35) Take in five cultural experiences

Recording of a radio comedy

I can't say this is the first time I've been involved in radio. Heck, it's not my first recording even for Radio 4. That honour goes back to the recording of the morning prayers/sing song which was recorded from the chapel of Alton Convent back in the 80s. No really. And yes we sang.

I also worked in local radio on work experience - the flying eye. Well ok, I did traffic and travel. I can still be relied to say on quite confidently 'at the moment there are no problems on local buses or on South West Trains' - well it was quite a while ago, trains seemed to run better then....

And I chose a life of PR, so I've either undertaken radio interviews or thrust others under the spotlight/microphone. So it's not a new phenomenon to be in a radio studio.

A radio theatre though? Yep, that's new. And a comedy? Yep, new too.

Thanks to the BBC Audiences, I got to get tickets to see/hear the recording of the new Stephen K Amos Life: An Idiot's Guide. Well it was a close thing. Despite my sister getting there in good time, they had a real jobsworth at the door who wouldn't accept it and put me on the standby. We did get in. Just. Standing room only.

Anyway, we went along to see what it was all about. Lots of audience participation and ask you to fill out q couple of questions on the topic so they can pounce on you to make the show. Well again if you get there in time. This one was on break ups - not great for Sarah who had just broken up with her ex, but I told her she may well find out that others were worse off. They were.

I mean at least her ex didn't join the army to get away from her (Yep, he said the frontline was easier - ouch) or said you'd gone to Africa. But then you could be the nauseating people who'd been together for 40 years. But then they live on the Isle of Wight so heck, what's worse?

Stephen talks/tortures the audience and then brings on a couple of stand ups to also talk about the subject - young up and coming artistes to get a bit of a break. I'm sorry I can't remember their names but they were good - check when it's on air ok? Well he would, but sometimes we were a little unresponsive, like it was a police interview (I guess of course). I think it's mainly as a lot of people came with their better/worse halves so could see people thinking 'should I laugh at this, how will you feel, etc etc' but there were some great stories and some really funny stuff.

Would definitely recommend signing up to their mailing list to be in the audience. You need to be there in good time as work on a first come first served basis but its certainly worth it for a night of comedy. Apparently it won't be on air until May so I'll have to remind myself to tune in!