Today we interview, none other… than the most zany comedy Contortionist and Escapologist, Chris Cross. Chris is on at Fletch at St Andrews for one night only on Tuesday 12th May at 8.00 pm. Fear not, if you miss his show you can catch him at the Edinburgh Fringe in August. So let’s catch a quick word with Chris before he escapes our clutches…
1. What inspired you to become The Rock ‘n’ Roll Cabaret Man: Comedian, Contortionist, Escapologist and Magician?
My mate showed me a magic trick when I was 10 on the front doorstep of my Nanas house! I was working semi-pro when I was 13, then turned full-time when I left School at 16. It was at this time that I figured out I could do weird stuff with my body so put a new show together and my act evolved like a Pokemon – It went from Nicemagice’mon to Crazyshite’mon! (that sounds like a bit like a Funky Flavoured Cookie Actually!)
2. What’s your show about and what should the public expect from your show at the 2009 Brighton Festival Fringe?
My Show is “Crazy Off the Wall Stand-Up combined with my Trademark Contortionism and Escapololgy Stunts” – I Basically have a bit of a Party with the Audience and have a good laugh! My show is Funny, Unique and a bit Mental…! Expect a GREAT Partied Up Mentally Mad Show – Don’t Miss it…!
3. What was the last Fringe or Festival you performed at and what was it like?
I’ve worked all over the world but I always LOVE the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It will be my 5th Year there in August, the Atmosphere, the Buzz and the Lifestyle of the Month is just FANTASTIC!! I’ll be coming to Brighton Fringe straight from Bath where I have my Venue Show in their Biggest most Mainstream Nightclub – Cadillacs (Club XL).
4. What are your funniest and worst experiences performing in front of an audience?
Ahh man I’ve had some really funny but bad at the same time experiences in front of an audience…like they should be bad but I think they’re Funny!!!
The other week I was in the ‘Beat the Wand’ UK Cabaret Championships at the Annual Blackpool Magic Convention (the largest magic get-together in the world!) in the Blackpool Wintergardens. During my act I stood on a table whilst drunk, fell off the table, got back on top of the table and stripped off, kissed a bloke then proceeded to dislocate my shoulders before getting wrapped up in 50 metres of cling film, escaping then eating some bread off the floor from a previous act! – I Won though…hehehe!!
I once fractured my elbow whilst performing an Escape as I slipped on some split beer on the stage from a previous act – Painful…I got back up and got out of it though – then I was taken to hospital in an ambulance and given a plaster cast for 2month! Not good like!
I was playing a gig in a Comedy Club in London just before Xmas and I was the last act on. In the Interval I went to the toilet and when I was washing my hands I noticed a bulb missing from around the mirror so decided to put my drunken finger in it for a laugh to see what would happen (DUHHH!!!) and I got an electric shock! I went back up, waited for my turn to close the show and I took the ENTIRE audience down to the Gents and formed a cue for everyone to put their finger in and get a shock – What a Way to End a Comedy Club…In a Fooking Toilet!!! Theres lots more Shizzle but that’s for another time!
5. What’s the best and worst advice you have ever been given? And did you follow it?
BEST Advice: ‘Be Yourself…’
WORST Advice: Don’t Drink before a Show. I didn’t listen.
6. What are you most proud of and what dreams or goals would you like to fulfill?
Well I want to hit the States and do a tour of the US in 2 or 3 years after I’ve continued to “Spread the Chris Cross Word” around the UK and Europe. My Venue Show has received a 5 Star ‘Must See Show’ Review from The Stage Magazine which is an achievement. In February I won the 2009 Cabaret Championships at The Blackpool Magic Convention too which I was proud of. I’ve been announced to be in The Top 10 Speciality Acts currently Working the circuit also by The Stage. I travel the world performing big shows and make Money and have Fun – what more could I want?!?! Well I wWould love to Marry Emma Bunton like… :p
7. Which three famous people would you invite to dinner and why? And what culinary dish would you prepare?
- Charlie Chaplin (Genius, Funnyman and GREAT Businessman)
- Harry Houdini (Escapologist & Showman Legend)
- Emma Bunton (as I want to Marry her)
- (Michael Jackson too if 4 is allowed as he’s One of THE BEST Performers OF ALL TIME; he puts a show on for the crowd and doesn’t just mumble or on the other hand shout down a bloody mic!!)
8. What is the best book or books you have read and why?
Admittedly I’m more of a DVD Man but I do LOVE Comics, I also Like Magic Books, Circus Books, etc – The Ripley’s Believe it or Not Annuals are Cool too. I do LOVE Autobiographies though and read those a fair bit compared to other books… Magazines are good to pass the time away, such as: Bizarre, Front, Nuts, Zoo, NME, Etc…
9. Tell us 5 interesting and unknown facts about yourself?
- Unknown at present
- Unknown at present
- Unknown at present
- Unknown at present
- Unknown at present
Hehehehe :p
Erm… here’s 5 ‘known’ facts instead:
- I LOVE Presents and Gifts!
- I like Women. Lots.
- I am 6ft 6…!
- I Like to hang Upside Down for an hour each Day.
- I’ve Supported Bloc Party, Pendulum, Giles Peterson, The Stanton Warriors, ETC…
10. If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?
Live a bit Longer, No Diseases. More Sex, Drugs, Alcohol and LIVE Entertainment.
Tags: cabaret artist, Chris Cross, comedian, Contortionist, Escapologist, magician