Dane Baptiste's Leicester Square Questionnaire
DANE BAPTISTE
★★★★★ ‘A comical genius’
★★★★★ ‘Masterfully crafted’
★★★★ ‘A striking set’
★★★★ ‘Observational comedy at its finest’
★★★★ ‘Outstanding’
★★★★ ‘Powerful and persuasive’
Dane Baptiste was the first black Briton to write a sitcom on the BBC in 20 years, and the first to ever receive an Edinburgh Fringe nomination.
What’s your most memorable heckle?
A guy once racially and dubiously asked me “what ghetto are you from” when I enquired as to who he thinks he is, he showed me his stag T-shirt. He was supposed to be “sperm donor” but spelled it “sperm doner” as in “c*m kebab”. After that I remember the night going well for me and not so much for him when his fellow stag said “he’s got you there Phil” he genuinely foamed at the mouth in ‘loss of dignity’ rage
Where do you go for your pre/post Leicester Square Theatre gig food?
Lots of places! Central is amazing for cuisine. There’s the noodle bar in Leicester Square and Jollibee’s Indonesian fried chicken is great. Soho house is normally a nice place to hang out as my metabolism during showtime needs me close to adequate plumbing facilities if you catch my drift. I don’t wanna poo just anywhere basically
What’s one word to describe the state of the UK?
Average
I say that because the one nation with the hubris to put “GREAT” in front of its name isn’t living up to greatness at all
Snog, Marry, Avoid - Priti Patel, Piers Morgan, Andrew Neil
Snog Priti Patel with my chloroform and laxative flavour lip balm,
Marry piers Morgan because then the wedding will be similar to the interracial one he always wanted with Meghan Markle and
Avoid Andrew Neil, because he seems GB news Needy these days
Who’s the best upcoming performer in the country that we haven’t heard of?
ME! But I would also say Sarah Levine and Michael Odewale who opened for me on tour, they’re about to be very very big
Has lockdown influenced your material? If not, why?
I think it has influenced my approach we’ve had a global shared experience that has made us all feel isolated and cerebral, so I’ve written material to help audiences feel comfortable being this deep in the stream of their own consciousness. Also more stuff about streaming and peloton bikes!
Who would you describe as your arch-nemesis?
White Supremacy/Cognitive dissonance. A way of thinking more than a person. I consider myself a very truthful that peels back the veneer that hides the underbelly of western civilisation and ideology, and some people choose to ignore the truth, because it’s sets people free.
“You know what the scariest thing in America is? A brother with a library card”- Brother Mouzone, “The Wire”
When was the time you bombed the most onstage?
Christmas time I think. Sometimes people forget that while your entertainers may tell you cocaine is part of the game, frolicking in the “snow” at Christmas is gonna lead to you being on the naughty list.
What’s been your strangest fan encounter?
This amazing crocheted guy has an anatomically accurate penis. What more can I say?
Where’s your favourite place to tour?
I enjoy it all to be honest for different reasons! My precious tour took me to sell out shows in Australia, UAE and Belgium. I just love taking it around the world. So I guess, planet earth?
How do you like to relax after a gig?
In perfectly legal ways with substances that do not require scrutiny and are THIS close to being decriminalised. With some cookies
What’s the one thing you want the audience to take away from your show?
Getting angry is okay sometimes. Just gotta direct that at the right things is all.
That THEY have the power to change their current reality. That they are the people who are responsible for society being good or bad, and that their rulers are beholden to them, not the other way round. God is love, drink water, be nice to children and animals.
Would you rather have fingers as long as your legs or legs as long as your fingers?
Fingers and long as legs. Probably could sort that in turkey with new hair more simply than leg extension surgery.
Who would win in a fight: Badger or Baboon?
Baboon. Opposable thumbs means weapons and that means an advantage. I pray that the day this is offered on YouTube paper view is when we take stock of ourselves as a civilisation
