Acclaimed bipolar comic Harriet Dyer comes to The Alma Theatre

Award-winning stand-up comic Harriet Dyer has been performing on stages, radio and TV for a decade.

Her numerous solo shows within that time include Barking at Aeroplanes (2014), We’d Prefer Someone a Bit More Mainstream (2016), The Dinosaur Show (2019), Trigger Warning (2022) and most recently, Mother (2023), which she is currently touring around the UK following a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Dyer has bipolar disorder, and regularly writes material about her own “struggles and adventures” with mental health – displaying an openness which has garnered her a loyal following.

She is also dedicated to her community work through the creative mental health and wellbeing group in Oldham – the Upstanding Citizens Bureau.

As well as hosting regular Barking Tales comedy nights, the UCB runs workshops, meet-ups, focus groups, counselling and provides a safe and peaceful space for anyone fleeing turbulence.

Ahead of her tour show at The Alma Tavern & Theatre on November 17, she shared some insights about her comedic inspirations and the realities of life on the road:

Where did this show come from?

“I’m a step mother of sorts as my partner’s kids have been living with us full-time since 2019. As a parent, my partner couldn’t be any more different to how my own mother was but safe to say between us, we have harvested quite the tales.

“Mother is an exploration of mothers from both sides of the spectrum, and everywhere in between… as well as being about the joy of crab fishing. I hope this doesn’t put people off rather than entice them!”

What does your style of comedy bring out in the audiences you attract?

“My stuff tends to be a stream of consciousness that comes from chaotic things that have happened in my life, with a whimsical twist. Although often, it’s the thing that actually happened that I need to change because it seems too far fetched.

“Luckily I’m now attracting audiences that know what they’re getting, so there are fewer gigs where people are just looking at me like they’ve entered a cheese dream. Now, I get a lot of people coming up to me after a show that tell me it’s like I’m voicing their own chaotic internal monologue. I’m not sure if I think anything that I don’t say out loud.”

What are you most enjoying about touring? Has anything surprised you about the process of taking the show on the road?

“On the road, I’m loving meeting people that like and relate to my shtick.

“Unfortunately the thing that surprises me the most about touring is the amount of parking tickets I’ve received. I’ve had more tickets than tour dates. I didn’t realise because of moving house. I went to my old house to find 15 of them dating from months ago – oh golly and struth!”

Harriet Dyer: Mother is at The Alma Tavern & Theatre on November 17 at 8pm. Tickets are available from www.chucklebusters.com.

All photos: Andy Hollingworth

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