Mark Thomas brings his critically acclaimed show to Dublin

Mark Thomas is a British comedian, political satirist, activist, and writer known for his sharp wit and daring activism.

Over the years, he has established himself as a unique voice in British comedy, blending stand-up with investigative journalism to expose political hypocrisy, corporate misconduct, and social injustice.

Often referred to as the ‘Godfather of Political Comedy’, Mark brings his critically acclaimed show ‘Gaffa Tapes’ to The Sugar Club tomorrow, Thursday September 26.

Ahead of his show he spoke with Padraig Conlon about his return to standup comedy, why the Labour Party are now in his cross hairs and how despite all the darkness in the world he still has hope…

I hear Mark Thomas’s unmistakable voice on the other end of the phone.

As we begin our conversation, it feels surreal to be speaking with someone I admire so much.

In the interests of journalistic integrity, I must disclose that I have been a massive fan of Mark Thomas since the mid 1990’s.

The Mark Thomas Comedy Product, a tv show that ran on Channel 4 from 1996 to 2002, was where I first encountered him.

The show was a groundbreaking blend of comedy, activism, and investigative journalism where he used his platform to challenge the powerful and expose injustices, often putting himself at risk by confronting politicians, corporations, and arms dealers.

One of the show’s most notable moments was when he managed to sneak into an arms fair in London and pose as a PR consultant, exposing the casual nature with which companies discussed selling arms to oppressive regimes.

This bold and confrontational style became a hallmark of his career.

Following a spell doing theatre, he is back doing stand-up once again.

And he loves it.

“I’m having great fun, performing standup is like crack!” Mark tells me.

“All it took was a 15-minute set in the Comedy Store to drag me back in.

“I’m four months back on the circuit now and I’ve loved it.

“Something I’ve found very interesting in starting again with the free gigs is where they pass a bucket round!

“The show ‘Gaffa Tapes’ is about where we are now, what’s happening now and what’s happening to the world.

“I started in standup nearly forty years ago so there has had to be some relearning of language to engage with the audiences.

“Like in Edinburgh recently a woman got up and walked out because I said Covid is real.

“I still think that comedy is really the last bastion of liberalism.

“Stand up is a monster though, if you take your foot off its neck it will rise up and devour you if you let it.

“I did a gig in Chiswick recently; it was the 10^th gig of this current tour.

“Chiswick is quite Tory, so when I walk on stage I say “I know there are Tories in here, I’m like the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, I can smell ya!

“Eventually a heckler starts shouting, ‘you’re boring mate’, he says.

“So, I put him down and again he comes back with, ‘No, you’re still boring,’

“I’m putting him down again and I say, ‘mate, the laughter isn’t with you.’

“I did more stuff, put him down, and the audience are completely onside.

“He keeps going.

“Eventually I lose my temper and say, ‘mate, I’ve done this for 39 years, and I met people like you on day one, and you’re always the same. You never change. You’re over-entitled dullard cunts. That’s what you fucking are. Now here’s a joke..”

“So, I’m back in the dressing room after the gig and I’m a bit shaken to be honest, it was quite an intense exchange.

“Anyway, as I’m getting it together Mick Lynch (Union Leader) walks into the dressing room and goes, ‘you done him like a pro!”

While he was glad to see the exit of the Tories after a decade and a half in power in the UK, he’s not exactly over the moon about Keir Starmer or the Labour Party either.

“Of course I was glad to see the back of the Tories who I consider robber barons who fleeced the country and were dreadful human beings,” he says.

“14 years of austerity, literally taking our taxes and giving them to their mates and punishing the poorest in society, what a dreadful legacy.

“Yet all I can see is more of the same with this Labour government.

“Starmer to me is just a Tory.

“Like he puts on this sad voice when he talks about having to cut the winter fuel allowance for the elderly.

“’’Oh we really don’t want to do this’” – well then fucking don’t!

“At least the Tories never pretended that they gave a fuck about the poor.

“What’s the point in having a Labour government that isn’t going to aggressively fight poverty and inequality?

“Labour didn’t so much win the election as not fuck up and allow the Tories to lose.

“Fifty eight per cent of voters went for the two main parties, that leaves a hell of a lot of people who can and will vote for smaller parties.”

A passionate advocate for human rights and anti-corporate movements, Mark Thomas has campaigned against the arms trade, protested the Iraq War, and fought for the rights of Palestinian people.

In late 2009 he arrived in Israel/Palestine determined to explore, on foot, the 723 kilometer barrier that the Israeli government was building around and inside the Occupied West Bank.

He walked the entire route with a variety of Israelis and Palestinians and interviewed public figures and residents of communities on both sides of the barrier.

Is it true he even set up a comedy club in Palestine?

“Yes we did in Jenin. When I first went there, I noticed that they had a theatre in the refugee camp so we decided we had to do a comedy workshop with them.

“Working with Dr Sam Beale and the Jenin Freedom Theatre in the West Bank to set up that comedy club, in the refugee camp, is something I am incredibly proud of.

“The students, young comics and performers have moved on way beyond our initial engagement and are now trying to establish a circuit for Palestinian comics in the West Bank and beyond.”

Mark is also a long serving patron of The International Medical Education Trust 2000 (IMET2000) who are doing great work in Palestine.

“IMET 2000 is dedicated to the higher education and training of all professionals treating physical and mental trauma in child victims of violent conflict, extreme poverty or natural disasters,” he says.

“The work they do is so important because they train people to the highest possible medical standard.

“You get some of the greatest surgeons and medics in the world teaching people in the poorest countries.

“I’m extremely proud to be part of a group that works with people who are so committed and have such dedication to their community.”

As we wrap up our chat I ask him, with all that’s happening in the world at the moment, does he think the world is becoming a darker, colder place?

“Yes and no,” he answers.

“Even though we have these daily horrific news stories from Palestine, Ukraine and various other places there are positive things happening that aren’t being reported on by the media.

“Can I give you an example of a community that has refused to watch their own demise?

“Whitehawk in east Brighton is an estate that has been ignored for years by the local council and labelled the city’s most deprived area.

“Where Brighton & Hove City Council has failed to adequately support its people, the local community has stepped in.

“Two local mums started up Park Life Brighton, a community lobbying group attempting to increase recreational space across Whitehawk.

“They also set up an after-school club and boxing club.

“The local football club, Whitehawk FC are also leading by example by having a mission is to unite people through football by banning swearing as well as racist/sexist/ableist chanting.

“Their chairperson Sophie Cook is also the first transgender woman to work in English professional football.

“There are similar stories in other parts of the UK where communities are refusing to watch their own demise.

“Also, I think we saw, and realised, during the pandemic that all jobs have value.

“We all rely on each other, and we all must work together.

“Hope is always the last bit to go!”

Mark Thomas plays The Sugar Club this Thursday, September 26, 8pm.

Please click following link for tickets https://thesugarclub.com/tc-events/mark-thomas-gaffa-tapes/