ACTOR and multi award winning comedian Eric Lalor is a regular act at the Kilkenny Cat Laughs Festival, Electric Picnic, Galway Comedy Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe.
This year he will MC the London Irish Comedy Tent in Trafalgar Square, and he’s certainly not bothered about missing the bank holiday back in his hometown Dublin.
“In the business that we are in there is no such thing as a bank holiday or weekend, they are normal working days,” he explains.
“I’ve been to London a few times but I’ve never been to Trafalgar Square so I’m looking forward to doing a gig in such an iconic setting for a crowd of Irish people.”
Lalor is known for high intensity performances but March 16 will be a slightly different gig. Tasked with MC’ing an afternoon of laughs, he will approach it differently.
“It’s my job to lay down the ground rules — keep the chat to a minimum but laugh your asses off! Don’t be talking when the lads or lassies are on stage and I’ll threaten them if they don’t switch off their mobile phones!” he jokes.
As for the line-up, he’s looking forward to working with one of his idols again.
“One of my all time comedy heroes is Barry Murphy. He’s just one of these godfathers of Irish stand up. I think we owe a lot to people like him and Ardal O’ Hanlon for opening the door at the very start and creating a platform for Irish comedy.”
As for missing out on Paddy’s Day at home, he says: “I’d wary of doing a gig at night in Dublin on the 17th, everyone would be on the lash so it’s a blessed relief this gig is during the day in a tent! They can’t go too mad.”
London Irish Comedy Festival Line-up:
- Barry Murphy
- Aisling Bea
- Damian Clarke
- Jarlath Regan
- Willa White
- Christine O'Mahony
- Roisin Conaty
See Eric Lalor at the London Irish Comedy Festival Marquee, Sunday, 2.15 – 5.15pm, Trafalgar Square, London.
