Established stand-up comedian Lenny Henry is back on tour where he belongs. Reporter CHRIS PATTERSON got the chance to ask him a few questions about his latest show, which

is coming to Gravesend's Woodville Halls next week

Q: So Lenny, what's new?

A: I'm back on tour performing the life story of my late mother. It's called Have You Seen This Man? and, rather than being morbid as some people may think, it celebrates the things my mother achieved in life. In the West Indian culture we celebrate rather than mourn death and the ideas for this show came from talking to my family about the funny side of our mother.

Q: Do you find stand-up comedy particularly stressful?

A: I started at the age of 16 and didn't have nerves back then. My talent was mimicry. I think, as a comedian, it takes around 10 years to figure out who you are and how you want to go forward. It took me five or six years to get it right.

Q: What was your worst moment in stand-up?

A: A working man's club in ... I don't remember where but the toilets were behind the audience and whenever I needed to go I had to walk up the side of the crowd who all followed me into the loo. Even in the cubicle, I could hear them talking about me saying "That Lenny Henry is a bit rubbish" and "Give him a chance, he's only 16." That was horrible.

Q: Best moment?

A: Mandela Day was great but I also had an absolutely stonking night at Leicester University. After the show, I was in the lift down with the sound engineer and said to him "I hope you got that on camera" His face suddenly went pale as he replied "I forgot to hit the record button." I went berserk.

Q: How difficult is it for aspiring comedians to be successful today?

A: Talent will out, you've just got to be prepared to go on stage. One thing I learnt from the people in New York was about the work ethic. They'd do three shows a night and from that the flaws in your act become apparent just because you are doing so much. You must work at it, to all types of audiences. My current show would go down well with a predominantly black audience but I want to do inclusive performances so I'm appearing at venues all over the country.

Q: Who is your favourite actor?

A: Richard Prior. Richard Prior Live is the funniest thing I've seen the one with the monkeys and the heart attack. One thing about US comedians I don't like is they all seem to start off doing stand-up in order to land a sitcom and don't see it as part of their long-term career. Stand-up is part of my life, I'll always return.

- Lenny Henry: Have You Seen This Man? Woodville Halls Theatre, Gravesend, 8pm, July 24, £17.50, 01474 337774.

July 15, 2002 18:30