WORLD Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker is bringing a slice of wonder in his latest live show– the aptly named Wonderful.
The poet and raconteur is setting out on his third national solo tour, hot on the heels of having released his book, also called Wonderful.
It also follows a decade of shows at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, appearances at the Royal Albert Hall, regular contributions to BBC Radio 2’s Pause For Thought, and features on The Russell Howard Hour as one half of Harry and Chris.
Baker says of the new show: “Initially I thought this show would be the fun lap of honour, being back out in the world, and there’s an element of that.
“But actually a few things had happened over the last couple of years which have informed it.
“One of those things,” he explains, “is having grandparents die, going to funerals, and comparing that to the stage I was at bout five years ago, when it was all weddings.
“Which is part of being in your 30s and growing up– having to deal with real life.”
While the end of life has influenced the show, he also intimates that the beginning of life is another aspect of it, too.
“My wife and I were trying for a baby for quite a long time, which I’ve written about – the response for that has been incredible, too.
“It was something people weren’t talking about when we were going through it, being able to open up about it and have others come forward who are going through similar things.
“So I think it’s about acknowledging those painful moments alongside the joyful moments with integrity and authenticity– not just pretending that everything’s amazing all the time.”
As such, Harry explains that his performing experience has helped to shape his work.
“I’ve done around 10 shows up at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival has got me into that rhythm of things.
“Hanging out with stand-ups helps you see the difference it makes when you tweak things after sharing them with an audience.
“So the work feels very solid before I share it, but the bits that benefit most are the in-between bits, the narrative which you build up in the gaps.
“You find new ways of linking work together, and new call-backs, which all build it up and make it feel much more solid as a show, rather than just a setlist like a band might have.”
He explains also that he feels a responsibility to the audience, especially when dealing with sensitive or emotive subjects.
“My role is to give the audience the best possible chance to understand those poems, and you do that through how you perform, how you hold yourself.
“And I don’t want to feel like I’m being manipulative in that way– I don’t want to act or feel like I’m affecting any emotions that just aren’t there.
“Certain poems come from more emotional or more jovial places, and there’s an art to finding that balance and treating that responsibility.”
He says also that it subverts expectations for many audience members.
“It means that people have said after some of the shows that they didn’t expect it to be so jovial, or so light-hearted.
“You can take people to moments of grief if that’s where the show is going, but you have to lift people out of that and be considerate, so we do end on a high.
“It’s not just a blitz-type scatter-gun of emotion– I love being able to take more time with the audience than that.”
As for what the uninitiated can expect at a Harry Baker show: “I hear that I make people laugh and I make them cry.
“Poetry is great at expressing that range; my favourite thing in the world is to cry with laughter.
“I love that it is joyful and fun, but part of that is about celebrating the personal, the emotional, and not shying away from that.”
Harry Baker is performing at Norden Farm, Maidenhead, on Thursday, August 1, from 7.30pm.
Full tour dates and tickets are available via: harrybaker.co/live-shows
Copies of Harry’s book, Wonderful, are also available via: harrybaker.co/store
