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Alan Stewart

Languages

English

Country

Hong Kong

Biography

Alan Stewart has observed that he and his fellow age 50+ travellers have weird ways of growing older. His material explores these both from his own lived experience and from ideas that come to him from many directions, particularly from newly retiring baby boomers.

Alan started doing stand-up in mid 2007. The next year he was a finalist in the 2nd Annual HK International Comedy Festival. His ambition is to feature on the podium in a grand final! While he is in his 70th year people in their 20s – and younger – find him very funny!

Two American comedians have commented that he is developing a ‘New Story of growing old today’ and doing this “skillfully, tastefully, irresistibly, and terribly offensively in a way that serves humanity!” And that there is nobody in the US who is doing what he is.

In an earlier life he was a university professor and is renowned for injecting humorous touches to his classes. He is now a facilitator of conversations about things that matter, with a light touch.

Alan has recently invented a new form of participatory comedy in which the bulk of the humour is co-created conversationally by the audience members sitting at small tables, world café style. After trial runs in San Francisco and New York in 2008 he introduced what he calls a ‘chuckle café’ to Hong Kong at the Fringe Club in March 2009.

Alan Stewart at 4th Annual Hong Kong International Comedy Festival (October) 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orzVzjWnAAQ

Testimonials

“Alan was able on very short notice to deliver a stand-up comedy gig that was funny, witty and to some extent even inspirational. I was particularly impressed by his ability to tailor in an impromptu manner a performance so suited to the occasion (Christmas Party) and audience (mostly professional coaches).”
Charlie Lang, President, Hong Kong International Coaching Community

Al has a quiet presence and the audience feels that he is only chatting to them as in their own living room. But boy do his words pack a subtle punch! Such clever wit. He shows a new way of looking at such aspects as aging, that even the 18 year olds can connect with. He shows great respect to his audience allowing his humour and wisdom, to filter over them as a gentle shower of rain. Allowing the audience to leave behind the angst of the world and dive into the refreshing humour that is Al’s. The audience leaves renewed and refreshed with plenty of endorphins to pick up their sense of well being! A treat not to be missed!
Lyn Waller English Teacher, Hong Kong

“Hey, you’re pretty funny, mate! Keep it up and do lots of gigs! It seems you are mixing a kind of “message” (bringing people together) with that of “entertaining” (comedy). ….You are very fluent and I thought you mixed ‘public speaking/MC’ with “comedy” very well – I guess you can adjust the mix and err on the side of public speaking or bias towards comedy depending on the situation, eh?”
Mal Capone, Rock Star, Australia

“I really enjoyed and appreciated your performances …wow, imagine that it takes a fair amount of preparation to appear as comfortable as you did, and to be as entertaining as you were!”
Diane Wilcoxon

“I was taken to the Emergency at our local hospital as my sides split from laughing.”
Recovering

“I needed a good chuckle and I got a barrow load.”
Dusting Off

“You do a great act…mega-mature. I love the Senility Prayer and “the older I get the better I was” which is up there with Twain’s ‘My father improved hugely after my adolescence or words to that effect.’ And your line I am looking forward to my 80th…but not for a few years yet…
Your delivery and pauses are just right and the audience scarcely rest between laughs. You are a natural.”
Ian Johnstone