Stephen K Amos on starring in the award-winning play, My Night with Reg

Virgin Radio

13 Aug 2021, 10:12

The stand-up comedian joined the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky to talk about appearing in the dazzling revival of the acclaimed comedy, My Night with Reg, and spreading urban myths about himself.

My Night With Reg is now playing at the Turbine Theatre in Battersea, London. Stephen told Gaby Roslin and Sam Pinkham, who are in for Chris, “It’s a wonderful piece, written by Kevin Elyot. It’s a six-hander, set in 1985 at the height of the AIDS epidemic in the UK, and the action takes place over a few years, but in one scene.”

He added, “I’m so lucky to be able to be working in these difficult times, we must point out, with a fantastic company. It’s great fun.” 

When exclaiming how great the cast is, Stephen joked, “If anything, that’s probably the upshot of being in the pandemic. A lot of people were available!” 

Gaby asked Stephen how it felt to be back in front of audiences after all this time, to which he said, “Honestly, the first night back on the stage, treading the boards with this fine company was quite nerve-racking, because we didn’t quite know what to expect. 

“I’d experienced it, of course, doing stand-up a couple of weeks before. I was doing a venue in Brighton and there were about 1500 people there and they were so eager, so hungry for it, because what you forget as a performer is that the audiences have also missed out.” 

Regarding the opening night of the play, Stephen explained, “The first night was just… I mean, it sounds cliched, but it was electric. The audience were on the edge of their seats. The subject-matter isn’t laugh-out-loud, but the play itself is funny. It’s a funny play, it’s a moving play. It’s really about friendship, betrayal, love." 

When describing what audiences who head along to the Turbine Theatre can expect, the 53-year-old said, “Each character is well-rounded, and you get to know them within seconds, within minutes of the piece. You understand the friendships, you understand the rivalries, and if you watch it, it sometimes can look like it could be played as a farce, you know?

“However, we play it really straight. And one minute you’ll hear the audience guffawing, and then the next minute, you can hear a pin drop, because there are moments that are so touching.”

When Gaby asked Stephen about the urban myth that his cousins were massive 80s British pop act, Five Star, he admitted that it was a rumour he started. He told her, “They were due to play at a venue near my house in South London, and me as a young whippersnapper, thought I’d try and impress my friends by telling them that I’d get free tickets to go and watch them, because they were my cousins. I was the most popular lad in college! As much as I was, when I was a little kid, when I told my friends in primary school that my mother was Shirley Bassey. I even told my comedy colleagues, get this, most recently, that my aunt is Baroness Amos!”

With these urban myths unveiled, the conversation turned back towards My Night with Reg. The play was supposed to run until August 21st, but Stephen told Sam and Gaby that audiences have got a little longer to see it. “Basically, the run has now been extended, at the lovely Turbine Theatre, until September 11th, another three more weeks,” he explained. 

“If you’ve not been to the regenerated Battersea area, it’s worth just a look. I mean, it’s incredible. My sister lives in Battersea Village, just up the road, and I hadn’t been there until we started doing rehearsals along the Thames, and it’s just like a different world.” 

Stephen joked, however, that having his sister living so close to where the play is taking place could expose another one of the urban myths he has spread about himself. He said, “I’ve told the cast-mates that my sister is Rihanna, so I’m not sure they’ll believe that she lives in Battersea!”

My Night With Reg plays at the Turbine Theatre until 21st August. For tickets and information visit theturbinetheatre.com. Stephen’s 2021 Before & Laughter stand-up tour kicks off on September 14th and runs until January 22nd. For tickets and information, go to stephenkamos.com.

For more great interviews listen to The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky, weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or catch up on-demand here.