Matt Rees interview

Matt Rees is performing a show called Happy Hour at this year's Edinburgh Festival. Let's find out more...

What can we expect from the show?

You can expect my favourite material that I've written particularly about addiction and recovery. I had to stop drinking just over a year ago rather urgently or my liver would fall off. It was all rather harrowing but quite often, comedians seem to be able to get their funniest shows out of tragic circumstances.

I found a pocket sized sex manual on my Mum's bookshelf, speaking of distressing experiences which is covered in the show. Some demonic thoughts stick with you longer than others.

Is every hour, happy hour?

It's true that being happy is a choice. So if you're waiting for something to make you happy you're doing it wrong, you need to decide to be happy.

My onstage persona has been described as deadpan, laconic, miserable etc so you can argue it's an ironic title. I've found that my material is often funnier when told with unforced lugubriousness, people laugh once at the joke and then again at the demeanour.

When people write about a comedian they often use a two worded adjective to describe the act. An interviewer introduced me as 'Reformed Partyboy Matt Rees' once. That made me laugh. Hard. For about 25 minutes.

What's on your comedy rider?

It used to be unlimited cider. Chamomile tea is good if they're feeling generous. Crisps are a cheap way to show love. I did a festival recently and they remembered me from two years ago when I was drinking because my rider was what looked like a month's supply of heavy alcohol. The lady asked if everything was ok. I said 'not really, I'm an alcoholic'. She said 'Right, well if you need any more, just call me'.

Has comedy helped in your quest to not drink?

Without a doubt. Performing sober definitely gives me a bigger buzz. When I was in early recovery I was looking for lots of new positive changes to replace alcohol. I tried a yoga class and got a huge dopamine rush afterwards and thought 'this is it, I'm gonna be a yoga guy now'. Then I made people laugh on stage and got the same feeling and realised 'ah this is much easier, forget the yoga'.

There was a point early on in recovery where I wondered if I could still do comedy without alcohol. The workplace is full of temptation and addiction can trick you into thinking you need it for things like creativity and confidence. That isn't true in the slightest. Frankie Boyle and Frank Skinner are both outspoken examples of people who started hitting their comic potential after putting the bottle down.

This year has been full of 'hold my pint moments'. What's been yours?

A lot of people would say Trump or Brexit or how the planet is decaying in the disguise of good weather. I had an audience of 200 troops chanting me to drink alcohol on stage this year. That moment is unique to my year but it's the definition of that sort of moment. I didn't drink it. I could've pretended to sip it. That would have solved everything.