Everything you need to know about Hecklers Welcome
In Hecklers Welcome, James Acaster throws out the stand-up comedy rulebook in a wildly unpredictable show as he embraces the chaos that ensues.
With his observational eye and incomparable wit, Acaster shares hilarious on-the-fly meta-analysis of his own material, along with stories from his childhood that spurred him to pursue a career in comedy – from his participation in his grandmother’s spinning wheel workshop at school to his impersonation of King Charles (then Prince Charles) at age six.
Performed “in the round” at the Royal & Derngate Theatre in Northampton, James is surrounded by an audience who are encouraged to heckle him and be disruptive.
Across the special, James unleashes his infectious energy as he delves into what initially drew him to the stage and what keeps him there.
Who is James Acaster?
James Acaster is a 39-year-old British comedian, TV panellist and podcaster originally from Kettering, Northamptonshire.
While he was part of the drama club at school, he later developed an interest in music, and pursued this with bands with friends, including The Wow! Scenario, Pindrop and Three Line Whip. His initial dream was becoming a professional musician.
Starting stand-up in 2008 and moving to north London, James would supplement his income from shows by working as a teaching assistant at a school for autistic children.
In 2010 he was the support act for Josie Long on tour, and the following year he joined Milton Jones on the road.
From 2011 James became a regular face at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, breaking the record for the most annual shows in a row to be nominated for Best Comedy Show.
During this time he became friends with frequent collaborators Ed Gamble, Nish Kumar and Josh Widdicombe among others.
He developed a signature style blending observational humour with eccentricity on stage, often pretending to be characters, but later included a light-hearted take on his mental health.
James has released three books: Classic Scapes, a half-memoir detailing bizarre stories of his life; Perfect Sound Whatever, where he argues 2016 was the best year for music ever; and Guide to Quitting Social Media, after he pulled away from the sites.
Where else can I see James Acaster?
James is likely best known for his podcast, Off Menu, which he co-hosts with Ed Gamble. In each episode, a celebrity guest is welcomed into their “dream restaurant” and asked about their perfect meal, folding in stories about their lives. The show has been running since 2018.
James has also been a regular face on panel shows since 2011, including Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Would I Lie to You, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and The Big Fat Quiz of the Year.
In 2018, he competed in Taskmaster, and in 2022 he appeared on Sky special The Unofficial Science of Home Alone alongside Guz Khan, where they recreated some of the traps made famous in the Christmas movies.
He’s also tried his hand at acting, appearing in 2021 family musical Cinderella as one of the mice footman after replacing John Mulaney at the last minute. In 2023, he appeared in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.