Ben Elton Live: Theatre Royal, Hanley, 1987
Ben Elton Live: The Sands Centre, Carlisle, 1989
I saw Ben Elton twice live in the eighties. The comedian, author, playwright and director who co-wrote the classic comedy series The Young Ones and Blackadder and presenter of cult Channel 4 hit Saturday Night Live performed at Hanley in 1987 and Carlisle in 1989. The difference between the two performances was the subject matter.
Elton was a master at quickly working out what the audience laughed at most and at Hanley in Stoke-on-Trent where I took a Higher National Diploma in Business and Finance, the main subject was student life. In Carlisle, the main subject was relationships and sex. Elton immediately connected and related with his audiences and the material was unique. He performed on both occasions for well over two hours and the audiences were exhausted from laughing.
