Isy Suttie interviewed
Amy Danbrowsky • Published 31 May 2012 09:30
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Most of you will recognise the doe-eyed damsel to the right from cult Channel Four comedy Peep Show, but for those that don't, just know there is a lovely and extremely entertaining lady heading to Norden Farm tomorrow (Saturday) at 8pm.
In a world where the search for love has moved online, double British Comedy Award nominee Isy Suttie takes to the comedy circuit to deliver a touching and tell-all show recounting the trials and tribulations of internet dating with musical comedy Pearl And Dave.
She said: "It's a love story about Pearl and Dave, their Skype conversations and emails. There is also a bit of my love life in there. I wanted to do it so that it represented true love stories interwoven with comedy."
Isy played Dobby, the IT geek subject of Mark's (David Mitchell) affections in Peep Show, which she confirms is back filming for the eighth series this August. But playing such a recognisable part in a highly successful show does have its limitations, as she explained: "You never know what's going on in their heads [the audience]. I can't send out a bulletin to say 'I won't be doing scenes from Peep Show. I won't be pulling David Mitchell out of a bag', although maybe that's something I should think about!"
"It's often a lot of couples [that go to see the show}. Actually, we had two babies - one in Leeds and one in Wales - maybe it's because I'm getting old! The problem is if a baby cries over a punchline I can't really tell it to shut up!"
Music, acting and comedy are entwined into her one-woman show and she told us: "I have written songs since I was 11 when I played the guitar. I started writing comedy songs but I decided I wanted to learn how to talk to the audience without relying on the songs and when I started to do it I knew I could succeed. It grew out of that, it happened quite naturally. I tried different ways and observational stuff, but music is the thing that comes naturally to me. I would love to record an album, I'm bad at putting stuff down, though. I'm bad with technology - I might come off Twitter. I like keeping things simple - working, going out, having a pint and going home.
"I did do a bit of Pearl And Dave on the radio and that was great, so I wouldn't mind doing more serious music or maybe a musical. I like what Tim Minchin does, he's really diverted, it's really possible now to branch out."
So what does the funnywoman think about her place in the world of female comics?
"I don't think it's as hard as it used to be. You have Miranda Hart and people like Julia Davis - people who write and perform their own stuff.
"Being a female hasn't deterred me. When you do stand-up you just fall in love with it. It's like one big family!"
We are speaking from the train that Isy jumped on this morning to take her to the set of a TV pilot she is working on with Jason Manford, which will be out later this year, and she explained: "It's for an ITV series Great Night Out, I am playing a naive character, who is not very good with men.
"I am also writing something with a friend, it's set in a railway station cafe and it will have lots of songs in it, and I've just done a short film with Ralf Little from The Royle Family. Hopefully at some point in there I'll get a holiday!"
With life not slowing down anytime soon I remark about how busy she is, and cheerfully she quips: "As long as I get sleep I am OK."
Tickets are £12 from www.nordenfarm.org or by calling 01628 788997.
This article appeared in Local Berkshire 31 May 12
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