As political polemicist Nish Kumar prepares to return to the Corn Exchange this October, Miriam Balanescu gets the lowdown on his new show
I don’t care about my comedy or my career to the same extent that I care about what actually happens to this country,” exclaims comedian Nish Kumar. “Who gives a shit aboutmy comedy?”
Considering that his latest show Nish, Don’t Kill My Vibe explores his alleged vibe-destroying political anger, this comment is perfectly on brand. Written before the general election in July, the show ponders the question: Why talk about things being bad when they already are?
But thankfully, the election’s outcome means that Nish can finally talk about other things. “There was this slightly strange conversation I’d have with people where they’d say, ‘You must be hoping they don’t lose’,” he remarks. “And you think, ‘God, no’. I would much rather have spent the last decade writing jokes about anything else.”
Comedy & mental health
With over a decade in the business – and innumerable appearances on TV and radio – Nish’s latest routine is his most personal to date. After spending the past few years in therapy, he speaks candidly – and humorously – about his mental health struggles. “The unifying theme of the show is that things have got to change, both for the species and for me, personally,” he shares.
Nish’s show tackles climate collapse, income inequality and the complexities of being a British-Indian man not voting for a British-Indian PM
Yet, Nish doesn’t think issues of mental health in comedy are anything new. “Stand-up comedy has always been an outlet for people to talk through issues that concern them […] to make themselves and audiences feel better about those things,” he highlights. “Anything that reduces the stigma around those conversations is a good thing.”
Nearing 40, Nish is currently at the height of his comedic powers – yet he claims he hates any of his shows from ‘before I was 30’. “Stand-up is one of those interesting things where you can get better at it,” he insists.
That doesn’t mean it’s not still hard work. “I really do sweat it out on stage,” he admits. “One of my friends said, ‘You doing 90 minutes of comedy is the same as everyone else doing two-and-a-half hours of comedy’.”
Nish is known for ripping into the former government – his ranting being something he amplifies for audiences, he notes. “I’m probably broadly a bit calmer offstage than I seem to be onstage, but increasingly, the line is slowly being blurred between onstage and offstage, and I am okay with that.”
Musical talents
In the wake of his Taskmaster song I’m Always Seeing You (Do Cool Stuff) gaining thousands of views on YouTube, the comedian has finally given in to his musical talents. “I definitely said that I wasn’t interested in musical stuff, but this year, I have played guitar onstage twice – because I think there is nothing more excruciating than a stand-up comedian trying to do music,” he jests. “But a few years ago – without really thinking about the ramifications of it – I played on my friend’s [Paul Williams] album.”
Nish is looking forward to being back in Cambridge, a place where he’s performed ‘about 700 times’. “Cambridge is one of the places that I’ve gigged the most in the country,” he explains. “I used to compere a gig at Wolfson College; me and Ed Gamble who used to alternate every month. I’ve done all the rooms at the Junction at various points. The Corn Exchange is also exciting because they have murals on the staircase of all the musicians that have performed there – like David Bowie and Johnny Cash. I think it’s the last place Syd Barrett ever performed publicly. For a music nerd, it feels exciting to be doing shows there.”
