 2013 and, uh, Stephen Fry, uh, posted about it [00:02:15] and said a splendid display of Downtonry, um, and a superb impressionist. [00:02:20] And then, uh, and that video went absolutely mental. And then off the back of that, [00:02:25] I. wrote a show called The Only Way Is Downton, which I did in Edinburgh in [00:02:30] 2014.
[00:02:30] Luke: Um, and then I taught, I did, well, I did it in the West End at the Trafalgar [00:02:35] Studios and then I toured it around the country for two years. I did it in America. Uh, [00:02:40] I did it in Canada and an 800 seater for a month. Um, I went to Russia with it. [00:02:45] I went to Spain with it. Uh, so I did that for a couple of years and then.
[00:02:49] Luke: I started doing [00:02:50] stand up off the back of that because I decided I didn't want to be just the guy [00:02:55] that, because I was the Downton guy and I didn't want to be the Game of Thrones guy, the Breaking Bad guy. I wanted to be [00:03:00] Luke Kempner. So I started writing, uh, stand up, uh, which was [00:03:05] mixing impressions in with it.
[00:03:07] Luke: So I did that and then started writing [00:03:10] shows which involved stand up and, and impressions. Which I did for a number of years in [00:03:15] amongst of telework and radio work, uh, around all of that stuff. I'm telling this in as quick a way as [00:03:20] possible
[00:03:20] Claire: [00:03:25] to
[00:03:29] Luke (character voice): On the [00:03:30] tour. Let's just rewind. Then we get out, you know. But you said the
[00:03:32] Luke: story.
[00:03:34] Luke: It is the story. [00:03:35] It is. And we're only halfway through. There's a way to go. But yeah. I mean,
[00:03:37] Claire: yeah.
[00:03:38] Luke: I mean. Press the button and then we get [00:03:40] off. And then we can have a
[00:03:40] Claire: look. Everybody is now desperate to know about that story. But let's just break it down a little
[00:03:44] Luke: bit. Before [00:03:45] we go any further. Okay. Okay.
[00:03:46] Claire: How does a young kid in Surrey get into theatre?
[00:03:49] Claire: Like, where did that come [00:03:50] from?
[00:03:50] Luke: Well, you know, it was a lot of like, there was an Amdram company called the East Surrey Operatic [00:03:55] Society, um, which I went to from the age of 12 when I was in [00:04:00] Carousel. Did you know other people
[00:04:00] Claire: who were doing that?
[00:04:01] Luke: No, I just, they had, Oliver was coming up, they were going [00:04:05] to do Oliver, um, and some people at my school, my drama teacher knew that I [00:04:10] wanted, said, you'd be good to do Oliver, but they're doing Carousel now.
[00:04:14] Luke: And there was a woman [00:04:15] from like, He used to live down our road that used to go who said that we really need an Enoch Snow Jr. [00:04:20] Um, and they said, Oh, you know, you should come and audition. And I went and audition and got the part and [00:04:25] started rehearsals that night. So there wasn't many people up for it. But then they were [00:04:30] like, you know, Oliver, we're doing Oliver in the summer.
[00:04:32] Luke: So, you know, you should do Carousel. And then, and then I played the [00:04:35] Artful Dodger when we did Oliver at Polesden Lacey, this open air theater, which was amazing. [00:04:40] So, you know, it was kind of just like that. There was a woman down our road that, that, that went [00:04:45] and then, and then they used to go on the Elm Thursday nights.
[00:04:48] Luke: And that's when I, but I [00:04:50] don't know, it's weird. Cause I think this is probably the same for a lot of performers, but I just always felt like I was going to [00:04:55] do it. Like I never felt. Like I would do anything else, ever. It was [00:05:00] never like, Oh, I'm going to go to university and study and see, you know, what my options are.
[00:05:04] Luke: It was just like, [00:05:05] it was never ever even a decision. It was like, I am going to be a musical theatre [00:05:10] performer. Um, and that was just always what I was going to do. And luckily it's worked out. Um, [00:05:15] but, but I mean, cause it couldn't, it might not have done, but I really, yeah, it just was always that there [00:05:20] was never any decision of anything else I was going to do.
[00:05:23] Luke: Um, which is nice.
[00:05:24] Claire: You mentioned a [00:05:25] drama teacher. Yeah. You obviously had support in, in that and encouragement. [00:05:30] Yeah.
[00:05:30] Luke: Yeah. I mean, the thing is, is that I was very [00:05:35] enthusiastic. I was quite badly behaved at school, like sort of threatened with expulsion and [00:05:40] suspensions and things. My parents were called in because I fucked around a lot, but [00:05:45] all I was often doing was doing impressions of teachers.
[00:05:48] Luke: And making other kids laugh, [00:05:50] but of course, that's quite disruptive. Um, but you know, and we had, uh, [00:05:55] we had a teacher called Miss West, who was a science teacher and I would do impressions of her and she goes, Oh,
[00:05:59] Luke (character voice): I [00:06:00] don't like being mimicked.
[00:06:01] Luke: Um, was often a catchphrase I would do of hers, but [00:06:05] just disrupting other kids, which at the time when I was sort of 13, 14, I sort of.
[00:06:09] Luke: I was becoming [00:06:10] popular via it. So I was like, I don't care. Um, and then like, yeah, the teachers [00:06:15] sort of said, Oh, you know, we're going to kick you out. And my mom was very disappointed with me. And that made [00:06:20] me cry a lot. And then I quite, I knuckled down quite a lot, but I really enjoyed [00:06:25] drama and music. So those classes, I didn't muck around as much cause I [00:06:30] felt like I could be the best in there.
[00:06:31] Luke: Um, but then I sort of brought that to [00:06:35] our other, uh, aspects and just decided that if I worked hard, then, uh, then my mum wouldn't be [00:06:40] disappointed in me. Um, so I did work quite hard and ended up getting quite good [00:06:45] GCSEs and then left and studied drama at A level before [00:06:50] going to drama school.
[00:06:51] Claire: Right.
[00:06:52] Luke: Yeah.
[00:06:52] Claire: You mentioned music. Did you play an instrument?
[00:06:54] Luke: I played [00:06:55] piano and I did classical singing. Um, so my piano playing is fine. [00:07:00] Um, but I wouldn't ever, ever put it down for my grades. It was more, I always used my singing was always my, my [00:07:05] instrument.
[00:07:06] Claire: Yeah. So you went off to college.
[00:07:08] Luke: Yeah.
[00:07:09] Claire: Did you already tell us [00:07:10] which college?
[00:07:10] Claire: Uh, Guildford. Yeah, that's all right, that's all right, I went to Guildford, yeah. [00:07:15] And good time there? Yeah. Was it what you expected
[00:07:17] Luke: it to be? I loved it, I [00:07:20] mean, I found myself at times a little bit frustrated because I regret this in some ways, I found myself [00:07:25] going as soon as I was there. I was like, I don't need to be here.
[00:07:27] Luke: I need to work. I need to get out into the professional [00:07:30] world. Now. Uh, now. And you think three years is a very long time when you're there. You're [00:07:35] like, oh my god. And I got a job at a play called New Boy, which I did at [00:07:40] the Tabard So I left Guildford early ish. I sort of [00:07:45] left in the March of the year that you graduate.
[00:07:48] Luke: And then went back to do the [00:07:50] showcase, but meant I missed a couple of shows. But I was like, it's fine, I'm working. And I don't regret [00:07:55] that. That side of it, but I do regret, uh, thinking, I can't wait to get out of here and [00:08:00] work, because I don't think I realized how lucky I was to [00:08:05] be a place where you, you have no pressure, no responsibilities, and you just get to perform [00:08:10] every day with.
[00:08:11] Luke: You're friends and you live in a place where you can walk everywhere. You [00:08:15] could go out and party if you want. You could not do that, but you, you know, you [00:08:20] there's that brilliant song in Avenue Q. I wish I could go back to college. Life was so simple back then, but [00:08:25] I always think about that song and how I didn't understand it when I first used to love Avenue Q when I was [00:08:30] 16, 17 and now think of that song and I go, Oh yeah, no, I do wish I could go back to college [00:08:35] because I'd love to go back with my knowledge now and just know.
[00:08:38] Luke: Are you, you know, there was like, you had no [00:08:40] pressure, you know, and I chat to grads at who I'm in Les Mis with now, and I'm just like, [00:08:45] you need to enjoy this time. And I tried to do it in an unpatronizing way, but you [00:08:50] think the world is so, uh, you think there's so much pressure on you when [00:08:55] you're 21 and it's like, there just isn't.
[00:08:56] Luke: You can enjoy this because there's, you haven't got response. You haven't got a [00:09:00] mortgage. You haven't got a kid. You haven't got, uh, the pressure of age. Like all of it [00:09:05] is just enjoy it. And I wish I'd enjoyed drama school a bit more, wish I did not [00:09:10] try to fall in love every day. Um, a little bit more and just, yeah, but [00:09:15] you know, look, I really enjoyed drama school.
[00:09:17] Luke: Um, and it felt like, Oh, finally, I'm in a place [00:09:20] where educationally suits me because before I mucked around and [00:09:25] doing classes, which I was like, this isn't helping me when I was at drama school. I was like, Oh no, this is what I'm meant to be. [00:09:30] Um, I loved learning from good people around me, people like [00:09:35] Bradley Jaden and Joel Montagu all in my year and like, you know, I loved learning from those good people.[00:09:40]
[00:09:40] Luke: Um, you know, we had directors like Pete Harris, Julian Walford, um, and, you know, [00:09:45] and learning from, from amazing people coming in. I felt I learned more than just sort [00:09:50] of. Um, but I found when we had sort of people that would come in for [00:09:55] a term and they would just suddenly inspire you, um, and like I say, other actors around that would inspire [00:10:00] you.
[00:10:00] Luke: Yeah. Like I just, I learned so much and, and enjoyed it and would love to do it again. [00:10:05]
[00:10:05] Claire: I think that's quite a common theme actually is, you know, [00:10:10] you spend a long time trying to get out of education and then many, many years thinking, Oh, can I go back? Yeah. [00:10:15]
[00:10:16] Luke: Because I'd
[00:10:16] Claire: like to do this degree and this degree.
[00:10:18] Claire: I
[00:10:18] Luke: know. I know. [00:10:20] I know. Yeah.
[00:10:21] Claire: So you come out of there into nine months of no [00:10:25] work.
[00:10:25] Luke: Yeah, I got, I got lots, I used to get to finals of shows quite a lot. So things [00:10:30] like it was in those days, it was like, imagine this, um, there was [00:10:35] Jersey Boys, Oliver, Drury Lane, um, all these shows I go right [00:10:40] down for, Les Mis in town and not get it.
[00:10:43] Luke: And I was just constantly thought, [00:10:45] Oh, maybe, uh, I'm not good enough for it. Maybe [00:10:50] all these years I've thought I'm the one that maybe I'm not [00:10:55] quite right. Um, so that, you know, and I struggled with that. And then I, I was working in a [00:11:00] hairdressers just on reception, sweeping up hair, um, in Chiswick with lots [00:11:05] of arts ed students that would come in and they'd be like, And I'll be like, I went to drama school and they'll be like, all right, [00:11:10] and I'll be like, Oh, it's, it's, it's going better than it looks.
[00:11:13] Luke: Um, but, uh, then, [00:11:15] uh, and I got offered a play in, uh, in Hampstead, um, in a [00:11:20] pub, it was called like the Pentameters Theatre in Hampstead. And it was doing a Noel Coward. [00:11:25] play where I was playing the part of Noel Coward called, uh, I'll leave it, I'll leave it [00:11:30] to you. And Noel Coward had written it about himself.
[00:11:32] Luke: And I was playing the Noel Coward part, but you know, the [00:11:35] money was like 30 quid a week. Um, and my mum said to me that [00:11:40] you've got to do this. So my mum didn't have much money, but she said, look, I'll give you 200 quid a week. [00:11:45] So you can live. Um, And so I did that. And [00:11:50] then during that time, I was rehearsing that show.
[00:11:53] Luke: I was auditioning for Les Mis, the 25th [00:11:55] anniversary tour and got it. And so it was just kind of like, I think, doing it [00:12:00] again and gaining confidence from being a lead part, even though it was in a small 30 seater theatre, I [00:12:05] just think gave me a little bit more belief. within the auditions. And actually, I've [00:12:10] always had great confidence in auditions since then.
[00:12:13] Luke: I mean, I have spent 10 years [00:12:15] out of theatre, so it's, you know, the average is quite, it's narrowed down. But I don't think there's a job I [00:12:20] haven't got from auditioning, really. The King and Hamilton, I didn't get actually [00:12:25] when John Robbins got it. So other than that, but I think confidence of going into auditions, knowing that [00:12:30] I can do this.
[00:12:31] Luke: Uh, if you don't want me, that's fine, but I'm not going to go and go, please, [00:12:35] please. And be so nervous. And just, I'm just going to go in fully prepared. I'm ready to show you what I [00:12:40] can do. And if I'm not right, I'm not right.
[00:12:41] Oren: Yeah. I, um, I've been reading [00:12:45] a lot lately and some really interesting stuff that I've been coming across is this idea of with or without you [00:12:50] energy, which it very much seems like that was, it's like.
[00:12:53] Oren: I'm going to be really [00:12:55] successful. I'm going to get this. I'm going to do other things with or without you. But if you want me for this part, [00:13:00] that's really cool.
[00:13:00] Luke (character voice): Yeah.
[00:13:01] Oren: And I think it just changes the whole perception of, of how [00:13:05] you then present yourself in an environment. Like if you walk into somewhere with, without you energy, [00:13:10] you're like I don't necessarily need you, but this partnership could be really [00:13:15] cool.
[00:13:15] Oren: Yeah. But if you're just going and going, I really, really need this, I think that [00:13:20] like, there's a, there might be a barrier.
[00:13:22] Luke: And it's, that's a really good way of putting it. And I think it's a [00:13:25] shame because, you know, sometimes you just being desperate for a job shouldn't be counted against [00:13:30] you or your personality because you're just desperate to do this one that it's like when you take your driving test, you [00:13:35] desperately want to pass your driving test.
[00:13:37] Luke: Even when I went back to Les Mis, um, where I'm [00:13:40] now playing to an RDH. I went into that audition process with a [00:13:45] confidence of, it was a different thing of going back after 10 years and constantly feeling like [00:13:50] the powers that be in musical theatre have so much power over you. I sort of went in there and not with an [00:13:55] arrogance, just with a, Oh, I do other things.
[00:13:58] Luke: And even though they were like, Oh, [00:14:00] um, the finals next week. And I was like, Oh, what day? And they were, Oh, um. Oh, it's [00:14:05] Thursday. I was like, Oh, I can't do Thursday. And I'm like, I'm not encouraging people to do that, but it [00:14:10] was a great, it was a great confidence of going, Oh, I can't just do everything that you, because I've just [00:14:15] spent 10 years making a career for myself where.
[00:14:18] Luke: I've got a diary full of, [00:14:20] might be a bit of telly, might be a radio, might be a podcast that can't just be moved immediately [00:14:25] for this. Um, and again, that wasn't an arrogance thing. It's just, it was such a nice feeling of them, [00:14:30] of having to go, no, well, I can come in this day. Um, which was amazing. [00:14:35] Um, because you do feel, I think when you start out that it's just like, Oh, because anything, [00:14:40] please give me a job, give me a chance.
[00:14:42] Luke: Um, so it was, it has been nice coming back to it with a [00:14:45] more of a confidence of. I've done other things. I've gone away and I've done other things. I've not just gone away [00:14:50] because I wasn't getting lead parts. I've gone away because I wanted to try something else. And I feel like actually [00:14:55] people like Cameron McIntosh and James Powell and Lawrence Connor, I think all those people have really [00:15:00] respected that I've done that.
[00:15:01] Luke: And every time I've seen them over those 10 years, Cameron's always been like, [00:15:05] we're very proud of you. And, you know, and people are, we're going to get you back. We're going to get you back one day. And it's been nice [00:15:10] to feel like people are impressed by the fact that I've gone away. Um, [00:15:15] And even my other acting friends and stuff that no one's ever sort of thought, Oh, you gave up.
[00:15:19] Luke: It's [00:15:20] just, you decided you wanted to go and challenge yourself doing something else.
[00:15:23] Oren: Yeah. [00:15:25] Diversifying.
[00:15:25] Luke: Yeah. Yeah. Completely.
[00:15:26] Oren: So that 10 years out of theater. Yeah. [00:15:30] That's, that's just.
[00:15:32] Luke: dive into that. Okay. Yeah. Well, [00:15:35] basically, so like, yeah, I did lame ears and have an EQ in South Pacific. Uh, and [00:15:40] then I sort of just started putting these videos on YouTube.
[00:15:43] Luke: Just, I don't know. It [00:15:45] was, I, I sort of had this thing of like, if I get a hundred views, that's cool. You know? And if I get [00:15:50] 500 just kept building it week by week. But then. When this Downton one went a bit mad, it [00:15:55] was like, Oh, I need to. And then James Seabright producer said to me, you should do an [00:16:00] Edinburgh show.
[00:16:01] Luke: Um, and then that's when I wrote The Only Way Is Downton with a wonderful director called Owen [00:16:05] Lewis. Um, and I'm really glad that I did it. I think some [00:16:10] hindsight makes me think, Oh, maybe I should just stuck at the YouTube thing and just being, cause I was doing that. [00:16:15] 11 years ago and just stopped doing that and then maybe I'd be living in a 10 million pound [00:16:20] house With like, you know slide instead of stairs, but I don't know but I [00:16:25] thought I think getting out there And I was so proud of that Downton show [00:16:30] and get all the places.
[00:16:30] Luke: I got to visit and stuff [00:16:35] Um, and I'd always had, you know, when I was at drama school, I used to get up and [00:16:40] do impressions of the teachers. Um, and I would get up and do, you know, I would always do a [00:16:45] narrative led thing. So we had a singing teacher called, uh, Ross Campbell and he, you know, he sort of [00:16:50] sounded like this.
[00:16:50] Luke: And, um, you know, and I would always, he was always writing a book, I think he eventually released [00:16:55] this book, but I was always, had this, I, I wrote a sketch where it was like, Roth [00:17:00] Campbell's
[00:17:00] Luke (character voice): releasing his book and he needs to get it published, so he needs to ask this teacher and this teacher, and, [00:17:05]
[00:17:05] Luke: and, and then I would go, And so what did Michael Moore think?
[00:17:07] Luke: He'd go, Okay, I think you should do this. So I would flip [00:17:10] between the characters, or it would be, the teachers were putting on the nativity play, and this teacher [00:17:15] said this, and this teacher said that, and I think I should be the wise man. Um. And it, so it was always a [00:17:20] narrative led way of playing lots of impressions within one sketch, but I would always be every [00:17:25] single character.
[00:17:25] Luke: And that was from when I was at drama school, my second year at drama school. And that was [00:17:30] always the bit I enjoyed the most about the year was getting up and doing that set of impressions. [00:17:35] Um, so that's kind of what I always had in the back of my mind of what I wanted to do with it. [00:17:40] And when you're at uni, there's often chances to go and do the Chortle [00:17:45] Student Comedian of the Year Award, which I didn't even know about.
[00:17:48] Luke: I didn't know where stand up [00:17:50] clubs were or anything like that. I just liked watching stand up [00:17:55] and I knew I did good impressions. What I mean is it like, so then I'd written that stuff and then when [00:18:00] I was in Les Mis I did the same thing and it was Earl Carpenter was putting on a soiree [00:18:05] and it was like The Apprentice but he was Alan Sugar and it was like, I need you, you know, to put on this [00:18:10] soiree and I need you and I need Karl Malaney and da da da.
[00:18:13] Luke: And I would play every character within that. [00:18:15] Um, and, and again, one of the most enjoyable times of that year I did Les [00:18:20] Mis was that. So. I then basically just put that into a Downton Abbey state. So it was [00:18:25] just all the Downton characters but they went on shows like the Great British Bake Off and [00:18:30] I think Mr Bates had to play Andy Murray at tennis at Wimbledon.
[00:18:33] Luke: Um, and then I, they [00:18:35] went on X Factor and all sorts of things. So I took them out of the Downton world onto other [00:18:40] Popular TV shows. Um, and I listen, I wrote an incredibly long, boring [00:18:45] two hour script, um, with some funny moments in it. I'd never written stuff before. [00:18:50] And Owen Lewis, brilliant director and a script editor called Jeremy Lim, uh, sat the three of [00:18:55] us for about four weeks, beating it into shape.
[00:18:58] Claire: And how was that?
[00:18:59] Luke: It [00:19:00] was amazing. It was amazing. At times it was tough because I was like, I know what my vision [00:19:05] is, and I know what I think is funny. And I was working with guys who were 10, 15 years older than me, [00:19:10] with lots of experience. And it was hard because I was like, I know what's [00:19:15] funny. And they were like, well, I don't think that's funny.
[00:19:17] Luke: And I was like, well, I do. Um, so [00:19:20] there was a bit of that. And there's, and then sometimes I had to really trust that they were [00:19:25] brilliant and knew what they were doing. What's brilliant about Owen is he leaves no stone unturned. So [00:19:30] like, any moment that wasn't an 8, 9 10 gag [00:19:35] was not good enough. And I really valued that because I think it would have been quite [00:19:40] easy, Oh, that'd be fine.
[00:19:41] Luke: Instead of like, no, it needs to be really [00:19:45] good because you're new and you're going out there and you know, So I went to Edinburgh. [00:19:50] In a 49 seater venue, a port a cabin shipping container, [00:19:55] um, and yeah, it was the, the Pleasant's This, I don't know if they've been, they've sort [00:20:00] of got versions of them now up in Edinburgh, but like, within the first two days, Uh, I [00:20:05] started selling out every night, um, and then within like a [00:20:10] week, the whole run had sold out.
[00:20:12] Luke: And the reviews, like, it's weird looking back at the reviews because like [00:20:15] there was some that were amazing, like the Telegraph gave me four stars and that was a huge thing. You know, [00:20:20] like, it's funny working with people at, in Les Mis, like the guys in Mir, they don't realize that four stars [00:20:25] in comedy is amazing.
[00:20:26] Luke: Like you get four or five stars, that's all you're talking about. So to get the [00:20:30] four stars in the Telegraph and the independent. at the time was amazing. But I look back at Chortle, I think gave me [00:20:35] two stars. Um, and I think like, and some of the other ones weren't great, but I'd [00:20:40] already sold out and we were putting on extra shows.
[00:20:42] Luke: And so as a debut year, um, [00:20:45] which I didn't even know about Edinburgh debuts. I just, James Sebring said, you should write the show. [00:20:50] I wrote the show. We went up there and it was all a big success, but. You know, [00:20:55] now I've, I once I'd hung out with comedians for 10 years, you know, getting up to the first time you go to [00:21:00] Edinburgh usually takes you three or four years, but I just didn't know any of this.
[00:21:03] Luke: I just was like, I'll go. I did [00:21:05] two previews of that, of that show. And when I did a run, like my latest [00:21:10] show, I did gritty police drama, which we might get to like, I did like 35 [00:21:15] previews of that before I took it to Edinburgh. You know, for nine months around the country, just trying it out. [00:21:20]
[00:21:20] Claire: Oh, there's so many questions.
[00:21:21] Claire: I'm sorry. I don't want to jump about. Don't be sorry. [00:21:25] Um, i'm fascinated by the idea that you always knew you wanted to. [00:21:30] Yeah. Some people have said that, but had like [00:21:35] a real drive and a real like, that is the goal I'm setting myself. That's what I'm going to [00:21:40] do. That doesn't quite sound like it was, it doesn't sound like it was drive.
[00:21:44] Claire: It [00:21:45] sounds like it was just. It just was.
[00:21:47] Luke: Yeah, it's weird. You know, I'd always had this thing that I was [00:21:50] like, I want to be in Les Mis and I want to be in Avenue Q. Um, from seeing those two shows, I was like, look, I [00:21:55] do voices and I'm funny. Um, and I can sing Empty Chairs, Empty Tables. I'm like, I [00:22:00] can do those two things.
[00:22:01] Luke: Um, so when they, when they happened in the first year and a [00:22:05] half, that was when I suddenly went, Oh, well. Am I enjoying this? Because I [00:22:10] had got to a point. Yes, I was in the ensemble when I was first cover Marius. That's when we first [00:22:15] met. Um, and, and I was in the ensemble of Avenue Q. I got, when I got offered ensemble in Avenue Q, [00:22:20] I'd actually turned it down.
[00:22:21] Luke: And John Robbins, uh, said to me, I've heard you turned it down. Why have you done that? And [00:22:25] I was like, cause I want to play the part. And I was like 21, maybe 22. And he [00:22:30] was just like, you're an idiot. He was like, ,
[00:22:32] Luke (character voice): he, I ring him back.
[00:22:33] Luke: So I rang him back and said, I [00:22:35] wanna do it. Um, and I'm really glad I did.
[00:22:36] Luke: 'cause Chris Thatcher, who, who I was understudying, is like my best mate now. [00:22:40] So I'm glad, glad that I did it. Um, and I was, you know, and learned a lot from being in the [00:22:45] ensemble. But once I'd finished those two jobs, I was at a point of where I didn't know [00:22:50] if musical theater really was for me. I'd sort of got to the point where I was like, I don't know if I, the enjoyment is enough for [00:22:55] me.
[00:22:55] Luke: And I felt, I was at an age where I was like, well. I don't have the [00:23:00] responsibilities. So if I don't earn for a bit, as long as I do a part time [00:23:05] job doing some teaching or something, I've got enough to pay the bills and pay my rent, then I can sort of do what I [00:23:10] like. Um, and it's hard to think back now, cause you know, that's 12 years ago.
[00:23:14] Luke: So it's a long [00:23:15] time ago now, but I definitely had a confidence of like, I'm going to do something [00:23:20] else. And I'm going to do these videos on YouTube. And then opportunities came [00:23:25] and It's funny looking back at those opportunities because, uh, you know, uh, [00:23:30] you know, I was getting meetings with BBC And I was like, here are my ideas.[00:23:35]
[00:23:35] Luke: They're all shite. But at the time I was just like, oh, I can just do this. You know, [00:23:40] and I, I got offered and did my own TV show in 2015 called Luke Kempner's [00:23:45] impression of 2015. Listen, I'd love to get that opportunity again now with, [00:23:50] with, you know, 10 years more experience. But at the time I was like, yeah, I can do it.
[00:23:54] Luke: [00:23:55] And so I just, I just kept taking every opportunity and just going with, with confidence that [00:24:00] I have the ability and I don't think I didn't have the ability, I just didn't think I had the experience [00:24:05] where I think now I've got, I've got the experience of what, what I'm good at. But
[00:24:07] Claire: you couldn't have had it at that point.
[00:24:09] Claire: No, no. Like, [00:24:10] you know, there's nothing you could have done to change that. Where do you think that confidence came [00:24:15] from? Was it confidence or was it just. You know, you describe being quite naive about Edinburgh and just [00:24:20] not knowing how things worked and therefore just
[00:24:23] Luke: going ahead and doing it. I think, I [00:24:25] think self doubt has come to me as the years have gone on.
[00:24:28] Luke: I think I've doubted [00:24:30] myself more and more and more as the years go on because it's easy when you've not had [00:24:35] even, because, you know, like I say, when I've. I had nine months out of work. I started to think, Oh, maybe I'm not good [00:24:40] enough. And I think like, when you've not, you know, when my TV show, look, I had a TV [00:24:45] show that was out, but it didn't get commissioned for a series.
[00:24:47] Luke: I didn't, I wasn't suddenly in every single thing going. [00:24:50] So like that was like, Oh, okay. Oh, maybe that wasn't good enough. So like, as much as those. [00:24:55] I've, I've had to dig really, uh, to the depths sometimes [00:25:00] to bring that confidence back out to write another show and write a new video. Like, I mean, we're jumping [00:25:05] about, but during COVID, I was putting these videos out where I was, you know, Boris Johnson doing, uh, you know, [00:25:10] doing my, my, my, my COVID, uh, you know, uh, my, And I was doing, uh, [00:25:15] you know, comical, uh, turns on, on different, uh, you know, views of what he's actually been saying.[00:25:20]
[00:25:20] Luke: Um, and they started doing really well. Thousands of views, thousands, thousands, thousands of views. But then [00:25:25] my brain just went, ah, what if the next one's not good enough? And then it was like, oh, maybe I [00:25:30] just won't do one. Because if I don't do one Because all it takes is one person to go, that was shit, [00:25:35] that wasn't funny, that was boring.
[00:25:37] Luke: And it doesn't matter if you've got thousands of people saying, that was brilliant, [00:25:40] that person said it was boring, and they go, oh yeah, no, I did think that, oh no. And then, [00:25:45] and it stopped me a bit, and I think that has stopped me at times, when sometimes you need to just wade through that [00:25:50] bullshit and keep that confidence.
[00:25:51] Luke: But it's hard, it is hard.
[00:25:53] Oren: I think that's the trouble with a gaming [00:25:55] experience as well, isn't it? That you, you game. experience, both positive [00:26:00] and negative. And I think it becomes very, very difficult, as you say, to [00:26:05] try and manage the positive against the negative, or rather the negative against the positive [00:26:10] as you get older.
[00:26:12] Oren: But I think looking back at [00:26:15] everything that you have achieved and everything that you, you know, all the stuff that you've worked on, and you say you're [00:26:20] starting to regain some of that confidence, or have regained that confidence, was there a turning point [00:26:25] there?
[00:26:25] Luke: I think my latest show, uh, Gritty Police Drama, uh, the one man [00:26:30] musical, which is 60 impressions, 60 minutes, one murder.
[00:26:34] Luke: Uh, and it's sort of [00:26:35] based on things like happy Valley and line of duty and Luther, but within it, like the Downton [00:26:40] show, it's a great, it's all gritty police dramas. Uh, but within that, there's all sorts of [00:26:45] other celebrities, footballers and Clarkson's farm and all sorts of things as well as singing. [00:26:50] Um, so there's rewritten versions of.
[00:26:53] Luke: Of Wicked Songs and [00:26:55] Phantom of the Opera and etc. I think I knew that show was going to be good. And I [00:27:00] think I'd taken away from doing all the stand up. And I'd worried at times, oh, maybe I've tried to [00:27:05] become a stand up too much. I was like, I've got to be a stand up. I've got to show people that, uh, I can [00:27:10] talk about myself and be serious.
[00:27:11] Luke: And, and I remember my mom saying, Oh, you know, it was your show. My down to show. It was [00:27:15] great. It's very safe, very safe. And I was always like, how dare you say it? So she's still like, is annoyed. I ever [00:27:20] mentioned that, but I was like, I'll show you. And I like wrote, I wrote shows [00:27:25] that sort of had pathos at the end.
[00:27:26] Luke: And even my last show, macho, macho man, I wrote about [00:27:30] my daughter's birth was really tricky. Um, and how that made me more of a man and [00:27:35] da da da. But I think I just got to the point at the end of that. Show an [00:27:40] end of my match a match a man tour. I just went I don't what you [00:27:45] trying to do Like what do you actually enjoy doing and that is is being silly [00:27:50] and that's what I did at school Was I was silly and I got told off for it at school but then I make a living out of it [00:27:55] now, so it's being silly and is doing voices and is [00:28:00] It's not taking life too.
[00:28:01] Luke: Seriously sing in doing it all [00:28:05] And being, running out of energy and being sweaty on stage or trying to not run out of energy [00:28:10] and doing it all, throwing it all out there. And I think when I started writing that show, [00:28:15] uh, in January, 2023, I just knew [00:28:20] it was going to be good. Um, and I remember. Uh, some people saying to me, you shouldn't do [00:28:25] that.
[00:28:25] Luke: You should do a concert of songs. Because I've had some songs in my previous tour show, uh, which, [00:28:30] which had gone very well in that show. And they were like, you should just do the songs, you know, cause you could do that anyway. You could do that in New [00:28:35] York, you could do that in Vegas, you know, and I was like, nah, like, I want to write this [00:28:40] narrative led.
[00:28:41] Luke: gritty police drama. We all love gritty police dramas in this country. Let's [00:28:45] take the piss out of it. Um, and I want to play all these characters. I'm not, I could, I could see it and I knew it, I knew [00:28:50] it was going to be good. Um, so I think just doing that and I think that [00:28:55] going so well and having an Edinburgh like I'd had when I'd done my Downton show and I had.
[00:28:59] Luke: [00:29:00] I hated having to say to my current director, Ben Clark, who I've been writing with for years. I [00:29:05] hated always saying to him, Oh, when I did the Downton show, I did this because I constantly say that. And he was, you know, he's [00:29:10] so lovely. He was always, Oh yeah, cool. But like, I, now I don't need to say that because I'm like, when I did Gritty Police [00:29:15] Drama, this is what worked, you know, and I probably will do Edinburgh, uh, next year [00:29:20] in 2025 and write a new show, but I know the format.
[00:29:23] Luke: And I know what works with that. So [00:29:25] it has given me a lot of confidence, but also the thing is with it all [00:29:30] is, uh, it's so easy to not, uh, start something. It's so easy [00:29:35] to not write a funny video. You know, like I saw the Trump stuff last week, [00:29:40] him being guilty on 34 charges. I'm like, Oh, I could do something.
[00:29:42] Luke: I could have him in prison. I could do my first few [00:29:45] days of prison. That will be fun thing to write. And then I didn't do it and I, and I'm busy. I've got a two year old [00:29:50] daughter, but like. There is time in the day, she's in the nursery today. I've had three hours this morning, [00:29:55] but I thought it'd be better to like fold my t shirts.
[00:29:57] Luke: I
[00:29:57] Luke (character voice): thought it'd be better
[00:29:58] Luke: to play my cricket game on my feet, [00:30:00] like there's time, you know, and I could have made time. And so I think having the confidence to [00:30:05] just get on and start something is the thing where the self doubt you have to beat away and go, [00:30:10] no, just get on and start it. Because often once you start it, you follow through with it.
[00:30:14] Luke: This [00:30:15]
[00:30:15] Claire: episode is sponsored by Vocality, especially formulated [00:30:20] blend of tea for professional voice users. Each ingredient has been carefully selected to [00:30:25] help you soothe and take care of your voice. The tea is naturally caffeine free, [00:30:30] suitable for vegans, and does not contain any artificial flavors or colors.
[00:30:34] Claire: Vocality [00:30:35] is the secret to vocal clarity in a cup.
[00:30:39] Oren: Is there a [00:30:40] distinction for you between. Work and play because it feels very much [00:30:45] like the stuff that you're now doing and the stuff that you enjoy doing is very playful Yeah, but [00:30:50] like starting a video creating recording. Is there a point where it's gone from oh, this is really [00:30:55] fun to do to now Wow, this feels completely work and I don't want to do it completely
[00:30:58] Luke: you know if you've hit on [00:31:00] something there because I think when I started I On YouTube and, and all that.[00:31:05]
[00:31:05] Luke: I found it all incredibly playful. It didn't feel like work at all. And I think the confidence was there as well, because I had a [00:31:10] confidence I could do an impression of anybody. Um, and no, and I didn't, and I thought, [00:31:15] I thought everyone would love it. Whatever I did, I thought everyone would love it. Which is [00:31:20] mad, but I did.
[00:31:21] Luke: Um, and then I think as soon as you think, Oh, not everyone loves it. And actually some people [00:31:25] think you're an idiot for doing it. And some people watch it and comment and say. [00:31:30] I loved it all, but that bit was shit,
[00:31:31] Luke (character voice): and
[00:31:32] Luke: I think that's [00:31:35] when it becomes work because you're like, Oh, I've got to, I've got to do this thing because, [00:31:40] because that's what's going to help me get more work.
[00:31:42] Luke: And that's what's going to keep me out there. That's what's going to keep me present. [00:31:45] Especially when I didn't have Les Mis, you know, and then the trouble is [00:31:50] now I'm in Les Mis, it's so easy to rest on your laurels, you know, because I'm in a show every night, [00:31:55] but there's time during the show I can be writing stuff.
[00:31:57] Luke: There's time when I make sure I get to the theater an hour [00:32:00] before, you know, and I've had periods in these first six months, so I've done some writing and I've been working [00:32:05] on my show, but I could be doing that every day. You really could. You could be doing it three [00:32:10] times a week, and you've still been so, uh, you know, you've been so proactive, [00:32:15] um, and so that frustrates me at times that I've let that, I've, uh, I feel like I should [00:32:20] be working a bit harder with that stuff, because Les Mis is essentially, it's hard work, but it's easy, [00:32:25] because it's a brilliant show, it's never going to close, I know it works, Tonardia is an incredible part, [00:32:30] Um, no one's ever going to come and say, well, I just didn't really, the material wasn't quite there.[00:32:35]
[00:32:35] Luke: Um, like it's so relaxing. People are like, so you're working so hard. I'm like, mate, this is easy [00:32:40] going out to fricking, you know, hole [00:32:45] to 20 people to see if they'll laugh at your thing that you've written. That's hard [00:32:50] when you've driven there. And you, you know, and you might make 15 quid from [00:32:55] once you've bought food, driven there, like, that's hard.
[00:32:57] Luke: Like, being in Les Mis is a piece of [00:33:00] piss. As great as it is, and I love it, but it's quite, it's lazy of me [00:33:05] to do Les Mis. It's harder work to go, no, I'm not going to do that, and I'm not going to [00:33:10] have that regular income, I'm just going to Trailblaze and do my other thing, like, [00:33:15] yeah, that's the truth of it.
[00:33:16] Claire: You said that you, after doing Avenue [00:33:20] Q, you were thinking, I don't know if this is everything, but you've come back. [00:33:25]
[00:33:25] Luke: Yes.
[00:33:25] Claire: So tell us about that. Well, I did South Pacific first
[00:33:28] Luke: as well, even before I left. And that [00:33:30] was, my agent said to me, I've got your audition for South Pacific. And I was like, I don't want to do it.
[00:33:34] Luke: And he went, [00:33:35] and he went, well, go to the audition and see how you feel. Went to the audition and I got it. And he rang [00:33:40] me and he went. There is nothing like a day, nothing. And I was like, Oh, right. And he goes, [00:33:45] Oh, you don't seem happy. I was like, no, cause I said, like, I didn't really want to do it, but I did it again.
[00:33:49] Luke: [00:33:50] Because, you know, it's at that time, it was probably like 750 quid a week or 800 quid a [00:33:55] week. You're like amazing. But I've come back. Yes. I've come back to theater because, uh, [00:34:00] James Powell. Saw me on the Richard Osman's House of Games And I [00:34:05] would constantly, my sort of stand up schtick, if you were, is lots of, is [00:34:10] being Showing off that I was in Les Mis.
[00:34:11] Luke: I mention it, I always say it. It's not something I particularly like to mention! [00:34:15] Look down, look down at my CV. Um, so I would do a lot [00:34:20] of that in my stand up Uh, and I would talk about it on telly shows quite a lot. And like, even when I, I [00:34:25] did Cess about lunch for three and a half years and it was every anecdote used to start with when I was [00:34:30] in Les Mis, um, and that became my sort of catchphrase, but James Powell saw me [00:34:35] on that show and then spoke to Joe Parsons, who's the resident, [00:34:40] uh, and said, Oh, you know, would Luke want to do to an RDA for six months?
[00:34:43] Luke: Um, so [00:34:45] then they called up my agent. You know, and said, you know, would you like to come in to be seen for Tanadier? [00:34:50] And I'd said to Joe on a stag do, uh, for another friend of ours, Johnny Fines, [00:34:55] um, Oh, can I come play Tanadier? When I was hammered. And he goes, would you want to? I was like, yeah. [00:35:00] Um, and just sort of said it.
[00:35:02] Luke: And I'd always said it to my wife as I was like, Oh, one [00:35:05] day I'll go back and play Tenardio, one day, but like never quite believing that [00:35:10] was going to happen and never quite, you know, actually going in and having to audition for it. [00:35:15] Um, it's slightly different when that's a challenge than just saying you're going to do something.[00:35:20]
[00:35:20] Luke: Um, so then when I was up for it and I went in for it. Um, I got, [00:35:25] I got very excited as soon as I, because I just thought I'm too young and I thought they're not going to [00:35:30] see me for it because I'm too young for it. I just thought it was a part that, you know, I grew up watching Alan Armstrong [00:35:35] doing it. I was like, you got to be in your forties at least.
[00:35:37] Luke: Um, so anyway, then when I, [00:35:40] I, I went up for it and I, and I loved it and, and I loved work at James Powell. I knew he [00:35:45] was like, you're not quite there yet, but I can get you there. Um, and we did like. Three [00:35:50] sessions, two sessions, and then a session in front of everyone, in front of all [00:35:55] these people like Cameron Lawrence, Stephen Brooker, um, you know, people I've not [00:36:00] seen properly since I'd done certainly Avenue Q, [00:36:05] certainly Les Mis before that.
[00:36:06] Luke: So it's been sort of, you know, 13, 14 years since we all looked a [00:36:10] little bit older than we were, we were before, but it was just all these old faces that, that I was [00:36:15] friends with really. So it didn't feel panicky, and I just went in there, and I was, [00:36:20] there was three of us left up for it at the final, um, and I just [00:36:25] really enjoyed it.
[00:36:25] Luke: I was like, I'm on the, the Sondheim Theatre stage, and I'd never done [00:36:30] a West End show at that point, because I'd always done Les Mis on tour. Yes, it was at the [00:36:35] Barbican, but like, and I'd done Avenue Q on tour, and then I did South Pacific. Barbican, but also [00:36:40] on tour. Like I'd never done a West End run. It was always been a bucket list to play a lead in a West [00:36:45] End show.
[00:36:45] Luke: And then to, at Tanadia, just like a show I know inside out, um, [00:36:50] and a part I knew well, but I then researched the hell out of it for when I was [00:36:55] auditioning. Um, and so I was just buzzing. I just was loving it and getting [00:37:00] to be on stage and do it once or twice. And Claire Machen, who's my, my Madame Tanadia, [00:37:05] and she was Currently Madame Tanady already.
[00:37:07] Luke: She then comes out and we got to do the bargain together [00:37:10] and she was so lovely and that was a lot of fun as well. Um, and Cameron just, they were, [00:37:15] they were very giving in the audition because, you know, these are people that have seen this part [00:37:20] played how many times, you know, how many, uh, even individually, but [00:37:25] as well as like seeing the show thousands and thousands of times.
[00:37:27] Luke: So to get, uh, You know, [00:37:30] they laughed so much at every little thing that I tried, which I know was forced, but it really [00:37:35] helped, you know, even just slight, you know, just, it's just [00:37:40] slight views on certain bits in Master of the House and just going like, you [00:37:45] know, filling up the sausages with this and that and just certainly [00:37:50] little pauses I tried to build within the music, comic pauses and faces and all sorts of [00:37:55] things, they really laughed along with that, which gave me great confidence during during it.
[00:37:58] Luke: Um, yeah. And [00:38:00] the bargain was lots of fun trying to find a different way of, you know, there's the whole, my darling [00:38:05] Colette, Cosette, Cosette. And like, try, you know, I leave a long gap. I sort of do, darling [00:38:10] Colette, she goes, Cosette. And I just leave it and leave it as long as I know I can leave it. [00:38:15] Colette, Cosette.
[00:38:16] Luke: Um, and like them being happy with [00:38:20] that, just all of it gave me great confidence, but I, I just thought I'm too young. So [00:38:25] then I did it. I was really happy with how it had gone. And it didn't hear for a week or so and I [00:38:30] was trying to get everything out of Joe because Joe Parsons is a good mate of mine, but he just, he just went, Oh, look.
[00:38:33] Luke: And he goes, no, they loved [00:38:35] you. They loved you. Um, but I don't, I don't know anything yet. And he, he did, but he was like, I [00:38:40] don't know anything yet, but I was like, they love you, but come back in five years or something like that. [00:38:45] Um, but then, yeah. And then to get, it was just like one of the greatest moments of my life.
[00:38:49] Luke: Oh my God. [00:38:50] Just. It's just, and also like, from all these 10 years [00:38:55] of, of just getting out there and shut, going, do you like my material? It [00:39:00] felt quite relaxing, and I know I was sort of touching this, but I was like, I'm going to go into a show. For at [00:39:05] that point, six months. I'm now staying, staying until July 25.[00:39:10]
[00:39:10] Luke: Um, you know, like. But it's just knowing I've got work and a [00:39:15] show that works, the tickets are always sold. Like I just don't have to worry about any of that [00:39:20] stuff. It's quite relaxing. And I love the part. I love working with Claire Machen. [00:39:25] I really enjoy it. I've been doing it nine months and I still really enjoy it.
[00:39:29] Luke: Um, [00:39:30] so yeah, it's, it's wonderful.
[00:39:32] Oren: Just as you're describing it and seeing the, [00:39:35] the brightness and the energy and the passion for it is, is so incredible. [00:39:40]
[00:39:40] Luke (character voice): Yeah.
[00:39:40] Oren: And I think it feels very you and it's nice that you get ownership to play [00:39:45] with it. And it's not so scripted that you do get those moments to bring yourself to it.
[00:39:49] Oren: I think is really nice.
[00:39:49] Luke: [00:39:50] Well, it's been nice in rehearsals with that and Claire's very, what Claire's great at and we both love [00:39:55] old school comedies, you know, Fawlty Towers and Blackadder and Python and, [00:40:00] and. Keeping up appearances. Like we chat about old comedies all the time. She's a big, uh, you know, comedy [00:40:05] nut like I am.
[00:40:06] Luke: So we're always keen to find [00:40:10] new, uh, comic pauses and anything you can get out of it because it is, it is [00:40:15] heavily scripted and it's a show that works like, and also, you know, what I love is that Cameron really likes to show [00:40:20] the darkness of Tanadia because he's, he, in the book, he's not a comic character.
[00:40:23] Luke: Yeah. He's a bit of a showman in the [00:40:25] pub, but he essentially, he's the villain of the piece. So it's like, you don't want to just put him. play [00:40:30] it like Christopher Biggins, as wonderful as you would be, but you want to [00:40:35] do it. You want to show that grit and like his slit your throat any moment, but there's loads of [00:40:40] comic moments to be had in it.
[00:40:41] Luke: Um, and I feel like I'm trying, I'm still every day [00:40:45] striving to squeeze the most juice out of all of those moments. Um, you know, [00:40:50] even in like, in, uh, um, always forget the words. I do the show every night, [00:40:55]
[00:40:55] Luke (character voice): anytime I
[00:40:55] Luke: try and quote some of the words, I forget it. But in the, in the absence of a victim, dear inspector, may [00:41:00] I go, um, like in that moment, and he was like, and remember when you nicked him, it was [00:41:05] me that told you so, and I've tried different ways of doing so like that, [00:41:10] or so, and trying to find, but I.
[00:41:12] Luke: sort of landed on this, [00:41:15] uh, me that told you and a punch of air me that told you so. And then as soon as he turns, I try and [00:41:20] make my voice as quiet as possible. And so I do a soul. And then I go, I've [00:41:25] gently walk back and just keep that wall. And if I can add a little break in there, which usually makes the guards [00:41:30] behind me, laugh, try and go and just gently pull the thing.
[00:41:34] Luke: And just at the [00:41:35] moment you pull up the baton that's behind you. So you're back being arrested. Just [00:41:40] finish like that, you know, you can get a big laugh from the audience and it's a, it's a joy [00:41:45] when you, when you nail it.
[00:41:46] Oren: Oh, I got a cup of sleep that. He's very [00:41:50] good at it. I was just thinking, I would love to see you as a [00:41:55] Beetlejuice.
[00:41:55] Oren: Ah, I think just in the way that you've kind of described that and the [00:42:00] characterizations, I think that would be a really cool
[00:42:03] Luke: character. Yeah,
[00:42:04] Oren: yeah, yeah,
[00:42:04] Luke: [00:42:05] yeah, yeah.
[00:42:05] Claire: Thanks, man. Tell me about your voice. Yes. You [00:42:10] play with your voice so much and you're describing now playing a [00:42:15] very particular character. Tell us about throwing your voice around and how you [00:42:20] know it's Your version.
[00:42:23] Luke (character voice): Yeah.
[00:42:23] Claire: Does that make sense? [00:42:25] I've worked with people before who were very talented at impressions and, [00:42:30] and we've struggled for a little while to find their [00:42:35] authentic voice in the middle of it because it's so easy to fall into other sounds.
[00:42:39] Luke: Yeah. [00:42:40]
[00:42:41] Claire: Finding my
[00:42:41] Luke: voice was from doing standup, um, because that [00:42:45] is the only way that you can do it.
[00:42:46] Luke: And also when you're an actor. Um, and you've been to drama [00:42:50] school and you think you can be a stand up because you think you can write a piece of material, [00:42:55] um, and perform it on stage. And yes, essentially that's what you're doing. But [00:43:00] to actually find what makes you funny on stage, you need to do hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and [00:43:05] hundreds of gigs.
[00:43:06] Luke: And that's what I did. You know, I was doing gigs to, to [00:43:10] one person, sometimes just the other comedians that were on the bill. And that is, it's hard to explain, but [00:43:15] that is the only way you can find what makes you funny. And like, now, [00:43:20] I know what makes me funny, and it's a faux, arrogant sort of guy on stage doing all that [00:43:25] when I was in Les Mis, um, you know.
[00:43:28] Luke: kind of stuff. Um, [00:43:30] and then that has helped me when presenting is that I present, I can present as [00:43:35] myself and be very natural. And it's, I'm not trying that is genuinely how I am. [00:43:40] Um, so I think that's how I've found, uh, my own voice with stuff. [00:43:45] I mean, as far as singing as myself, I don't ever do that. So I can understand [00:43:50] that might be quite difficult because actually that's [00:43:55] not strictly true.
[00:43:55] Luke: Maybe I have a bit. Yeah, yeah, actually I did. I did in my [00:44:00] last tour. I sang, I sang as myself. Um. Yeah, I don't know. I suppose when I'm singing, I'm always singing comedy, so it's [00:44:05] always gunning for the laugh more than here's some emotion, um, as myself, [00:44:10] which I think I could imagine being quite hard. But yeah, I just think from doing the stand up helps you find [00:44:15] your voice.
[00:44:17] Luke: And as far as like character stuff, [00:44:20] um, I, cause I do think you find your own version of an impression. [00:44:25] Um, it's very easy to copy someone else's impression when there's brilliant impressionists [00:44:30] out there. But to find your own version, again, is finding what you find funny in it. And it's, you're sort of [00:44:35] creating a new stand up each time.
[00:44:36] Luke: So even when you get someone like Louis Theroux, for [00:44:40] example, I'd heard Alastair McGowan's Louis Theroux and I'd worked with Alastair McGowan, but I feel [00:44:45] like my Louis is slightly different to his in that,
[00:44:48] Luke (character voice): you know, I can sort of, I know, [00:44:50] I kind of know where he's placed and I can, you know, that's me sort of, That's, that's once there, [00:44:55] I'm in the moment, that's his voice.
[00:44:56] Luke (character voice): But I, the thing I, what I kind of do is that kind [00:45:00] of thinking, is sort of thinking of the question, is that okay? Sort of asking, it's, it's that sort of, that breathy [00:45:05] kind of question. Does that feel like, does that feel sort of real? That feels like a, [00:45:10] that sort of feels like it's him. And that's, that's the bit that I found.
[00:45:13] Luke (character voice): Is that, that kind of, [00:45:15] is that weird to sort of look at that moment?
[00:45:17] Luke: And like, so I think it's once you've found. [00:45:20] Your take on it is then, then you can do it. Then I can freestyle and I could sit here for an hour of you [00:45:25] interviewing me as, as Louis Theroux, because I've found my version of him sort of thing.
[00:45:29] Claire: But that [00:45:30] strikes me as being true of any interpretation of any character. You can take that with [00:45:35] Thénardier, we can have it with Jean Valjean. That's how, I mean, [00:45:40] you've just encapsulated how I work with people in terms of trying to. Help them [00:45:45] find their performance of a role that has been performed by dozens and [00:45:50] dozens and dozens of people before.
[00:45:53] Claire: I think what's
[00:45:54] Oren: really [00:45:55] cool about what you're doing, though, is you're sort of doing that on another layer [00:46:00] above, below. There's another layer to that. You're finding [00:46:05] yourself, which is what we would do if we're working with singers, but then you're also [00:46:10] finding the impression. layered again with yourself.
[00:46:14] Oren: [00:46:15] So that, do you see what I mean?
[00:46:18] Claire: And it's what you found that [00:46:20] character,
[00:46:20] Luke: you know, I think sometimes I was always like, Oh, you've got to do standup because if you do stand up, [00:46:25] I can be me and say what I feel about things, whatever it may be. But [00:46:30] what I love with impressions, which are, uh, It was Tom Reed Wilson who said this to me.
[00:46:34] Luke: I [00:46:35] don't know if you know Tom Reed Wilson, lovely boy, um, brilliant presenter. He said to me, he was like, [00:46:40] he's like, but your, your opinion, darling, comes through in your impression. It's your [00:46:45] opinion in your joke that you're writing, darling. And it is, and it is that because it's like, [00:46:50] you know, if I'm writing Andy Murray and, you know, I, I, it's fine.
[00:46:54] Luke (character voice): I can do the impression. I [00:46:55] know where it's placed. But then when I write on top of it, I don't just write these thick, I write. That because [00:47:00] he's, we know his mum and we know he's got a brother, I write that he's still a teenage boy and he has to ask his mum if [00:47:05]
[00:47:05] Luke: he can play Mario Kart with Jamie and it always lets me win.
[00:47:08] Luke: Like, my opinion is [00:47:10] like, oh, he's, however successful he is, he's still, we know him as this little boy of his [00:47:15] mum that cheers him on from the side and that's my take on it. Um, so it is your [00:47:20] opinion, it is your voice coming through.
[00:47:22] Oren: Oh my gosh, there's because obviously there's the performance component, [00:47:25] which is incredibly impressive, but I'm just nerding out about voice like the [00:47:30] production of the sound, right?
[00:47:31] Oren: Yeah, I mean, it's so incredible, isn't it? Just to [00:47:35] be able to manipulate those placements and to really [00:47:40] change your anatomy. I think in a way, I guess you're doing. beyond what [00:47:45] typically I say would be expected of, you know, we work with singers, let's say singers [00:47:50] in that they can find that one voice, but you're finding 50 [00:47:55] voices and manipulating your voice.
[00:47:56] Oren: So do you have like, is that like a formula? Is there [00:48:00] like a, like a, a way that you go about manipulating your voice to [00:48:05] find that character?
[00:48:06] Luke: There's certainly, I do a lot of, you know, I will listen a lot and try [00:48:10] and hear where I can place it. So. If someone like Piers Morgan, [00:48:15] you
[00:48:15] Luke (character voice): know, he's, I could hear, he's sort of a little bit of a lisp, I could hear that sort of lisp in there and he's, he's quite lisp, [00:48:20] he's, he's lispy when he's under pressure actually, so if we see him on question time, he's lispy, but then when I [00:48:25] find that he was interviewing people, I found that, you know, he's placing it further at the back and he's always [00:48:30] going to that same place, you know, and he's pushing his pencil forward, his pen, and he's asking you a question, you [00:48:35] know, do you believe that?
[00:48:36] Luke (character voice): And I, and then that's when I could start, I mean, you had the lisp for that and you, you know, [00:48:40] As soon as I could hear that, it was like, well, answer the question. You're not answering the question, are you? And [00:48:45] I, and, and I,
[00:48:46] Luke: I don't know, I sort of, you pick all those different components. You start there, and you hear that [00:48:50] it's further back.
[00:48:50] Luke: Like, someone like
[00:48:51] Luke (character voice): Harry Kane, the England captain, again, he's sort of [00:48:55] there, you know, that's his sort of back, you know, he's even further at the back, and then you start losing a little bit [00:49:00] of the speech of it, and it's like, obviously, you've got to write on top of that. You know, it's close to [00:49:05] being offensive, but you know, he does, that is, that is the way that he talks.
[00:49:09] Luke (character voice): And then you start [00:49:10] adding what he's saying. You go, yeah, no, at the day, you always answer the question with, um, yeah, [00:49:15] no. Um, so like, and you, you build all that stuff
[00:49:18] Luke: in there. And then again, it's, [00:49:20] I suppose you're finding the placement and then I, I correct it all the time by
[00:49:23] Luke (character voice): listening and [00:49:25] go, no, no, no, it's there.
[00:49:26] Luke (character voice): I found that's where it is. And I've done it so many times [00:49:30] in a conversation or on stage, I know. How to talk about that and, but then [00:49:35] even for someone like
[00:49:36] Luke: Michael McIntyre, that kind of [00:49:40] graph that where you place it and you know, you're adding that little bit
[00:49:42] Luke (character voice): of that sound in there. And I know when we've [00:49:45] worked together, you know, we've always talked about how that doesn't hurt.
[00:49:48] Luke (character voice): Cause I mean, I don't know why [00:49:50] that
[00:49:50] Luke: doesn't hurt because it's, it doesn't, I could talk, you know, it's like druggy monster, you know, [00:49:55] I know where it's placed. It doesn't hurt. Because I've placed it somewhere where it doesn't hurt. I [00:50:00] think that's always my measure of it is like, as long as it doesn't hurt, then I'm not doing anything wrong.
[00:50:04] Luke: But [00:50:05] you guys correct me on that. When I'm listening
[00:50:08] Claire: to singers, this isn't [00:50:10] special to me, this is, humans do this, your larynx is responding.
[00:50:13] Luke: Right.
[00:50:14] Claire: And [00:50:15] I know that. you know, because I work in the field I do, mine has become very [00:50:20] attuned to that. And sometimes when I, sometimes I'm actually diagnosing what's going on in [00:50:25] somebody's voice by what I'm feeling in my own.
[00:50:28] Claire: Do you think that [00:50:30] that's part of how you respond to voices?
[00:50:32] Luke: I definitely, when I'm with people, [00:50:35] if I can hear, you know, I'm one of those awful people that if someone's got an [00:50:40] accent, I will start talking to them in their accent. But I'm always, because I'm just interested in where. the [00:50:45] sounds are placed.
[00:50:46] Luke: And so like, you know, Will Callen, who [00:50:50] plays Marius at work, you know, he's got this, he's like, he's got this scouse voice. And he's like, [00:50:55] no, that's, that doesn't sound anything like me, but like everyone thinks it does. Um, [00:51:00] but you know, and I just, I think it's, you know, come into my dressing room and go, Hey man, how's it going?
[00:51:04] Luke: [00:51:05] And I just, I found. I find it very interesting where, where people's voices are just sat, [00:51:10] and I do enjoy, enjoy playing with those sounds. So I [00:51:15] think, and then yeah, that's where, and going back to your question of like, does it become a work thing? When I started [00:51:20] doing Impression of Teachers, or You know, Earl Carpenter, I didn't listen to recordings of Earl, I [00:51:25] just spoke to him, I knew how he sounded.
[00:51:27] Luke: Where now, I do have to go and watch [00:51:30] stuff and listen to it more than I used to, because I think I'm overthinking it.
[00:51:34] Claire: I was going to say, is that [00:51:35] because you expect so much more of yourself? Yeah,
[00:51:37] Luke: yeah. So I'm like, I've got to listen to hours so I can [00:51:40] get it
[00:51:40] Claire: perfect,
[00:51:40] Luke: sort of thing. The voice component to me is so impressive, [00:51:45] sometimes you have to alter it.
[00:51:47] Luke: So things like Jim Carter in Downton, [00:51:50] um, you know, he's
[00:51:51] Luke (character voice): Mr. Carson. Now his, his voice, he is a big man and it [00:51:55] is a lot lower than where I sat. So I had to find ways of getting daisy [00:52:00] of getting down there. Yes, Mrs. Patmore and just find a sort of [00:52:05] almost position with my. So I could sound like Mr Carson. [00:52:10] Um, where like,
[00:52:11] Luke: essentially my voice doesn't, I feel like it doesn't sit that low, you know, like I'm not a, [00:52:15] I'm a sort of high ish baritone.
[00:52:17] Luke: So I have, I have had to find ways [00:52:20] of getting down to lower voices. And sometimes like I was working on an audible [00:52:25] piece recently, but you know, working with this guy, like clearly smokes. All the time. Like you can see it [00:52:30] in his teeth. This guy smokes a lot, right? But his voice is the most stunning [00:52:35] voice you've ever heard.
[00:52:35] Luke: And it's so low and got so much. And he's worked, you know, he's done voiceovers for 30 [00:52:40] years and he just sounds incredible. And sometimes I'm like, Oh, should I just smoke for a bit? [00:52:45] I need to smoke for a bit, you know, and then I could sound like that because I can't [00:52:50] do that. Just that. Beautiful, rich, whiskey, smoky voice.
[00:52:54] Luke: I'd [00:52:55] love to replicate that. It's called vocal damage. I just want to damage it for a [00:53:00] bit.
[00:53:01] Claire: Temporarily. Yeah,
[00:53:02] Luke: yeah, yeah, yeah.
[00:53:04] Claire: But then [00:53:05] surely you can think, I have those things to look forward to. [00:53:10] Yeah. Not in terms of vocal damage, obviously. As the voice develops and matures, there's more things. [00:53:15] Which means
[00:53:15] Luke: you're never going
[00:53:16] Claire: to be bored.
[00:53:17] Claire: You're never going to run out of vocal [00:53:20] damage. Yes,
[00:53:21] Luke: yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure.[00:53:25]
[00:53:26] Claire: You will continue to do both?
[00:53:29] Luke: Well, [00:53:30] listen, they've been really good, um, at, um, Cameron [00:53:35] McIntosh Limited for allowing me to do my other work. I think they know that that's [00:53:40] incredibly important to me. Um, and I'm really [00:53:45] proud of that because, you know, I took a bit of a leap of faith coming [00:53:50] away from theatre.
[00:53:50] Luke: I could have just been like, stay in theatre, um, work my way up. [00:53:55] The roles that are there, that's that's the journey I left drama school, that's what I should do and what an impressive [00:54:00] journey that that would have been. But I took a leap of faith to go, no, I'm going to go and do something else. And I think to, [00:54:05] I was worried coming back to theatre, it would feel like I'm just shutting the door and something I've spent 10 years working on.[00:54:10]
[00:54:10] Luke: So, uh, so definitely do both. Um, but now I'm back in theater. [00:54:15] There's lots of roles I'd like to do. Um, you know, things like the King in Hamilton, or [00:54:20] um, you know, Mr. Wormwood, or uh, Mrs. Doubtfire, or like, I look at all these, start to see [00:54:25] these things and I'm like, ah, that'd be great! Um, so [00:54:30] You know, my mum would love to see me play Javert, but I've told her that's not going to happen.[00:54:35]
[00:54:35] Luke: But I just, you know, like, so it's difficult because I want to do everything. Um, and [00:54:40] also be a dad at home, um, and a husband. So like, I've kind of got, you know, [00:54:45] you've got to find enough time. Um, so I'm going to try and do both [00:54:50] is the answer. You know, I might do Edinburgh next year. Um, I [00:54:55] want to do my gritty police drama show in a bigger theater.
[00:54:57] Luke: That would be, you know, like ideally if I had a [00:55:00] week left of a career, like what would I like to do? I'd love to do that in like a thousand [00:55:05] seater. Be amazing. But, um, but yeah, both.
[00:55:09] Claire: There's a very [00:55:10] clear link there. I mean, I know. You spoke about having done TV and things, but you clearly [00:55:15] really thrive on the live environment.
[00:55:16] Claire: Yeah. Yeah. Is that?
[00:55:18] Luke: I love live because I [00:55:20] think like it's, there's something, well, you know, with AI and with, [00:55:25] um, the way telly has changed, even since I got into television, you know, I was first on TV in a [00:55:30] show called murder and successful. She's just come onto Netflix and not that I need to plug it for any reason, [00:55:35] but it is a brilliant show.
[00:55:35] Luke: We've won a BAFTA. Um, so you should watch it. Uh, but you know, since I was, did that show in [00:55:40] 2014. You know, even since then, telly has changed so much, you know, of how much is on [00:55:45] streaming, how much people watch, what are people watching. Um, you know, like I worked on channel [00:55:50] four for three years, you know, the way the viewing figures for channel four, the way that has changed, it is really [00:55:55] complex and a difficult world.
[00:55:57] Luke: Um, but one thing that will never go [00:56:00] and will never be able to replaced by AI or anything like that is live theater and live comedy [00:56:05] and being in a live experience. And I love that. even since I went away from theater for [00:56:10] 10 years. Maybe what's changed is people get their cameras out a lot more at the end, um, [00:56:15] which has surprised me.
[00:56:15] Luke: I didn't realize that as a thing that happens now. Does everyone's got a camera out filming the bowels, [00:56:20] but it's still essentially the same. Um, and I love that [00:56:25] something exists for that one moment. And we all experienced that, you know, even, you know, [00:56:30] this will get edited, but we've experienced this thing.
[00:56:32] Luke: Live. And, and I do [00:56:35] thrive on that because, you know, I haven't done a lot of live telly as well is that you don't make [00:56:40] mistakes when it's live. And if you do make mistakes, you get yourself out of it because you've got to. [00:56:45] And I like being on stage when stuff goes wrong. It's different in Les Mis because you haven't got as much freedom, but [00:56:50] we stand up when stuff goes wrong.
[00:56:51] Luke: Or I love that, you know, someone laughs too [00:56:55] loud. We can't, we've all known that person's laugh too loud. We can't just not reference it. [00:57:00] You know, if that person's. Call me a wanker. Like we can't ignore that person who's gone, you're a wanker. [00:57:05] You're like, we've got to deal with that. And I love that. You know, people are like, oh, do you get scared about being [00:57:10] heckled?
[00:57:10] Luke: I'm like, no, it's great. I don't want people to do it,
[00:57:12] Luke (character voice): but
[00:57:12] Luke: if I can stay in control of it and also like, I've [00:57:15] got more experience than the person that's called me a wanker,
[00:57:17] Luke (character voice): so
[00:57:17] Luke: I can deal with you and if you get [00:57:20] to a point where you're, I can't deal with you, then there's a security man that will come and chuck you out.
[00:57:23] Luke: So like
[00:57:24] Luke (character voice): it's [00:57:25] fine, but,
[00:57:25] Luke: but yeah, so like the live experience is just, I just think there's. That's something [00:57:30] that they won't be able to recreate. Um, so yeah, definitely, definitely thrive on that. [00:57:35] And theater. Like my heart is always been in theater. Even I love doing [00:57:40] comedy and I love being able to do both, but musical theater and theater in general, that's, that's [00:57:45] what I love.
[00:57:45] Luke: Working with great people,
[00:57:47] Claire: a collaborative part to it as well.
[00:57:49] Luke: [00:57:50] Big difference from like leaving stage when you've done a one man show again, and you're in [00:57:55] Newbury, then coming off and, and, you know, me, as soon as the curtain comes down, me and Claire [00:58:00] give a massive hug, great job. See you tomorrow, you know, and that's lovely.
[00:58:02] Luke (character voice): Yeah.
[00:58:03] Luke: Instead of coming off and going, [00:58:05] Oh, text Lana how that went. And then, um, get in the car, stick [00:58:10] on Hamilton.
[00:58:11] Claire: Yeah. Stick on Wyoming. I was thinking about this the other day because I went to see Billy [00:58:15] Crudup.
[00:58:15] Luke: Oh right, yeah. Do his
[00:58:16] Claire: one man show. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And he was spectacular. Yeah. He [00:58:20] was absolutely spectacular.
[00:58:21] Claire: Yeah. And at the end. He took one bow and he walked off and I [00:58:25] thought, what's that like walking backstage and there's nobody, maybe there is [00:58:30] somebody there to high five or whatever, but you just go back to the dressing room and you get changed and you go.
[00:58:34] Luke: That's the [00:58:35] thing is, it's like, you know, it's expensive to have a support act.
[00:58:38] Luke: You've got to pay them as well. You [00:58:40] know, you've got to get in the hotel room. Um, so like, you know, it's a lot cheaper to go without a support act. [00:58:45] Um, but that means it's quite lonely. Um, although saying that when I was at Soho Theatre [00:58:50] recently. Um, I came off stage and they had a show on after mine, which I didn't realize.
[00:58:53] Luke: So I'd like finished my [00:58:55] first night and it had gone really well. And then I came off and there's like, Wilf from the Traitors. [00:59:00] And then like two other people and Stephen Bailey came in. I was like, Oh, hi guys. It's like sat in your dressing room. [00:59:05] But usually, yeah, you're just coming off to, to nobody. Um, And [00:59:10] yeah, it is an odd, it is odd.
[00:59:11] Claire: How do you handle it?
[00:59:12] Luke: I suppose you just have to live off the moment when you're out there [00:59:15] and it's going well and people laughing and, you know, Robin Williams described it [00:59:20] as, you kill or you die. You know, that's why, that's why, that's why the term is you kill or you die. Because when [00:59:25] you kill, oh my God, it's unbelievable.
[00:59:27] Luke: when you die, it is [00:59:30] horrendous. And also like, it's really funny that people go like, have you ever seen a comedian die? I'm [00:59:35] like, mate, there's no comedian that doesn't still die on stage. Like [00:59:40] Michael McIntyre, when he's trying his new stuff, there'll be moments where he doesn't get laughs and he has to go, uh, [00:59:45] that doesn't work.
[00:59:45] Luke: I, I, I'm a huge fan of Frankie Boyle and Kevin Bridges. I've seen them do tryouts where the [00:59:50] stuff doesn't work, but. They're so, they're, they're so experienced. They know and it's fine. [00:59:55] And their audience, their audience knows why they're there. So the audience is like, Oh, this person's shit
[00:59:59] Luke (character voice): [01:00:00] because
[01:00:00] Luke: they know they're good.
[01:00:02] Luke: But when you die on stage, it's, it's so easy to come back [01:00:05] after a good gig. But when you coming back after a gig where you died, that's the tough bit, but that's, that's what makes you a [01:00:10] comedian is, is coming back. And that's why I say you're so relaxing about Les Mis cause I haven't got to worry.
[01:00:14] Luke (character voice): I [01:00:15] know it works.
[01:00:16] Luke (character voice): They
[01:00:16] Luke: stand on their feet every night. Um, sorry to keep [01:00:20] referencing how relaxing it is, but it is, it is quite chill. I was going
[01:00:22] Claire: to ask you about that as well, because you, you [01:00:25] mentioned, you thought you were being quite lazy doing that, and I know you said in [01:00:30] your, some of your feedback notes for us that, um, you know, you worry that.
[01:00:34] Claire: You're [01:00:35] always chasing something. Yeah. Always looking for something. Yeah. [01:00:40] Is that a hard thing to balance? Yeah. Now, the fact that the comedy is [01:00:45] presumably mentally all consuming. Yeah. But this is manageable. This is
[01:00:49] Luke: It's [01:00:50] hard because I know I could be doing more. Um, [01:00:55] and I, I get very guilty. I don't, like, if I'm sitting there and you look at your phone and you go [01:01:00] I've spent four hours today on social media, you can look and see how much you've been on social [01:01:05] media.
[01:01:05] Luke: Like what? Just scrolling Instagram and looking at Twitter and saying, it's like, [01:01:10] ah, come on, man, like you're better than that. And that frustrates me. And [01:01:15] then, and then when I hear people in the cast with respect, sort of go, ah, you [01:01:20] know, it's been a busy day. And I'm like, yeah, I You know, they've like might have gone to the gym and [01:01:25] then come to work.
[01:01:26] Luke: And I'm like, I've had a two year old since 6 30. I've done this. I've written [01:01:30] this. I've thought about this. I've stressed out that I've been on social media too much. Like [01:01:35] all these, like you have more hours in the day to do stuff. And I think, you know, and what I, I [01:01:40] hate is like, I don't want to finish my Les Mis contra to go right now.
[01:01:44] Luke: It [01:01:45] needs to be finishing with something ready to go.
[01:01:47] Claire: Has that been the case all the way through? [01:01:50] Or are you putting that pressure on because it looks on paper like that would be [01:01:55] possible.
[01:01:55] Luke: I put the pressure on myself because I think, you know, you can blame [01:02:00] yourself if you're not doing enough. Um, it's so easy for people to go, Oh, I want to do this.
[01:02:04] Luke: I want [01:02:05] to do that. And I'm like, well, what are you doing? And they're like, I'm waiting for my agent to call me with an audition, you know? And it's like, [01:02:10] if I was chatting to drama school students, and I'm sure they're better at it now than when I was. When [01:02:15] I left is that if you just think, Oh, well, what you do is you finish drama school and then you [01:02:20] wait for your age, you get an agent, if you're lucky, and then you wait for your agent to call and your agent calls you.
[01:02:23] Luke: So you got an audition and you [01:02:25] go to the addition and then you hopefully get it and then you do the job and then when that job's coming to an end, [01:02:30] you start the process again. Like, and I'm sure that is, and I know that is the case for a lot of [01:02:35] people. I can't work like that. And I don't think. I can't have that control in other [01:02:40] people's hands.
[01:02:40] Luke: It's got to, you've got to be able to do something. Even if it's that, that's going to more [01:02:45] dance classes, going to acting class, going to singing lessons. Like, even if it's just that, like twice, [01:02:50] once a week, twice a week, like that's doing something more than just waiting. My thing, I was, I was like, well, I'm just going to create [01:02:55] my own thing because then I can go out and gig and then.
[01:02:57] Luke: At least 200 quid a night [01:03:00] with my own thing that I've done and it's taken a few years to get to the point where you can earn money four or [01:03:05] five nights a week doing it, but I felt like, well, that's in my [01:03:10] control and I wanted to wrestle back some of that control to make it [01:03:15] my own thing, which doesn't, listen, it's not, it's not easy and it's not [01:03:20] always available.
[01:03:20] Luke: You can't just go, oh, I'll write my own TV show and it'll happen. Like it's really hard, [01:03:25] but I've far rather put pressure on myself to have some of the control. [01:03:30] Does that make sense? Yeah, it totally does. It makes complete sense. I completely get it.
[01:03:33] Claire: I totally get it. Complete sense. And it's just [01:03:35] wonderful, actually, that you, you are able [01:03:40] to channel that need for control into another creative [01:03:45] outlet.
[01:03:45] Claire: Because I think a lot of people feel the need and don't necessarily feel that [01:03:50] they have another outlet. Yeah. Yeah.
[01:03:52] Luke: And I'm sure you don't always do [01:03:55] have another outlet, but like I said, even if your vision is. And your [01:04:00] goal is to be leads in musical theater. There are more things you can be doing. [01:04:05] Like we met to do, go over the King stuff in Hamilton.
[01:04:08] Luke: Cause I'd love to play that part. [01:04:10] I should be practicing that song every day. So I know inside out. So when the audition comes along, if it [01:04:15] comes along, if Joel leaves, then I can be ready. [01:04:20] I can, I'm not going right. Okay. I've got to learn it. I know, I know the bit you have to do. You have to do the three songs.[01:04:25]
[01:04:25] Luke: So like, I should be doing that every day. And I'm not, but I should be doing it every day. [01:04:30] So I'm going to be now. Because then when it comes around, you're ready. [01:04:35]
[01:04:35] Luke (character voice): Yeah.
[01:04:35] Luke: You know, and then you can't sit there and go, well, I had to wait for my agent to call me. No, I [01:04:40] was ready. So then when my agent called me, it wasn't like, fuck, it was like, Oh no, here we go.[01:04:45]
[01:04:45] Luke: And if they don't give it to me, cause I'm not good enough, whatever, fine. But I've done everything in my control [01:04:50] to make it possible. It pisses me off when people say, I went to audition, I forgot the words. How, [01:04:55] how did you forget the words? Oh, I just, no, you weren't, you weren't prepared enough.
[01:04:59] Claire: [01:05:00] Oh, harsh.
[01:05:00] Claire: It's harsh. It's harsh. Harsh. There's some I get it though. [01:05:05] There's some anxiety issues in management. Of course. Of course. I know. And it's so easy. It's [01:05:10] so
[01:05:10] Luke: easy to say that and just go as if I've never forgotten the words in an audition. But I think my point [01:05:15] is, is that you, there are so many things in your control that you can [01:05:20] blame on.
[01:05:20] Luke: I haven't got enough time. I haven't got, Oh, I've only got a week to the audition. Like you've got so [01:05:25] much time to learn that material and get in there and, and show yourself in the best way you can. And [01:05:30] if you don't get it fine, but you did everything you could.
[01:05:33] Oren: That's it, isn't it? I think you can improve your chances [01:05:35] of success.
[01:05:35] Oren: Yeah. Massively. Yeah, completely. Yeah, you can still do all of that stuff and go in and forget things. [01:05:40] Totally fine. But you could also not do all of that stuff and go in a, in [01:05:45] a lesser position. So I, I totally get it. I mean, I, this is me to a T, [01:05:50] like. I mean, overprepared for everything, but I think it [01:05:55] is so valuable to be able to understand.
[01:05:59] Oren: You're [01:06:00] right. These are things that we are in our control. These are things that we can be doing. Like [01:06:05] that's so empowering as well.
[01:06:06] Claire: If you are that much more aware of the [01:06:10] things. over which you do have control. Does that help you let go of the things over [01:06:15] which you do not have control? Yeah, it helps you enjoy it more.
[01:06:18] Luke: You know like, I went in for a part [01:06:20] recently which I ended up not doing because I was staying on in Les Mis and I enjoyed [01:06:25] the audition process and I know that I didn't used to when I left drama school I was so nervous, so [01:06:30] desperate and da da but like, if you're, if you've worked so hard on it all [01:06:35] you have to just try and find a way [01:06:40] It's like an athlete that's going for the Olympics and you're finally there in the crowd [01:06:45] and you're about to do the long jump and you can, you can [01:06:50] rehearse walking in and ready for the jump.
[01:06:52] Luke: You can rehearse the jump. You can rehearse the bit before the [01:06:55] jump. You can rehearse the, the, the day you can rehearse all that stuff. So then [01:07:00] like, you know, I, I was getting a bit nervous when I started as Tenardier, I wasn't nervous once I was, I was [01:07:05] on stage, but I was only nervous the bit before Master of the House, so I started just going [01:07:10] down to the place.
[01:07:11] Luke: Where I stand in the Sondheim Theatre, outside the toilets, and just, [01:07:15] just doing that bit when I didn't have to go on stage. Just rehearsing that bit.
[01:07:19] Claire: That's [01:07:20] completely brilliant. Please say that again. Please say that again, because people need to hear that. But that's what [01:07:25] you can,
[01:07:25] Luke: you can, because that's the bit you never rehearse.
[01:07:27] Luke: Yeah. And I learned this from, uh, from [01:07:30] interviewing some athletes on, uh, on Five Live is that like, though you can, again, you can control [01:07:35] rehearsing those bits. The bit where you, you're going to be nervous is because you'd never rehearsed that. [01:07:40]
[01:07:40] Luke (character voice): Yeah.
[01:07:40] Luke: You just rehearsed the song.
[01:07:41] Luke (character voice): Yes.
[01:07:41] Luke: Where you can rehearse that bit before you go in, what you're going to say [01:07:45] to them.
[01:07:45] Luke: They're going to go, how's things, you know, you're going to have to get there and say, what [01:07:50] room am I auditioning in? It's up there. Have you got your water? Do you know where you're going to put your bit of paper [01:07:55] down? Are you going to have a bit of paper? Are you going to, all these things you can, you can prepare.[01:08:00]
[01:08:00] Luke: You are still going to get nervous. I get nervous, [01:08:05] a hundred percent get nervous and anxious and all the rest of those things. But I just feel like if you've, [01:08:10] if you've run through that process, um, you have more chance of, [01:08:15] of being prepared for it. Yeah. Genius. I love it. Scar [01:08:20] said be prepared, didn't they?
[01:08:21] Luke: We must listen to
[01:08:24] Claire: [01:08:25] Scar. Okay. I got one last thing that I'm interested to know, and you, you've partly touched on this [01:08:30] in, in what you were just saying. Oren was pointing out earlier, this difference between play [01:08:35] and work. How are you maintaining? Now [01:08:40] that you have a house and you have a child and you have a career that you want to maintain.
[01:08:44] Claire: Yeah. [01:08:45] How are you preserving your sense of play in all of this? [01:08:50]
[01:08:51] Luke: Well, I'm thinking recently [01:08:55] that I need to set aside more time. [01:09:00] If I need to get a couple of extra hours of childcare, which is that, that'd be 15 quid an [01:09:05] hour. Uh, so you need to pay that. So I've got more time to, like I talked about [01:09:10] writing that Trump video.
[01:09:11] Luke: Now I'm going to write that today. I'm going to film it tomorrow because I know I've got the time [01:09:15] tomorrow because childcare is booked, but I think doing that a bit more and being a bit stricter and not just going, [01:09:20] Oh, well. I can save myself a little bit of money and do the childcare myself [01:09:25] and go, no, because having that time set aside to do [01:09:30] my comedy enriches me and makes me a lot happier if I'm putting that stuff out there and putting the work [01:09:35] into that.
[01:09:35] Luke: And that is playful. Um, so doing that. [01:09:40] And I think just making sure that Sundays, uh, you know, look, I took some work [01:09:45] in, uh, would have been January on Sundays. So I did seven weeks [01:09:50] every Sunday night was working as well as doing the show. Um, and it put a strain [01:09:55] on my marriage and a strain on me because I was out in London every [01:10:00] single night, but I was like, I've got to work.
[01:10:01] Luke: I've got to work. I've been offered the work. I've got to do the work. And actually. [01:10:05] Listen, if it's thousands of thousands of thousands of pounds, you've got to take it. But if it's not, and you [01:10:10] can afford not to do it, it was the first time in my life I just thought, Nah, it is [01:10:15] more important to have been at home, cooking a roast dinner and, you know, even though [01:10:20] I didn't leave the house until five o'clock, I was there for most of the day, but,
[01:10:23] Claire: having that [01:10:25] evening, know it's
[01:10:25] Luke: coming, you can't relax, and Alana knew it was coming as well, and been able to be like, No, [01:10:30] tonight we're husband and wife.
[01:10:31] Luke: And even if it's just watching something whilst looking at our phones, you're [01:10:35] still together. Um, and I think I've put a lot of value on that whilst [01:10:40] doing a show six times a week. You've got to make sure that that Sunday is, is sacred and you're enjoying your [01:10:45] family time.
[01:10:46] Claire: Brilliant. I feel like you've answered so many of my life's problems.
[01:10:49] Claire: [01:10:50] We
[01:10:51] Luke: are
[01:10:52] Claire: called the five minute [01:10:55] call.
[01:10:55] Luke: Okay.
[01:10:56] Claire: What do you do at the five minute call?
[01:10:58] Luke: Well, in Les Mis, [01:11:00] I have to immediately go down and, and, uh, put my convict outfit on, [01:11:05] which is down, um, which is down in the quick change at your five minute call. [01:11:10] So your five minute call, you're going to do that. And then I go straight into D1, which is, uh, [01:11:15] the, uh, older gentleman dressing room.
[01:11:17] Luke: Um, and see my mates in there. [01:11:20] Uh, cause I go and chat to Adam Pierce and Michael Baxter and Matt Dempsey. [01:11:25] Um, and I have a little chat with them for a couple of minutes. Then we get beginners and we go straight up to stage and do the [01:11:30] show. Um, but yeah, so like, I think if I didn't have to, if my 10 minute [01:11:35] call, because that's more me time, um, is.
[01:11:39] Luke: It's [01:11:40] probably just checking that my daughter's gone to sleep on the [01:11:45] monitor, um, chat to them for a little bit and, and then, yeah, [01:11:50] just like if I'm thinking five minute call before to an RDA, [01:11:55] I do look in the mirror and I look at the blue jacket. And I just think this is [01:12:00] fucking cool. So like if it's my five minute call before I play to Nadia, um, it's [01:12:05] just going, man, I get to do what Alan Armstrong did.
[01:12:08] Luke: And I like, [01:12:10] and that video I used to watch constantly that I'm doing that tonight [01:12:15] and I'm in that blue jacket. Like, so that, that is still gives me excitement.
[01:12:19] Oren: [01:12:20] I love it. We have one final question for you and I don't know what it is. [01:12:25] Oh! So we ask every guest to write, every previous guest to write a [01:12:30] question for the next guest and it goes completely unseen until we read it.
[01:12:34] Oren: When was the last [01:12:35] time you felt proud of yourself and why?
[01:12:39] Luke: Gritty police [01:12:40] drama. The one man musical at the Soho theater. Like I wanted to play the Soho theater since I [01:12:45] started comedy. Um, because it's just like the Holy grail of comedy in London, [01:12:50] you know, other than like, Oh, the Palladium, but Hey, I'm not playing the Palladium just [01:12:55] yet, but selling out the Soho theater, um, doing my one man [01:13:00] show.
[01:13:00] Luke: It'd been a stand innovation. I just thought you knew [01:13:05] you set out to do this. People told you. Maybe don't go to Edinburgh this year, you [01:13:10] know, what does it actually do for you? People said you do a show, it was just comedy [01:13:15] songs. And I was like, listen, a lot of people did believe in the idea, but there was a few doubters.[01:13:20]
[01:13:20] Luke: And I just always stayed true to that. And I'm so proud [01:13:25] that it's such a great show and like people really enjoy it. And I enjoy performing it and it went [01:13:30] how I wanted it to. And that was a month ago and I was dead proud of it.
[01:13:34] Claire: Well now I'm [01:13:35] sorry, there's only four of us in the room to give you a
[01:13:39] Luke (character voice): [01:13:40] round of
[01:13:40] Claire: applause.
[01:13:41] Claire: Luke, so much. I hope I didn't waffle too much. Wonderful [01:13:45] hearing your story and thank you for sharing your time. Thank you so much.
[01:13:49] Oren: We really hope you [01:13:50] enjoyed this episode of The 5 Minute Call. Don't forget to hit that subscribe button, like this video and ring the [01:13:55] bell for notifications. Your support really helps us bring you more amazing stories.[01:14:00]
[01:14:00] Claire: If you are or have been affected by any of the topics discussed in today's episode, please [01:14:05] see the show notes below for some helpful [01:14:10] resources.