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Mischief Makers Episode 35: 2022 Special

Intro: Welcome to Mischief Makers, your one stop shop for all things Mischief. Join your host Dave Hearn as he finds out what makes Mischief, well, Mischief!Dave Hearn: Hello everyone and welcome to Mischief Makers Christmas special![Cheers]DH: Very good, Ben we'll put a big cheer in post, thank you! So this is a wonderful episode where I'm joined by the wonderful Chris Leask.Chris Leask: Mmhmm.DH: And Charlie Russell...Charlie Russell: Hello!DH: To talk about Mischief 2022! We've got some of our favourite moments to go through and a quiz!CL: Oh, okay! Do we win anything?CR: I love a quiz!DH: You will get one hug per correct answer.CL: That's okay... like I wouldn't have made all this effort to come here if that was gonna be the prize.`DH: What would you like?CL: Cash?DH: Cash?CR: We do not have cash.CL: Okay, no, fair. I would have taken like just a gift?CR: How about I don't kick you for every question you get right?CL: Well now I definitely want to win.DH: So every incorrect answer, Charlie is going to kick you.CR: IN THE SHINS.CL: Okay... this is great.DH: Charlie are you happy with hugs?CR: I love a hug.DH: See how easy that was Chris?CL: I'd rather a hug than a kick.DH: Well no, you've talked yourself into it now. Alright, we should probably cut all this - too violent!CR: Sorry I added the kick in!DH: That's alright, we kick Chris on a regular basis. Anyway, so Mischief 2022 here we go![CR makes jingle noise]DH: Nice - do you guys want to do the jingles?CR: BA BA BA... 2022CL: Mischief, Mischief, Mischief!DH: Do not add a cheer in post, Ben.CR: How rude.DH: So January, The Play That Goes Wrong Samaritans partnership, plus restream of Mischief Movie Night: The Wizard of Paddington Station... Chris has got his hand up.CL: Wait, is this a question?DH: No that was just a statement. But I go up at the end.CL: Oh great! It was the way you looked at me, it made me feel like I should add something so I'm going to. I never saw that [Mischief Movie Night], was it good?CR: It was great. In January, we partnered with the Samaritans to raise money for them and it was really fun. We managed to provide some tickets for people who work and volunteer for the Samaritans, to come and see our shows - to give them a bit of respire, because the Samaritans offer an amazing service for people's mental health. But actually the people who are giving that service also need to look after themselves too. So it was about helping the volunteers.And then myself and Jonathan [Sayer] went to The Theatre Cafe in London town!CL: I saw that on Instagram.CR: On the socials! Yeah in the cafe, it was a thing where people paid a little bit to come and have a cup of tea and a chat. And what was really cool was loads of our fans came maybe on their own, and then got chatting to each other as well as me and Jon.CL and DH: Oh wow! Amazing.CR: It was a really lovely experience. I learned so much about the charity, it's incredible.CL: I've got a friend who works volunteers for them. Amazing work.DH: What was your favourite thing you learned about the charity? (Not the quiz, separate question!)CR: Well it was just how they are now offering loads of different ways to provide the service. So obviously the most famous way is over the phone, but they actually offer video calls, email, they still write letters I think.DH: Oh wow.CR: So whatever's appropriate to you. And there's just so much thought and effort put into it by the people who work there.DH: Well done Mischief, well done Samaritans.CL: And what was the show you actually did then? What was, Paddington did you say?CR: We restreamed one of the Mischief Movie Night shows we'd done back in 2021 - we restreamed one of those and you could buy a pass to see it and the money went to Samaritans as well.CL: That's amazing. Well done Mischief.DH: Well done January, lovely.CR: And actually we should say well done Harry Lockyear as well as many other people who work on Mischief who did an incredible job with that campaign.DH: Getting it up and running, well done. I've got some reindeer ears I'm going to take off, because they've got bells on them and I'm worried the mic's picking it up.CL: That's fair, I'm going to take mine off because actually I'm so aware of the top of my head - it's distracting me.DH: You've become aware of the top of your head?CL: So I didn't hear anything you guys just said... no I did!CR: Well I'm not removing this Santa hat at all, EVER!

DH: Are you not too aware of the top of your head?CR: I love finally being aware of the top of my head, I've been missing it.CL: Is that what you've been missing?CR: And then also, what's happening Chris...?DH: I think he's going to sneeze.CL: Oh it's gone!DH: We'll put a sneeze in post, thanks Ben! Okay great! February, Magic Goes Wrong West End finishes...CR: Oh yes! It had a wonderful send off, they were brilliant.CL: Yeah, when did that finish - March did you say?DH and CR: February.CL: February, oh because we're going through the months! I see!CR: That's how the calendar works, Chris!
CL: We're going through 12 months?DH: "February, Magic finishes." "When? March"CL: Once again, there's no excuse this time because I'm not distracted by the top of my head.DH: We're going through all 12 months, it's a review of 2022.CL: I've never done this one before, so first of all I'm a guest - and I didn't really know what was happening, so this is great! So in February... you finished Magic Goes Wrong. That was a great show.DH and CR: Yeah it was really fun.DH: The other thing that happened in February was the Peter Pan Goes Wrong North American debut on tour.CR: Wow! I heard that was good! It was in Canada?DH: "North American debut".CR: Yeah I think it was in Canada as well as America.DH: North America, is that a continent?CR: Yes.DH: So there you. Yeah. I don't even know if it was in America, just Canada?CL: I think it was just Canada, I don't think it's debuted in America.CR: Do you remember hearing about when they went over and Henry Shields ended up staying and then at one point he might have been had to have been in it! Because they kept getting ill.CL: That happens to Henry Shields a lot!CR: I know but of all the people in Mischief to be stuck in a cold and snowy place, the worst one is Henry Shields!DH: And also he found playing Hook exhausting and so there was a part of him that was like "I really hope they don't ask me because I'm cold".CL: It's a hard part!CR: He hates being cold!DH: "I'm cold and frail and don't want to go on!"CL: I think this was last year or before, [The Comedy About A] Bank Robbery when that was on tour, he had to go to Edinburgh and sit in a hotel for five days waiting to go on. (Never went on!)CR: It was actually Groan Ups I think. And he was petrified because he hadn't done it for ages!DH: Yeah.CL: Right.DH: I did Bank Robbery a couple of years ago...CR: You were in Glasgow, yeah.DH: When Sean broke his hand, went to Glasgow.CL: He broke his hand?DH: Yeah.CR: On the bed.CL: On the bed?DH: And then I had to swoop in, first show, pretty much lost my voice! Came in for the second show, too embarrassed to be like "No I can't go on!" So I sat in my dressing room from 10.00am until like the call, doing the gentlest warm up. And by the time the show got round, that was when my ego got the better of me and it worked.CL: I think this is a good lesson for all those that want to be actors listening to this. The best advice you can give is always be match fit and ready to go, especially... like with all of us, we've all been called in. I had one weekend where I had to Bank Robbery on the Saturday and Sunday I had to do Peter Pan Goes Wrong in a different place!DH: Wow!CL: Luckily, Peter Pan I've got all my lines on a script!CR: Do not skimp on that physical and vocal warm up, my goodness! And check those comedy bits. Because I ran into The Play That Goes Wrong once, I mean not physically run into the show! But a couple of years ago I got called in last minute. And because I didn't check something, I ended up having my head smashed against the window frame.CL: Oh wow![BELL RINGS]DH: We've just been informed that there is a prize!CL: So Chris Leask will not be getting kicked!DH: You will still be getting kicked for every wrong answer!CR: I'm just so excited about the prize!DH: Charlie had her hand cupped by her face and I thought she had a question.CR: More because I was like "OH MY GOSH! A prize!"DH: Well speaking of prizes, first question!CL: Oh my days!DH: Cue in a jingle please.CL: MISCHIEF, MISCHIEF...CR: QUIZ TIME!DH: Perfect.CL: Very good, robot girl!DH: Question one: Magic Goes Wrong had its final show in the West End in February and on tour in May. But how many mousetraps were used in total across the whole run?CL: There's mousetraps in that show?CR: Yes, Dave's bit!DH: For The Blade! The bit I played Chris,CR: So it was on your tongue?DH: Tongue and hands.CR: 1,000.DH: 1,000, Chris?CL: No, no, no, you'd be wrong. The whole time?CR: Oh because it's not like a new...CL: I'm going to go with 1,986.DH: 1,986 and 1,000. We're going to go with who's closest... closest is (not by much) Charlie Russell!CL: No... okay.CR: It's less isn't it? Because...DH: No, it's 1,437.CL: That was going to be my second choice.CR: Shut up! I won! Yeah!DH: Yup, round of applause. That's going to be one kick for Chris.CR: No, one nil to me - there's a prize, we will stop kicking each other.DH: Alright, very good. Onto your favourite month Chris: March.CL: It is my favourite month!DH: So March and April, here we go! The first ever Groan Ups UK Tour ended, Magic Goes Wrong was on Comic Relief and The Play That Goes Wrong cast change.CR: Mmm yes, very exciting!DH: So yeah the guys did Comic Relief, it was Hen and Jon wasn't it?CR: I think it was the Mind Mangler, which sounded very fun - I think they had a really nice time.CL: I didn't see that one I'm afraid!CR and DH: Neither did I!CR: There was something happening at the time, there was a reason why I couldn't have watched it...CL: Oh I just had a social life!DH: And I hate Hen and Jon! [Laughs]CL: Say it again.DH: Okay, Magic Goes Wrong was on Comic Relief.CL: Oh my days, it was the best thing I've ever seen in my life. It was so funny...DH: Too sarcastic.CR: Inauthentic.CL: Oh wow! It was so good.DH: I'm glad you're in a place for notes!CR: You're a bad actor, Chris.CL: Yeah, no one's going to disagree with that!DH: There's another quiz question here.CL: Oh I love quiz!DH: Jingle?CR: MISCHIEF, MISCHIEF, MISCHIEF.CR: QUIZ TIME.DH: That sounded like you said Chris time!CL: It does sound like [mispronounces Chris as Cwis].[Laughs]DH and CR: CHWIS!DH: Quiz: which cast member officially has a photo of them hanging in an actual museum?CL: No...CR: Wait, a cast member of The Play That Goes Wrong now? Because of the cast change?DH: It is to do with The Play That Goes Wrong, yes.CR: Alright...CL: One of the actors in, one of the Mischief people...DH: I'll read the question again and listen carefully.CL: Sorry Dave!DH: Which cast member officially has a photo of them hanging in an actual museum?CL: Is it a good museum?CR: Is it because they're not allowed in? Is it because they've been naughty?DH: I'm assuming they've not been bad. I think it's actually impossible for this particular cast member to be banned.CL: If it's you...DH: It's not me!CR: Oh wait! Is it Winston?DH: Yes! It's Winston the dog!CR: YES! Why he's in a museum, how?DH: He's in the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog.

CL: Really?DH: So that's two nil, Charlie Russell.CL: You're doing very well.DH: DING A LING LING LING!CL: You gave yourself a new jingle!DH: No, that's the two nil jingle!CR: DING A LING LING LING!CL: I'm really annoyed, maybe we could do like buzzes instead? Because I don't like the shouting out.CR: What?CL: Because I'm such a kind person I'm just like... [you go first].CR: Okay, I'll buzz.CL: What's your buzz going to be?DH: You can buzz, but you can only get one answer.CL: What's your buzz going to be?CR: WAH!CL: Okay, mine's WAH!CR: ...it's the same buzz, Chris!DH: Okay both buzz at the same time: 3, 2, 1.CR and CL: WAH!DH: I can tell the difference.CL: But maybe actually for the podcast... no we have different voices. Mine's like a smooth river and yours is like a...CR: Jagged rock!DH: You made it like a jagged rock!CR: I made myself laugh.DH: I was say Charlie has a smooth river voice.CR: I do.DH: You have a sort of raspy nightmare [Chris]! May to June, here we go! May to June.CL: May to June, so we're not doing individual months then?DH: Well the last one was March to April.CR: We didn't talk about the cast change! That the fact that they're amazing and awesome.CL and DH: Oh yes! Love them.DH: Tick! May to June - so Magic Goes Wrong tour finished, The Play That Goes Wrong original cast returns and Greg [Tannahill] goes viral on TikTok!CR: That's more exciting!CL: I don't know how I didn't hear about that!DH: I don't have TikTok.CR: Neither do I, we're all millennials!CL: But Greg's done very well?CR: Yeah. But the way I work TikTok, I wait until the really famous TikToks get onto Instagram about three weeks later and so I'm behind but aware.DH: You're on the curve though.CR: I'm sort of I'm behind it... I can see it no it's behind me I don't know! I'm not ahead of the curve, I'm behind it.DH: Yeah you're behind the curve!CR: I'm just always looking at a curve... not in a sexual way.DH: I love how you responded as if someone had suggested that!CL: No one thought that was sexual, but now we think it's sexual!CR: In my head I was like curves.CL: Oh curves.DH: So you're not on the apex of the curve.CR: No I'm behind the curve.CL: I was just thinking of curve...DH: In like a road yeah.CL: Or curb.DH: Different thing.CL: Let's find out about Greg Tannahill, like what why did he deserve to be viral?CR: Shouldn't you take credit for this Dave?DH: Yeah I take full credit for it as I should! So I recorded some videos of Greg while we were doing The Play That Goes Wrong, I think in Manchester, from backstage of him doing the various "Not so fast inspector" entrances.CR: Was this when the original cast went back?DH: Yes.CR: See it oh it's all tying together.DH: It's all linked.CL: So how many entrances was itDH: How many entrances did Greg make? So it was one a day, so it was eight I did eight in total for obviously the matinees and stuff as well.CL: Was it always exactly the same way he said it?DH: It was pretty like almost identical every time, the only way you could really tell the difference was because I filmed it from a slightly different angle every day. But when I played them back to Greg he was like "I need to find some variation". And I was like "No Greg you found the thing that's funny!"CR: He's found what works.CL: He's like the perfect person to work with, as well as I!CR: "As I".CL: The perfect person to work with.CR: But yeah he's it, he's found the the magic formula.CL: Wow.CR: But what was really nice was going back into the tour and actually going to UK because when we first did the tour back in 2015... um 14? We didn't go to Manchester and Newcastle and Jonathan is from Manchester and Rob is from Newcastle, well near Newcastle it's like his home. That's where his big you know home theatre is, so it was really nice for us to go there when the us oldies hadn't actually managed to and the audiences were so lovely.CL: They're great!CR: Oh they came out in full force and was so kind and supportive it was great.CL: I came to you in Manchester.CR and DH: Yes you did!CL: Yeah it was very good.CR: Oh thanks!CL: It was kind of cool, seeing you guys do it as well yeah.DH: Yeah, it was a fun show.CR: Really? You weren't like "Ugh, these guys!"CL: No I mean I've seen that show so many times my girlfriend was in it as well, so I went - she was in it until the cast change in April.CR: Oh so she was in the cast before which is also awesome.CL: So I saw her in it like 15, 20 times.DH: That's so many times.CL: You want to show support and I really enjoyed the show. But then also playing Trevor in it, you see it every single day because you sit out front and I love that show and it still makes me laugh so I think that speaks volumes about out the show and my patience.DH: It does, it's a great show and we had a lot of fun doing it.CR: We did, it was nice to go back into it!DH: We managed to rehearse it in like two, three days - it was amazing how much we remembered, but then you do feel the weight of years.CR: My body is not the same!CL: No... sorry! That sounded like a judgement of you! That wasn't!CR: Wow, Chris! You were so quick off the back of that.CL: I was agreeing with "My body's not the same!" But it sounded like "No, your body is not!"CR: It was tough but also really fun.DH: So quiz question, here we go...CL: MISCHIEF MISCHIEF MISCHIEF.CR: QUIZ TIME!DH: Nice. So quiz question: Greg went viral earlier this year on TikTok. But how many views did the video get?CR: WAH!DH: Charlie Russell?CR: You wanted a buzz, Chris! That's the consequences of your actions!CL: I forgot my buzz!CR: Seven million.DH: Seven million views, Chris would you like to...CL: Yeah 6,999,000.CR: Oh you're so annoying!DH: One under seven million.CL: So I can claim anything below!CR: I can claim anything above that then!DH: We'll go with who's closest because neither of you were bang on and who's closest is... Charlie Russell!CR: HA!CL: No really! How many did he get? This is not fair - how many questions are left?DH: One, two, so yeah three so you can tie.CL: I can bring it back.DH: Okay so the total amount of views was 12 million.CR: Wow!DH: And um 2.2 million Likes, so presumably nearly 10 million people hated it! [Laughs] "We all watched it but we hated it!"CL: Does Greg know all this stuff?DH: Uh I don't know, he must do.CR: We'll text him, yeah don't tell him his head's getting far too big! He's just been nominated for a WhatsOnStage award!CL: I know! Which is a December thing, well let's get that to that then - there is an order!CR: Yeah that you don't understand!DH: We're now on the month of July.CR: Lovely.DH: You happy with that Chris?CL: Yeah yeah.DH: So the Ukrainian Theater Company staged The Play That Goes Wrong for Ukrainian refugees in Latvia.CL: That's incredible.DH: Which was very cool.CR: I think Amy Marchant had a lot to do with that as well, she went out there.CL: She went out and directed it.CR: It was just so lovely to feel like we could do something, I mean I take zero credit I'm just so pleased that it was something that as a company we could do to like make people laugh when things must be so hard.CL: Yeah.DH: There was talk of trying to sort of do something in Ukraine, but it was it was too dangerous.CR: I think we would probably be a hindrance, making it about us.DH: In the way!CR: Like "Please get away! You're unhelpful!""DH: Yeah, that's fair.CL: That's amazing.DH: It was really good.CR: It's not like us specifically, but it is the show and the actors and Amy Marchant and and all the people who had something to do with making that happen, it's just incredible.CL: Amazing.DH: But I went over to Latvia a few months before to help out with the Latvian production, where I spent a couple of days with Amy. And I'm good friends with the guy who plays Max in the Latvian show. So he texted me when the Ukrainian guys were over there and it was just like "It's amazing."CR: Did they rehearse it in Latvia then?DH: Yeah I think at the same theatre, so because Latvia is obviously very... I didn't really realise until I looked at a map when I was flying over, I sort of roughly know where Latvia is but the geography is all very... it's kind of quite congested in that area, not traffic! Countries!CR: It's next to Belarus.DH: Are quite close together and yeah it was really interesting speaking to everyone out there because I think weirdly the guy was saying the kind of closer you are to it, the sort of calmer everyone is. Everyone's very aware of it, but actually there was this kind of amazing feeling of like we're gonna keep going, keep making shows, we're really happy to have like particularly a comedy on and stuff. So it was really um... yeah, I was really same as you Charlie like helpful that we could contribute some kind of positivity in some way.CR: Yeah. I definitely feel like I'm sort of basking in that glory, but I feel very proud of the show.DH: That's great. No quiz question for July.CR: Fair enough.DH: August EdFringe!CL: I wasn't invited!CR: Nah, we didn't want you there Chris! [Laughs]DH: Okay we'll just turn Chris's mic off, thank you.CL: Do not turn my mic off because I've got stuff to add! [Laughs]DH: EdFringe we had three shows...CR: We did!DH: We had Charlie Russell Aims to Please...CR: Hello... that was sexual!DH: We had Mischief Movie Night...CL: You could have asked me to come and play the bongos, I would have come and played a drum for you.DH: Get out! [Laughs] We had Charlie Russell Aims to Please.CR: Hello (that was sexual.)DH: Okay great, we had Mischief Movie Night, hello, and we had Mind Mangler.CL: What would Henry Lewis sound like... "Hello! It's me Henry Lewis!"CR: He's not an ogre!DH: That was better towards the end. "I think Henry, right there he is, right..."CL: "No Henry would be like this!"DH: "Mind Mangler."CR: "Listen, I'm going to read your minds. I'm the Mind Mangler."DH, CR and CL: "I'm going to read your minds, mind, minds!"DH: Well done us.CL: Hello, oh, is that Henry Lewis.DH: "Yes." So what we've learned is our combined talent of three makes one Henry Lewis!CR: That is the ratio!DH: That's how gifted that man is.CR: Every three to one!DH: So we did Edinburgh, Charlie Russell let's talk about Charlie Russell Aims to Please.CR: Yes!DH: Smash hit in Edinburgh, sold out, extra shows, a billion five star reviews!CR: Well I don't think that's true but...DH: How many was it?CR: I don't actually know.DH: Me either but let's say a billion.CR: Let's say a billion. It was really really fun, we were really lucky - the whole thing was sold out which was really cool and it was really exciting to do for Mischief to have a solo show. We'd not done that before had we? No.DH: No, no.CR: And also it's the first thing that I had written and technically it's the first thing that hadn't been written by one of the three, sort of Henry, Henry and John.DH and CL: Yeah.CR: And it had a slightly different take, I think if you think about the spectrum of Mischief's work and you've got Magic Goes Wrong and The Play That Goes Wrong on one end and maybe Groan Ups on the other, I'm further along from Groan Ups, so it's quite a serious element to it which I think shocked people a little. But it was also meant to be really fun and silly and I had a lovely, lovely time. Really exciting.CL: I'm gonna comment on your show.CR: Yeah okay. You saw a preview in London didn't you?CL: I saw preview in London, I couldn't make it up to Edinburgh - I was busy, busy not crying about not being asked to go to Edinburgh! [Laughs] I saw a show in the previews and I honestly was in love with it. I thought it was unbelievable and I think the charm you had, the way... because when I heard about the idea, having done improvisation and stuff like that I was like there's one thing improvising, there's another thing improvising on your own with an audience. That is incredible. So when I heard about it I was a bit nervous because you're my pal and I was a bit like "Oh wow this is intimate and vulnerable and wow, this is intense!" And then I saw you and your charm and your ease at doing it was wonderful and it was so funny. And then when you had that moment where you suddenly brought in a serious element, I was blown away and it was beautiful and honestly by the end of it all of us were crying, because we were just like it was it was so perfectly done and it was so delicate and sensitive and it was just gorgeous. You smashed it.CR: Thank you very much, those are lovely kind words and you're very generous. Thank you.CL: Now ask me about what I did in August, no I'm joking!CR: I would say that the whole thing it's not that the whole thing obviously like I had stuff prepared but at one point we thought maybe what I'd do is is plan the whole thing, and it was actually Katie-Ann my director who has been incredible this whole time was just like "Charlie, you kind of have to do the whole thing and like be ready to improvise"So I had lots prepared that I could do depending on what the audience asked for, but also sometimes they would ask for something I didn't have anything for and it really was a challenge. But I think having done some Emmy in Mischief Movie Night where I play that host role, that had really helped. And you just realise, oh you know what? The worst that can happen is that you know it goes badly it's very embarrassing and you have a cry and that is bad and I was worried about the show - and I thought if it's terrible you know that will be awful. But I just reminded myself that you know, yeah it could go really badly and everyone hates it and it's a big failure. But ultimately my good friends and family will sort of rub my back say, "Yeah sorry mate that didn't go very well". And then we'll move on and you go "Okay, it's worth trying."DH: Yeah, but it wasn't bad at all - it was absolutely amazing.CR: I'm really proud of the show.DH: And also just to say as well like the sort of modesty of going well "You know a lot of it was planned." But like actually I think that's harder, because you had loads of stuff planned but you just didn't know what order it would be in...CR: Of if I'd use it.DH: Or if you'd even use it at all.CR: I had to have more material than time, so I had to have more than an hour's worth of stuff in my head and with props and stuff. But also I was so supported by Mischief and the whole team Katie-Ann and everyone involved and I felt really, really lucky and we had a lovely time up there.And then we were doing Mischief Movie Night, so I would do that at 3.15pm and I would walk over to the International Conference Center and do Mischief Movie Night for an hour which was so fun. And we had such a wonderful stage and a great team up there this year, it was really really fun to do that after and let go. But more improv!CL: Yeah.CR: I was very tired, I couldn't socialise at all! Far too old!

CL: It looked like you were having the best time.CR: It was really fun!CL: Across all three shows including like Mischief Movie Night and Mind Mangler.CR: And Mind Mangler is so funny.CL: All three were great shows.DH: Yeah, Mind Mangler did great as well - I went to see it in the Beyond, and yeah it was amazing. It was really really fun and it's just weird in Edinburgh, because you're like "Oh it's exhausting, but you should be able to do like one or two hours of performing a day". But it's just the fact that you don't have like a home base you sort of go out, socialise and see other shows and so you don't kind of realise until you come back that you're like "Oh man, I'm absolutely destroyed!"CR: I think there's also something in improvising for an hour takes a kind of energy not only physically but also from your brain. And I learned doing a solo show is intense, like you're exhausted. But it was so worth it, we had such a good time.DH: Yeah! Ready for another quiz question?CL: ...Yes. So weighted, I love it.DH: Give me the quiz jingle.CL: This time it's going to be different actually because I'm not happy the way it's gone. So actually Charlie could you just leave this for a second? I'm gonna do this on my own.CR: Okay.CL: Jingle jingle jingle jingle jingle, it's time for Chris to win the jingle jingle quiz.DH: "Time for Chris to win the jingle jingle quiz"? For God's sake. Right let's do it, quiz question... oh, this is an open question! So we don't have an answer for it.CR: Wait so it's subjective?DH: It says open question but...CR: That's not a test!DH: I think it, okay I tell you.CR: Who's gonna be the judge?DH: I'm gonna judge it. It is a subjective question: what's the best way to make sure someone takes your flyer at Ed Fringe?CL: WASP! Uh BUZZ![Laughs]DH: Wasp, Buzz, Chris Leask!CL: Um... you just need to throw it at them okay.DH: Okay, you just need to throw it at them.CL I just didn't like that.DH: Do we have something from...CR: A wide stance right, so you take a wide stance in front of them and then they can't get around you and you can't be pushed over.DH: So Charlie's...CL: And kindness for me, also kindness and positivity.CR: And also um like a really good "Five star improvised comedy show!" and have all the info.CL: I'd make it about them. I'd sell to them. I'd be like "What do you want?"DH: Chris this is flyering, not therapy!CR: "I'd take them on a date!"DH: So Charlie's got the inside track on this because we used to have a joke that John would flyer with a really wide stance.CL: Oh!DH: That's so wide that he would literally be like two foot tall, doing the splits. But because you're you're three nil ahead right?CR: Mmmhmmm.DH: So I'm gonna give this to Chris.CR: Oh pity points, sure.CL: No no no no.DH: No no, not pity points. Because I was on the fence but I tell you what, because Charlie has the inside track and is appealing to what I find amusing...CL: She's technically cheated!DH: But she's wrong, because...CR: It doesn't work!DH: The wide stance does not work, it puts people off like "Why are you standing so weird?"CR: No the real way to do it is to actually be calm and just have a nice conversation and let people walk away if you want. And then just have the information: "It's at 7.30pm, it's for this, this. Here you go." And just let them go.DH: And be kind as well but don't throw the flyers at them.CL: Why is it you need this product?DH: Shameful! [Laughs]CR: You gave him the point?!DH: I gave him the point purely for kindness.CR: Pity!DH: It's quite a rollercoaster with your flyering: you throw it at them, be kind and then say "What do you need?" I would say "I need you not to throw stuff!"CL: And then I'd be like that would never happen again!DH: Great and then I leave.CL: And then I'd be like "I'll see you there!"DH: I don't have a flyer, you threw it at me it's on the floor.CL: Don't worry and then I just follow them.DH: And then a warden comes over and says "Sorry sir, have you just littered? Pick up that flyer. £60 fine."CL: Who's giving fines out in Edinburgh?DH: The litter police.CR: There are actually.CL: There are actually litter police? Wow what a job, I'd love that job.CR: Would you?CL: Yeah. Next question. Please let it be "What has Chris always wanted to be." Because I can tell you that is the litter police.DH: September to October: Chris Leask begins new role as Head of Litter Police!CL: Captain! Commodore!DH: September to October: rehearsals start for Good Luck, Studio, The Play That Goes Wrong's eighth birthday and Good Luck, Studio opens in September.CL: In September?DH: September/October.CL: And it was my birthday.DH: And Chris Leask's birthday.CR: Good Luck, Studio is a new play written by Henry Shields, very funny...DH Starring...CR: Starring...CL: Me!DH: Chris Leask!CR: No no, starring Greg Tannahill. [Laughs]CL: Sorry! TikTok sensation Greg Tannahill and pals.DH: Superstar Greg Tannahill!CR: That's not a joke, he was in it.CL: And we should probably mentioned now that he has been nominated for a WhatsOnStage.CR: Award. Not just a WhatsOnStage!DH: And if you're listening to this, do not vote for him.CR: What?!CL: No no!DH: It's reverse psychology, guys. Do not vote for him! Don't go on the WhatsOnStage website and click "Yeah Greg Tannahill is a really good supporting actor".CR: Also Tomisin [Ajani] in The Play That Goes Wrong is is nominated as well.CL: Really!DH: Do not vote for him! Yeah!CL: That's amazing! What's that for then?CR: I think newcomer?CL: Wow!CR: Totally deserved.CL: Absolutely, he plays Trevor. He's brilliant.DH: He was great when I saw him, yeah.CL: So there you go! That's very good.CR: Don't go and vote for them (but do!)DH: I'm petitioning currently to see if WhatsOnStage will do a worst actor category and the only person in it is Harry Kershaw.CL: That's nice yeah, every year?DH: Every year Harry Kershaw wins Worst Actor, even if he's not worked! [Laughs]CR: Well he won't after a while! Chris, no Good Luck, Studio! It was an incredible show, so funny I think the writing was brilliant and everyone in it was so well cast and did their job superbly. How did you find it?CL: I absolutely loved it, I thought it was an amazing experience. I loved the play, I mean Shields when we were filming The Nativity was when he first sent me the script. Three years ago?CR: 2020.CL: That's two years ago. And I read it then and the way it moved on like, his I mean his writing is so brilliant - even the first drafts like you look at it and go not much has to change.CR: He's very annoying isn't he?CL: A very talented writer. He also understands voices and people's clowns. So I mean he wrote for example I think what Greg's character was he knew, he knows what Greg's clown is and he writes so well for that performer to perform that role. Does that make sense?CR and DH: Yeah yeah.CL: And I think with the addition of also having like Henry Lewis directing it, who was an amazing director like he... apart from just being a really decent, kind, amazing human being, he just understands comedy so well. He just knows how to communicate and sometimes it's actually quite refreshing... there was a few times like in the rehearsal room I'd be looking at a joke and be like "This isn't working". And it would be so simple which you never get directors do and go "Oh just pause for five seconds and then say it". And you just go okay and you do it and it's so mechanical but it works. And the man's a genius, he just understands comedy so well. But also it was such a comfortable room, having both Shields and Hen in there because they just let you play as well - they just go "Just find it, there's no pressure - you'll find the joke, just have fun with it and relax."CR: It was Henry's directorial debooo wasn't it?CL and DH: It was, yeah!CR: Incredible work.DH: Absolutely smashed it!CL: And it was produced by which was new for Mischief as well - being produced by Mercury Theatre and Salisbury. So getting them on board was amazing as well, they were two amazing theatres.DH: I heard many good things about them.CL: Yeah they were so lovely and they were so... I think they really matched what Mischief's energy is which is creating a piece as an ensemble, being a family and supporting each other. And they really came in and and joined us in that family feel, which I thought was really amazing.CR: I'm really glad you had such a good time, because when I saw it I was so proud that it was the next Mischief thing. So I'm really glad that that level of like quality was also reflected in the room and your experience.CL: Yeah and I I also think it was quite nice for Mischief as well to go to just a different side of comedy, whereas like I think... it's not to say it's that, I mean we do have jokes in some of our shows that we do that are a bit darker and a bit ruder. But this was a lot more of a like a dark comedy, I think it was actually quite nice to explore that and quite nice for the fans to see a different side of what we do. And I think it came across really well I think people really enjoyed it.DH: I think I was I was really proud of Mischief like kind of this year because I think... I know like Charlie and I have also been pushing for like kind of more dynamic sort of shows in the Mischief repertoire.CR: Just varied.DH: Yeah and I think to have like Groan Ups and then Charlie Russell Aims to Please and then Good Luck, Studio kind of in the canon is really exciting.CL: Oh so great.DH: And we can always, you know we can always keep making more Goes Wrong stuff - but it's always also really exciting to like work on these newer things or like a different style of comedy. I was so proud when I went to see it. Obviously not of you, [Chris].CL: No no no, that's completely fair. In fact I think the whole show I just look a mess because I was dressed as a dragon. And I mean day one when they showed me the costume they were like I looked it, I was like "Okay cool, so I'm already a sweaty man", so is Gareth Tempest (who is also in a lot of Mischief stuff, he was a in Bank Robbery as well). We both had to wear dragon costumes and they showed us the costume and we were like "That's a quilt".DH: Yeah.CL: "You've made it, the costume is a quilt."DH: Mate, welcome to my world and [Peter] Pan I was in a military sleeping bag.CR: Just in blankets, yeah.CL: Wow, yes!CR: Well you know what, next time you guys can be in your underwear!CL and DH: Yeah, sure.DH: I have also been in my underwear quite a lot.CL: You weren't in your underwear in Pan?DH: I've been in my underwear in Pan, been in my underwear in The Goes Wrong Show on the BBC.CL: Been in your underwear at home.DH: Yeah and you know just around the house! Now for November and November is Mind Mangler tour announced, and we're going straight into a quiz question!CL: Okay okay stop! Oh yeah that was to me, you continue.DH: No but you go, what's the jingle?CL: Oh um, November... Movember... Bobember.DH: We're gonna leave you with that Chris.CR: Outrageous, if you give him another pity point for that nonsense, I'm gonna lose it.CL: I rhymed November.CR: With what?!DH: November, Movember, Bobember. [Laughs] You didn't even put a 'v' in it!CL: When you say it back...CR: You didn't either you could say 'remember'.CL: Did I not?CR: "Remember remember the fifth of November".CL: Well that's already taken, I'm not going to steal someone else's song.CR: I got confused because my show is on the 5th of December.DH: So you're using that to remember December.CL: "December, December, the the 5th of December."CR: Moving on!DH: Quiz question, here we go! I don't expect you to know this specifically, but it will be whoever gives the most sort of amusing answer. Okay? Where did the Mind Mangler play his last gig?[DH singing]CR: Oh off the M25!DH: Off the M25, any advances on...CR: In a petrol station.CL: BUZZ WASP WASP! Off the High Wycombe...CR: He's gone.CL: I've panicked! I've used all my energy on November Movember! Is there an actual answer to this?DH: There is a natural answer.CL: So where did he play his last gig?DH: Are you asking me the question?CL: So hang on, the tour talk coming next year, where did he play his last gig?DH: No no where does the Mind Mangler, not when's Henry Lewis playing the Mind Mangler?CL: Is it the Watford Intersection or something like that? Watford petrol station? Watford petrol station!DH: It is the Luton Holiday Inn Conference Center: Suite 2B.CR: That is brilliant and I should have known that!CL: So he actually just does it in a suite?DH: Yeah yeah, like the suite in the Conference Centers.CL: Oh I see.DH: Not in like a hotel suite.CL: No I was about to say you know.CR: I should have known that! Luton's right next to Bedford and that's where I'm from.DH: I think if I'm gonna have to award a point, it's going to be to Charlie Russell.CR: YES! COME ON!

CL: No it's deserved, it's deserved. I was too busy trying to find the right answer, Ishould have just said something.DH: If you'd just gone with something like "Inside a pear"...CL: I should have said inside a pear.DH: Or you know a goose Farm or something, there you go! Big laugh!CL: That would have been great, damn it! Can we do it again?CR: NO!DH: Do one more and if you can make me laugh, we'll see.CR: Oh my God!DH: Where did he play his last gig?CL: In a Christmas cracker! No it wasn't good!DH: I didn't laugh!CL: But it was it was themed! Charlie?DH: Where did he play his last gig?CR: Up the Eiffel Tower![Laughs]DH: Yeah it was because she did like a jaunty comedy...CR: It was the delivery! And also because I almost said "Up the something else!"CL: I thought you were going to say "Up his arse!"CR: Yeah it was a quick curve away!DH: That was an emotional change midway through the gag! Okay so it's four one to Charlie. But maybe the last question will be worth three points who knows.CL: It should be.DH: Oh okay so we're in December now. Yes Christmas!CR: Remember remember, December December.DH: Remember remember, December is Christmas. Okay, so in December Charlie Russell Aims to Please returns.CR: And it went very well, we had a lovely time.CL: Where was it at?CR: The Other Palace, we did two back to back and it was super fun and The Other Palace were awesome, so cool.DH: Was it in the cabaret space or the main space?CR: No darling, it was in the main space!CL: Whoa and you had to add a show, because you had sold so many tickets.CR: Thanks to all the wonderful Mischief fans!DH: Too popular. Chris had bought too many tickets.CL: I had bought too many tickets.DH: First show was empty other than Chris.CL: Just me![Laughs]DH: I've got new podcast here but I'm going to take this opportunity to plug mine and Chris's podcast.CR: Outrageous, it's not actually a Mischief podcast - but you know what? We love you.DH: It's got me, Chris, Henry Shields, Ellie Morris and Adam Meggido.CL: And uh yeah you should check it out. It's called Hell Or High Rollers and it is on all your favourite listening platforms.DH: Yeah what's that phrase?CL: I don't like that phrase!CR: Wherever you find your podcasts.CL: Wherever you find your favourite podcasts.CR: It'll be there.CL: Am I putting the favourite in?CR: You don't need it, it's welcome.CL: But it's called Hell Or High Rollers and it is a fantasy D&D... I don't like saying D&D because you know it is kind of D&D but it is more than that.CR: It's accessible even if you aren't into DND.CL: Exactly.DH: It's a comedy like role-playing, storytelling.CR: Not sexual!DH: It's like imagine if you're into non-sexual improv! [Laughs]CR: Who is into that?!DH: Basically the way I just tried to sell it to Jono was it's Mischief Movie Night with a couple of dice rolls.CL: Yeah basically. And it's very silly and funny and we really enjoy it. We've got five episodes, about to record the sixth.DH: And five stars.CL: We've got five stars, just one!CR: From?DH: I don't know there must be someone.CR: Yeah I like this!DH: Do not fact check that please!CL: And we've got another podcast.DH: Yep.CR: This one.DH: Mischief Makers.CL: But do we talk about this?DH: Yeah but we're doing it right now...CL: Okay guys, we've also got another podcast, if you're listening to it - it's this one here.[Laughs]DH: Great.CR: It's exactly where you find your favourite podcast, because you found it!CL: Congratulations that was the final quiz question!CR: No it wasn't!DH: Hilariously we're almost at the end of this podcast, so we're plugging this podcast at the end.CR: Well there may be more episodes, so subscribe and tell people about it, that kind of thing!CL: Go on your favourite listening platforms.CR: Don't go on like your least favourite ones, we won't be there.DH: You'll find the podcast on your favourite listening platforms. Don't look for podcasts in the mail, they won't be there.CR: As in the post?DH: They'll be on your listening platforms.CR: We're so old.DH: We've cleared that up. Okay, this Christmas will be a re-airing of The Goes Wrong Show and also Christmas Carol Goes Wrong.CR: I know this is very exciting! Three different days leading up to Christmas, we've got Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, The Spirit of Christmas and The Nativity.CL: Yeah yeah yeah, I'm very excited about that. That's great, it's gonna be great.CR: I'm really looking forward to this because I haven't watched Christmas Carol for a long time. I'm enjoying... I love the little model of London Town.CL and DH: Oh yeah!CR: And obviously everybody in their green suits.CL: Yeah that's traumatic!CR: And then The Spirit of Christmas, you've got Henry Lewis being obviously three times more talented than everybody else and Henry Shields getting stuck in a snowman costumeCL: Which is very funny!DH: Yeah, that destroyed me for a few weeks, just him getting genuinely stuck in the snowman costume screaming cabbage!CR: CABBAGE!CL: And then you've got The Nativity...CR: Oh yes which I think is really fun.CL: Where you've got naked viral TikTok Greg!CR: Oh yeah, TikTok star Greg Tannahill.CL: So you want to see that, 12 million view man.DH: If you want to see Greg naked, go to... why is he naked?CR: Yeah he is, as King Herod.CL: He spins around doesn't he.CR: He's in the nude. I mean there are some modesty garments, but you know. Can't see them.DH: Barely!CR: Barely!DH: We had to screw his like slippers to the floor, they kept flying off!CR: And that was filmed in between two different lockdowns, so it was quite an intense time.CL: Well the night of filming, we had to get a special letter because lockdown hit at midnight. So we had to get a special letter in case we were stopped by the police on the way back.DH: ROGUE comedy!CR: It's definitely worth watching and that one obviously having only been aired once, so it'll be fun to watch that one again.DH: Um okay, how many nips does Santa take in The Spirit of Christmas?CL: Okay he says it once when he goes over, right.CR: And then it breaks so he has as another one. And then he has a load while the bottle is breaking.CL: Yeah which I'm gonna put on that so that's five.CR: And then he goes back for a few. Shall we do this together?CL: And then I think he mentions it at the end "Too many nips!"CR: I think we're gonna go with 10. It's not how many it's mentioned, it's how many he actually drinks.DH: How many nips does Santa take?CR: I think let's go with a round 10. Are we doing this together or not?CL: I'm gonna go with 10.DH: There are technically two answers, one is a slightly more comedy answer.CR: "Too many"?DH: "Too many nips!" That's one answer, but the actual number you're gonna go for is 10?CL: I think we should go 11.CR: Okay, turn it up to 11.DH: You're gonna turn it up to 11?CR and CL: Yeah.DH: The answer is... eight.CL: Oh oh well that's a really sad Christmassy ending!CR: It isn't because I still won! YEAH! WAHAHA YOU FELL FOR MY GAME!DH: Charlie Russell is the winner! Now we did learn about a prize, so what is the prize...[Off mic: A bag of chocolate coins.]CR: Ahhhh!CL: Which are actually the best because that's the best Christmassy thing in the world!DH: You get a bag of chocolate coins!CR: I get chocolate coins!DH: Do we have them here? Yeah!CR: Oh my goodness! We'll present the chocolate coins. Chris as the runner-up, you may sing a jingle for the chocolate coins to enter.CR: Aw Chris, I'll give you a chocolate coin!DH: A cheeky little chocolate coin.CL: Yeah I want a coin!CR: What you gonna do for it?CL: [Singing] Here they come, sweet little gift, the gift of winning... the quiz.CR: [Singing] It's not quite cash but it looks like cash. I got coins for winning the quiz!DH: [Singing] And that's the quiz!CL: That was nice!CR: Who wants a chocolate coin? Do you want a big one?CL: Yeah!CR: Merry Christmas everyone!DH: Merry Christmas everyone!CR: Happy New Year, have a happy holiday if you don't celebrate Christmas itself. I hope you have some good time off and rest and look after yourselves in this wintery time. Wrap up!DH: Charlie's doing the sign off, Chris and I are eating chocolate.CL: Cos we're eating chocolate. Thanks for listening guys, and don't forget to tell your friends about these podcasts...DH: Wherever you get your podcasts, don't check the mail. [Laughs]CR: Yeah and just thanks for supporting us this year. These guys [Chris and Dave] are useless. Thanks for supporting us this year, 2022 obviously it's been so nice getting stuff back on the road and on stage and here's to another great year in 2023.DH: Yes. Thank you very much for all of your support, Mischief Makers listeners.CR: We love you, you're the best.DH: And vote for Harry Kershaw for worst actor! Good night![Laughs]