Alwin Solanky

Written by: Si Hawkins
Published: Friday 7th October 2022

This October is dark-party time for Alwin Solanky. The Weirdos stalwart will be appearing in their big Halloween bash, The Envelopes, across All Hallow's Weekend (or whatever it's called) - more on which below.

But first, at the Bill Murray in Islington on Saturday 15th, he's staging his own belated birthday party, a free-entry edition of his recent Edinburgh Fringe show. It's not all cake and karaoke, admittedly.

"What You Leave Behind's origins came soon after the death of my father three years ago," Solanky explains. "A memory from my childhood resurfaced and it was something I knew I had to speak about. The title was influenced by a quote from Pericles, the Greek general and politician; also from the title of the final episode of Star Trek: Deep Space 9. It summed up much of what I wanted to say.

"The show is about 'what does home mean?' and a tribute to someone very special to me. The show is also going to take place on a significant milestone in my life. I had a birthday back in March and I could not celebrate it as I contracted Covid-19 just before..."

It happens. And the big Weirdos bashes?

"As for The Envelopes, it is, according to Adam [Larter, from Weirdos], a built-upon version of what we performed at Duffys in February at the Leicester Comedy Festival, which was nominated for Best Show.

"What I can reveal is that for all that buy tickets a letter will be posted to your home address with specific instructions and items for the gig. It will be fun and immersive, a great experience for everyone."

Maybe not the poor postie. But now let's immerse ourselves in Alwin's back-catalogue.

First gig?

On 1st December 2008 at the Walkabout pub in Covent Garden. Now no longer there. I was a huge Steve Irwin fan and channelled him so much that I went on in khaki shorts and shirt, and made a lot of silly jokes about the relationship between England and Australia.

It was a packed crowd and there were eight other new comedians on. One forgot some of his material and had it shouted to him from the back, which added to the fun.

Favourite show, ever?

The first time I performed my debut hour Spanish Omelette at the Criterion in Leicester for the festival in 2018. I had never done an hour before, I was challenged by a friend to do so and it was just joyous interactive fun with various Spanish festivals and traditions incorporated.

I didn't realise it but I had made a 'Dead Dad' show and the last time I performed it was in Edinburgh less than a week before he died.

Worst gig?

My most horrendous gig was where I used such a strong heckler put-down I lost all goodwill for myself and the other acts. I didn't do a gig again for a year.

Which one person influenced your comedy life most significantly?

I have to shout out my two friends Mark Dean Quinn and Ben Target for being the two who influenced my comedy career. Ben was making me realise I can use props and Mark for bringing the real me out. Before, I was doing just straight stand-up.

And who's the most disagreeable person you've come across in the business?

I have gigged with a few, who I'm not going to mention: one was first on at a gig and his one-liner puns were going nowhere so he told the audience to go forth and have intercourse with themselves.

I said to him at the side, 'why did you do that?' and he let loose a minute-plus of abuse at me. Luckily he's not in the country anymore.

Is there one routine/gag you loved, that audiences inexplicably didn't?

I used to do a joke which referenced the old Fox's Glacier Mint adverts, with the polar bear, but only the older people got it.

What's your favourite - and least favourite - moment from previous Weirdos shows?

My most favourite and least favourite bit happened almost at the same time. In 2016 we did My Big Fat Weirdos Wedding at Leicester Square Theatre. On the first evening I came on to sing/howl Barcelona in a wig and purple dress with rollerblades on, it seemed like the loudest laugh ever.

The scene before, someone had sprayed silly string on stage which made the floor very slippery and I slipped in rollerblades and almost went over into the first two rows. Luckily I regained my balance just in time. There was no silly string on the second night.

Any reviews, heckles or post-gig reactions stick in the mind?

I think the quote was from Edinburgh, this year: 'Like an emotional Ed Aczel'.

After my third or fourth gig someone came up to me and said thank you for really making them laugh out loud, they had been made redundant earlier that week and their friends had made them come out. They were not really enjoying themselves but they really laughed at my material.

How do you feel about where your comedy career is at, right now?

I'm enjoying my comedy, and that's the most important thing, I could always do more gigs, I get a bit lazy. I'm looking forward to the Leicester Comedy Festival next year, where Colin and brilliant TripleCeePee staff have given Weirdos a wonderful weekend where we can try out new ideas and hang out together.