The phrase ‘if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry’ has been around for a long time, but lately, it seems like there’s been more crying than laughing.
Everything feels more expensive, slightly worse, and the future looks bleak – these are scary times we’re living in. Enter Christopher Macarthur-Boyd.
The 31-year-old stand-up comedian from Glasgow has been making a name for himself in the British comedy scene for the past decade, and now he’s taking things up a notch with his new headline tour, ‘Scary Times’, which kicked off in September.
After successful headline shows in the north of Scotland and his first solo show in Dublin, CMB is gearing up to headline his biggest venue yet at the iconic Glasgow Pavilion Theatre on Friday, November 8.
“I’m really excited about this show. The biggest venues I’ve headlined in Glasgow before were between 150 and 200 capacity,” he says. “So, going from a 200-seater to a 1500-seater is a big jump, but I wanted to take a chance on myself. With the podcast doing well too, I’m looking forward to it.
“This show focuses on what comes next after living through the pandemic. I wanted a horror theme. I tried to think about what sets my comedy apart from other Scottish comedians, and it’s a bit sadder and darker. Not dark like ‘dead baby jokes’ but more like ‘it’s tough being alive’. So, I wanted to give it a scary twist.”
Fans of Christopher may know him from his Enjoy an Album podcast or as one-third of the chart-topping comedy podcast Here Comes the Guillotine with Frankie Boyle and Susie McCabe.
Although Christopher has explored TV work and ventured into the digital media world with the podcast, he still considers himself a stand-up comedian first and foremost.
The podcast allows CMB and his fellow comedians to have candid conversations and share outrageous stories, providing entertainment for their fans.
Christopher acknowledges that comedy today can often be bland and inoffensive, which is why he appreciates the darker, edgier humor that he and his podcast co-hosts bring to the table.
The podcast, despite its success, struggles to attract sponsors due to its controversial content, but Christopher remains proud of the show’s authenticity and unique voice.
In a world filled with brutality and bleakness, Christopher believes that people crave dark humor as a way to cope with the challenging times we live in. He aims to provide a space where dark humor is balanced with kindness and empathy.
As Christopher gears up for his Pavilion show and upcoming tour dates across the UK, he reflects on his own nerves and the adrenaline rush of performing live. Despite his experience, he still gets a bit anxious before taking the stage, but he finds comfort in connecting with audiences through his comedy.
The Pavilion show will mark the beginning of Christopher’s November tour dates and will also be filmed for a YouTube special. Fans outside of Scotland will have the opportunity to enjoy his observational comedy as he travels to cities like Belfast, Cardiff, Southampton, and Bristol.