Emmanuel Sonubi is one of the emerging talents in live comedy in the UK, quickly cementing himself as a firm favourite while providing tour support for Jason Manford.
Recent credits also include appearances on landmarks of stand-up such as Live at the Apollo, ITV2’s Stand-up Sketch Show, and Stand-Up UK from Comedy Central, as well as a string of shows at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival.
Emmanuel marries two extremes in much of his comedy, contrasting his muscular, toned appearance, and a self-confessed theatrical sensibility.
His latest show, Emancipated, is mostly about his journey in comedy to where he is now, but, he says, also looks at some of his previous occupations.
“It’s an hour of laugh-out-loud escapism with no agenda and lots for people to relate to.
“But it’s also about how things that used to be important to me just aren’t any more, and how freeing that is.”
The show also follows Emmanuel’s nomination for Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Festival Best Newcomer, which he says was “really unexpected.
“I basically got myself to not think of any of the competitions, or any of the reviews, it has to be about the audience.
“That’s who it should be for, not the stars.”
So he was unaware of his nomination: “Until I got a message that morning which read ‘congratulations.’
“But it was so nice; there were thousands of shows there, so being regarded as one of the best was really heartening.”
He also said it was the “cherry on the top” of what proved to be an accomplished run of shows.
“The feeling of being appreciated, feeling like what you do means something to other people.”
It’s possible, he admits, that he takes this approach from his time in theatre: “The performance side helped me just to be on stage.”
But he has also worked as a doorman: “Which really helps with crowd control.
“My main ingredient when I started was that everyone at some point has passed a bouncer, it’s recognisable but relatively unknown.”
He says that for him, comedy is great when it has an element of relatability: “People don’t always laugh at the joke, just what it reminds them of.
“Comedy gives people the space to laugh at testing or dark situations which you now have a new perspective on, and ultimately deal with it a little bit better.
“And I’ve always used it like that.”
And once a comedian has settled an audience in, once they’re trusted, it can be a position with a real platform.
“When it’s done right, you can be the platform that incites change; all I can say, though, is my take on a subject.”
His tour includes Reading’s South Street Arts Centre, to which he said he was looking forward: “Never had a bad show in Reading— I don’t like the parking restrictions, but I do like Reading.”
And his favourite part of all: “Actually performing the show; I get to go and perform in another town, another city, and that’s what it really gets down to.
“But I’ve had people say that it’s ruined their lives missing the show, so I suppose it’s my public service!”
Emmanuel Sonubi’s live stand-up show, Emancipated, is touring the UK, with Reading’s South Street Arts Centre among the roster of venues on Friday, April 21.
He’s also coming to Guildford, Swindon, Chorley, and London.
For full details of the tour and to get hold of tickets, visit: www.emmanuelstandup.com
