The real me (From Surrey Comet)

The real me

10:34am Friday 22nd September 2006 in Comedy By Craig Nelson

From madcap to just plain mad, Terry Alderton has finally found a vehicle for those voices in his head.

After finding fame with zany, family-friendly material, the self-confesed manic depressive descended into the comedy wilderness before returning with a darker, more honest version of himself.

Standing at the back of the stage, with his back to the crowd, the 36-year-old comedian now hands the mic over to his inner demons, set free to utter whatever thoughts come into his head.

The outcome is a dark recipe of twisted logic, with Alderton's complicated character deconstructed live on stage.

At times it is so sinister the League of Gentleman would be appalled by it - all a far cry from the physical comedy and wacky impersonations that won him a Perrier Award nomination in 2000.

The former Southend United goalkeeper appeared on the Royal Variety Performance that year and landed a job presenting the BBC's National Lottery programme, Red Alert.

"None of that was me," said Alderton. "I didn't feel comfortable with any of it and I just lost it completely. I got pigeon-holed and didn't know how to get out of it."

After a decade of trying, Alderton had finally made it, but his fame was fleeting. Disenchanted, he took a break from comedy to take up football again, but was tempted back to the mic a few years ago.

This year he finally returned to Edinburgh, but was in no mood to pander to the critics this time round. Instead, he used the month to fine-tune his mixed-up psyche.

"I suppose I should have had more confidence to say exactly what I was thinking on stage, but I didn't," said Alderton.

"This way, I have license to say anything - I can shock in a way I don't think I would have got away with before."

The only drawback is that it Alderton's act really depends on the audience. It is almost completely ad-lib, with the voices' discussing their impression of individuals in the crowd. Yet if the audience plays along, Alderton says there is no better feeling.

"It makes the whole show real," he said. "Before I started doing this, people would come up to me after each show and be very complimentary, then go.

"Now, people want to stay and talk about it. That's when you know it's challenged them. People want to know what is going on inside my head."

Terry Alderton, with support from Ronnie Rigsby and Gerry K, Outside the Box, Fighting Cocks, London Road, Kingston, Monday, September 25, 8pm, £5 advance, £6 on door. Visit out sidetheboxcomedy.co.uk Call 07973 783339.