When it comes to setting the bar high, comedy troupe Pappy’s certainly don’t do things by halves.
While 100 sketches in an hour might challenge lesser comics, the trio have set themselves the seemingly impossible task of performing 200 skits in just 60 minutes.
To complete their goal could mean setting a world record but the threesome, who bring their old-school brand of comedy to The Northwall Arts Centre in Oxford on Saturday, February 20, seem more concerned about the audience having a good time than getting in the Guinness Book of Records.
After building up a cult following through a series of low key gigs in London, Pappy’s burst onto the comedy scene at the Edinburgh Festival in 2006, going on to win a nomination for the If.Comedy Award as well as appearing on Radio 4, the Comedy Shuffle on BBC3 and Comedy Cuts on ITV2.
Now embarking on their biggest UK tour to date, Tom Parry, Matthew Crosby and Ben Clark plan to bring a series of outrageous characters, ridiculous sing-a-longs and high energy comedy to the stage.
“We write very silly sketches that quickly run away from us and different things go wrong – we try and make sure no show is the same, with characters that never stick to the script,” revealed Tom, 29. “We are just three mates putting on a show together and any arguments we have in real life tend to spill into the show. It’s good, old-fashioned fun and if something’s sill that’s alright by us – we’re not very good at cutting edge, dark comedy.”
The idea behind the show came from the same sense of childhood fun, of dreaming of breaking a world record as youngsters.
“That many sketches in an hour is far too many - we always planned to set a figure that was impossible and see how we could go about making it possible,” admits Tom. “It’s something no one has ever really done before. We looked at what world records were attached to sketch comedy and there obviously weren’t any.
“I’m not sure if the Guiness Book of World records will see it as an official world record attempt, and I heavily stress the word attempt, but it was definitely an inspiration, and you never know, if we’re successful we might have to contact the ghost of Norris McWhirter.”
Pappy’s appear at the Northwall Arts Centre on Saturday, February 20. To book tickets, call 01865-319450 or visit www.the northwall.com
