Interview: Robin Sebastian (Stop Messing About)

With the nation’s longest-running Comedy Festival about to open its 17th year in the county, Curve is getting ready to play host to the Kenneth William’s extravaganza – Stop Messing About.

Speaking during the productions latest tour stop in Cardiff, Robin Sebastian, took time out to tell us what Leicester can expect when the cast and crew come to town.

Brought to you by the team behind Round the Horne…Revisited, Kenneth William’s waspish wit takes centre stage as he’s reunited with his Carry On co-star Joan Sims and Hugh Paddick. Stop Messing About is set during a live recording and packed with outrageously funny sketches, parodies and songs, transporting you back to a time when comedy meant being funny with scarcely a swear word in sight.

Robin won critical acclaim for his portrayal of Kenneth Williams when he performed in the West End and now the cast are on tour and will be joining the huge line-up of acts for Leicester’s Comedy Festival from Tuesday, February 16 till Saturday, February 20 at Curve.

“The whole show is great fun. It’s a sequel to the radio drama Round the Horne. It’s split into two 40 minutes shows which are full of sketches, songs and the cast wearing 60s clothes and having 60s haircuts”, said Robin.

He added, “There are a lot of rude gags and innuendoes throughout the show and for the older members of the audience it’ll be like a trip down memory lane. Before the show begins I’ll be getting into character as the ever-so camp Kenneth Williams and I’ll be using his jokes to get the audience to laugh as much as possible before we start.”

As well as an array of theatre performances under his belt, Robin has appeared in TV shows such as BBC’s My Family and Spooks.

He said, “I haven’t done a huge amount of television work but the bits I have done seemed effortless. There are so many cameras on you all the time. But I much prefer the theatre because there’s nothing like live laughter. It doesn’t get any better than that.

“I feel sorry for those that do tragic Shakespeare plays because the audience remain silent all the way through.”

From growing up in Surrey to living in the very wealthy South Kensington, Robin didn’t really know where his life would take him.

“I never knew what I wanted to do and I grew up in a family where my only decisions were what tie to wear. But my parents wanted me to get a proper job so I studied history and art and then worked with architects for years, drawing old buildings. Until one day I decided to go to drama school and everything has lead from there.”

Robin’s idols include Cary Grant, David Nevin and of course, Kenneth Williams.

During the interview I asked Robin if he had been to Leicester before and he said, “This will be my first time in Leicester and I’m really excited about it. I’ve heard great things about Curve.”

The productions director and producer Michael Kingsbury will be taking Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke’s creation on tour with Robin and the cast until June.

Robin and his wife Lucy Sullivan, who is Joan Sims understudy for the tour, will be looking forward to a nice two week break in a hot country at the end of it all.

Performances at 7.30pm with Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.15pm. Tickets cost £18-£24, concessionary discounts available.

For more information or to book tickets visit www.curveonline.co.uk or phone 0116 2423595.