David Reed: What Is Shamblehouse?
Published: Tuesday 14th June 2011
David Reed, probably best known as one third of sketch group The Penny Dreadfuls, is working on a curiously titled debut stand-up show. We asked him to explain the meaning behind the name he's chosen...
Since writing my debut solo show 'David Reed: Shamblehouse' many people have asked me "David? What is Shamblehouse? Does it mean anything, David? David? Is it an utterly meaningless title you picked because you hadn't written the show by the time you had to fill out your Edinburgh Fringe application and so didn't want to commit to anything you'd regret, David? David? Where are you going David? Can I come with you?"
And what I tend to say to them is this. It does mean something, but I don't want to tell you. I'm not being unnecessarily obtuse (or maybe I am), but would rather the show spoke for itself and people could make up their own minds.
So, here are some things that Shamblehouse definitely isn't. See if you can pick out your favourite and rearrange the words to form the title of a Henrik Ibsen play.
1) It's not the feeling you get when you've fancied someone for a really long time and never had the courage to say anything, but have finally bitten the bullet and stolen their bike.
2) It's not the undercarriage of a famous goose.
3) It's not the name given to that space between the nape of your neck and Nicholas Parsons.
4) It's not a kind of magic.
5) It's not one of Alex James' cheeses. Nor is it one of his produce.
6) It's not the collective noun for a group of Black Swan sequels.
7) It's not the coincidence of a change in the weather and a change in your mood, upon hearing the news that Gary Pallister is dead.
8) It's not a type of poisonous horse.
9) It's not an anagram of 'A Homeless Bee'.
10) It's not a system of government amongst the primitive tribes of North Western Brazil, whereby each tribesman throws a pebble at a woman until she picks who's president.
So, there you are. Now, should you decide to come see my show (and I recommend that you do), you'll be better prepared to not understand it. Ta ra!
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