I first encountered Tom Lawrinson at The Worst Comedy Night in Salford. He was one of a group of budding off-beat comics that work-shopped new material in the snug of the Kings Arms. His set certainly wasn't for the easily offended and he revelled in the awkward nature of the near-the-knuckles jokes he was premiering.
Tom embraced the absurd and took genuine pleasure from the occasional misfire. It proved to be an overdue break from slick 'observation comedy' that simply punts out things the audience might remember. Now, he returns, with a group of comedians, with a show dedicated to Harry Potter...
Despite his comfort in front of audience (even if they are squirming), Tom's relatively new to comedy..."I've been performing comedy for three years, all starting at the Worst Comedy Night" he says "It's been non-stop ever since. I'm going back to the Edinburgh Fringe this year for the third time to do stand up and Pottervision; using up all my holiday days in the process."
Gladly, Pottervision is in-keeping with Tom's unusual output, as he repackages iconic Hogwarts moments in his own surreal style. I asked if he was a something of a Harry Potter super-fan? "Normally, I say 'No, I'm not a fan'. But when I think about it and realise that I've read the books and watched the films...I think there must be; something about me that likes it. Then again, from start to finish I find myself rooting for Voldemort...Probably not a fan of a Harry Potter, but the world around him I can't get enough of!"
Tom explains how this bizarre premise came to exist: "The show all came about because of how ridiculous, yet memorable, the first film is. My friend Lukas and I found ourselves constantly quoting the first film and doing impressions of the characters. I suggested we do a whole show to take to the Edinburgh Fringe. We started writing and work-shopping; two years later and we're still going."
Tom's sense of humour often focuses on the distasteful, and he seems to thrive on taboo subjects. You'll be pleased to know that he won't be toning things down for Pottervision...
"The best thing about being involved with the show is the audience reactions" he says "Me and Lukas have two completely different senses of humour: him being a grandmothers' favourite, and mine being enough to make them same old ladies sick into their hand bags. The show is often a battle to see who can win over the audience."
Get along to the Harry Potter parody show that celebrates and highlights the absurdities of the magical movies. Join four full-grown men pretending to be 12-year-old children, as they re-enact and recreate scenes from The Philosopher's Stone. What better way to spend your Easter Sunday afternoon...
Pottervision
Sunday 1st April 2:30pm
Kings Arms
Tickets £7 - for details click here
Words by Ian Leslie
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