“Intelligent people have suddenly become morons”

Comic Fin Taylor – a former Bristol University student and for many years a fixture on the stand-up scene here  – returns to his old stomping ground on Saturday, November 4, bringing his new show Lefty Tighty Righty Loosey to the Wardrobe Theatre as part of Chuckle Busters’ impressive autumn lineup.

“The Centre’s fallen out of British politics. Taylor picks it up, dusts it off, and mounts a full-on attack on the present-day Left and its moral high ground. It’s been a globe-trotting year for one of the most critically acclaimed comedians of his generation. He’s been to the US, Australia, toured the UK; everywhere he’s gone he’s found people who say they’re ‘too left-wing’ to vote for centrists, and he’s decided to call bullshit.”

“All over, he’s found people who say they’re too left wing to vote for centrists and he’s decided to call bullshit.” Tell us more.
Well, the most I’ll say is that, having toured a lot of the Western world in the last year, I’ve noticed a pattern amongst liberal people of taking that liberal smugness into the polling booth with them. Whether it’s not voting Clinton because she wasn’t a good candidate in their view, or voting Brexit from a left-wing perspective. Intelligent people seem to have suddenly become morons.

Pic: Ed Moore

Elsewhere, you call yourself “politically homeless”. Explain?
It means that politicians on both sides don’t seem to value holding the centre ground. Which is where most people’s politics lie, I’d imagine.

You were Bristol-based for a long time. How was Bristol for you, and how does it feel coming back?
I was at Bristol University from 2008 to 2011. I began gigging as soon as I started studying, and comics that were here at that time – Mark Olver, John Robins – were amazing acts to look up to and learn from. What I love about this place is that no one takes themselves too seriously (which is crucial, if you’re going to be in my audience). That makes for a great place to do comedy.

Your last show (our review) addressed white privilege, this one… political hypocrisy? You’ve gravitated towards quite provocative, political comedy, haven’t you? Was this always the plan?
The gist of this show is making fun of how seriously the left takes itself. It’s a case for reason, argued in an incredibly unreasonable way. I liked the idea of trying to be a really aggressive centrist. So political hypocrisy is part of it. More broadly, I think stand-up’s at it’s best when it’s relevant, and so I like social commentary. I think that makes it more exciting for an audience too. It wasn’t always the plan, but it makes sense that I’ve arrived here.

Do you aim to make audiences think (about their well-held beliefs and prejudices), as well as laugh?
Yeah, but if it’s not funny it’s not making the final cut.

Fin Taylor plays the Wardrobe Theatre on Saturday, November 4. For more info and to book tickets, visit thewardrobetheatre.com/livetheatre/fin-taylor-lefty-tighty-righty-loosey

Read more: Interview: Margaret Cho