Charly Taylor: Expat Standup Comedian

British standup comedian Charly Taylor is appearing Friday the 20th at 9:30 pm at Beer Station Madrid (Cuesta de Santo Domingo, 22, metro: Callao). His act will be in Spanish. Tickets are only €7 if you book. I sat down for a chat with this expat comedian, violinist, and guitar player who won the Parla Prize for comedy in 2010 and recently appeared on Paramount Comedy

CheapinMadrid: When did you start doing stand-up?
Charly: I started in the 20th century… in November 1999. Someone asked me to do an anti-military sketch in Zaragoza (there was a US military base there), so I came in my Hippy disguise. It’s a character I still wheel out sometimes. He thinks he’s so hip and ethical, but he drives a gas guzzler, eats meat and says really racist and sexist things. I had a lot of fun and then I was approached by an amateur comedy troupe and I joined them. I was with them for 10 years, until I decided I wouldn’t mind getting paid for this.

CiM: So how long have you been professionally doing standup then?
Charly: Two years.

CiM: Do you do standup in English here in Spain?
Charly: No. But next summer I will be doing comedy in English in Oxford.

CiM: Do you do improv?
Charly: Yes, I do improv every second Sunday in Zaragoza for Club Desastre, which means Taylor’s Club. [CiM: sastre means tailor in Spanish] Club Desastre has been running for 7 or 8 years. I love improv.

CiM:  When and why did you move to Spain?
Charly: I moved here 20 years ago. I was a trained teacher in England but I was tired of teaching there because it was all about disciplining. So I thought “you only live once.” I went to Barcelona first, but there was no work, so I ended up in Zaragoza where I still live today.

CiM: Who are your comic influences?
Charly: I could probably sit here and name about 100 or more to you… but Emo Philips is one. I saw his show live in London and it was the funniest I’ve ever seen. I love the surreal and absurd humor of Monty Python. Chris Morris is a former radio DJ who now  does satires of news programs. Steve Coogan is a British comedian who showcases up-and-coming comics. Ignatius is a great Spanish comedian who took his name from a character in John Kennedy Toole’s book A Confederacy of Dunces.

CiM: What Spanish authors who write about Spain do you like?
Charly : Eduardo Mendoza. Also Javier Marías, who writes very psychological books about Spanish culture.

CiM: Thanks for taking time to speak to me and have fun tonight!