‘Laughing is an Alternative to Being Angry’: In Conversation with Brazen Hodgepodge’s Sam Gibbons
Image Credits: Rebecca Emin via My View from the Stalls
Brazen Hodgepodge is a fast-paced sketch comedy show blending sharp social observation, absurd characters, musical numbers, and unapologetic silliness. Creator, director, producer, co-writer, and performer Sam Gibbons shares how the wacky and wonderful production came to life.
How did the idea for Brazen Hodgepodge first come together?
“The idea of doing a sketch comedy show… it's not a new one. I knew I wanted to put something on to showcase myself, and other creatives. We all know it's a very harsh, very competitive industry. And that's a good thing - it challenges you to raise your game.
Sketch comedy has broad appeal. It's fun! When it's done right (being funny AND clever - which is difficult to do) it gives people not just escapism and a bit of a laugh, but validation of their own observations as well.”
Did you have a clear comedic mission from the beginning?
“To make people laugh! I grew up on sketch comedy, a lot of us did: That Mitchell and Webb Look, The Catherine Tate Show, French & Saunders… Those were sort of my inspirations.
The mission was always to take risks - to be daring and offer observation. You have to take a risk on getting it wrong, in order to get it right. And it's easy for me to say that: I'm a white, straight, cis bloke… That horrible checklist of privilege, I've got all of them! It’s so important to champion diversity - it's an easy thing to say, proving it is another thing.”
What does a typical writers’ room day look like?
“We don't have writers' room days, as such. We do write together sometimes… We're a bunch of artists chucking a show together, so it can be quite disparate. We sort of do what we say on the tin: it really is a ‘hodgepodge’.
No two people find exactly the same things funny. I think the best bands (because I do think of this as a band rather than a company) are ones where the members clash in their tastes of music. I think Blur are a really good example of that - I wish we were the Blur of sketch comedy!”
How do you balance topical humor with more timeless, character-driven comedy?
“I think all storytelling is unavoidably political. It has a responsibility to observe and to critique. You have to stand up and actually voice an opinion, and be ready for when people disagree with you.
It's okay to just be fun and make people laugh - I have it as sort of 50/50 in my head. You don't want to preach; you want to show, not tell. And you also need to respect your audience: people are clever and perceptive.
We are left-leaning, I think that's fair to say. But comedy’s for everyone - you don't want anyone to feel excluded. It's an ongoing balancing act.”
What makes a strong sketch performer in this particular ensemble?
“Versatility and generosity. The first lesson that you have to learn as a performer is that it's actually not about you. It's about the whole. Dan, Seb, Martha, me - I like to think everyone gets their moment in the show.
You need to be able to roll with it and work under pressure. You need to just say ‘yes’. Be safe, be responsible, but have ownership over what you're doing.”
Are there boundaries you consciously push, or lines you choose not to cross?
“It’s about worthy targets. I think laughing is an alternative to being angry. A lot of the targets are things that a lot of people are furiously angry about: the massive social imbalance in this country, the hatred we see, the unnerving rise of fascism, the Royal Family… The Royal Family is a difficult one because I respect that it's a very personal thing to some people. But I make no apologies for making fun of the Royal Family - they're a very worthy target.
I don't want to patronise. I am conscious that, when I'm poking fun at something, it’s because I'm comfortable and able to do so.
You want to be woke, you want to be good. But it's okay to be wrong and to be ignorant, as long as you own your ignorance, admit you got it wrong and get it right next time. We've had people from all kinds of backgrounds write for the show and I'm very proud of that.”
So, what’s next for Brazen Hodgepodge?
“We’re filming a pilot episode! We’ve got a director attached, and we’re hoping to work with (I hope they don’t mind me saying this) a brilliant film company called Amenno - they’re based in London and do really exciting work.”
Brazen Hodgepodge runs at The Drayton Arms Theatre from 24th-28th February. Tickets are available here.