By Carmel Shortall
My 2013 Camden Fringe begins to the strains of Forever Autumn from Jeff Wayne’s 1978 concept album War of the Worlds (what else?). The packed but (thankfully!) air-conditioned room upstairs at The Camden Head is welcoming “a mind immeasurably geekier than ours”. Pete Dillon-Trenchard is said geek.
Introducing himself in binary, he offers to take us on a guided tour of all things geek. Why do we need this? Because we’re living in the age of the geek, of course! He promises to put to bed some stereotypes and reinforce others in his hour-long one man show.
During the course of It’s All Geek To Me we explore the similarities and differences between comics (not the stand-up variety!) and The Bible; we learn what your favourite Doctor Who reveals about you and why the number of times you get laid in your life will be in inverse proportion to the number of toy sonic screwdrivers you own. Plus, we learn what ‘furries’ are and why they’re the geek equivalent of the Welsh.
Pete Dillon-Trenchard uses his encyclopaedic knowledge of sci fi tropes and quotes to enjoyable effect, incorporating them seamlessly into the show, for instance, he introduces each of the show’s six ‘modules’ with a pre-recorded sci fi quote. The first module – ‘Dating’ – is, appropriately enough, introduced by Captain Kirk, and Obi Wan Kenobi’s, “you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy” leads, with breath-taking inevitability, into module two – ‘Conventions’.
A few hiccups on opening night are quickly recovered from and incorporated into the act. I saw Pete Dillon-Trenchard’s preview show at the Big Green Bookshop’s monthly comedy night in June and then, as now, I was impressed with his likeable stage persona and easy relationship with the audience. He’s a genuinely funny guy and definitely one to watch – he’s already been Comedy Café’s New Act of 2012.
It’s All Geek To Me is at The Camden Head until Wednesday 31 July at 6.30pm. Tickets are £6 (conc £5). Don’t miss it!
Camden Fringe Voyeur 