Bolton comedian and Children in Need charity single frontman Peter Kay announced his first live shows for eight years last week. Astonishingly, he managed to sell out 20 nights at the Manchester Evening News Arena within an hour. This comfortably outdid the venue's previous record-holders Take That, who played 11 nights in 2007.
Considering how often his performances have been recycled on video, DVD and by Channel 4, it seems remarkable that Kay hasn't toured since 2002 – but then he's a genius case study in making a small amount of material stretch an incredibly long way. Unlike most comedians, the less Kay has done, the more popular he has become – Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere, his last TV series of note, was broadcast six years ago. If only Michael McIntyre would follow his example.
Kay's Mum Wants a Bungalow Tour lasted 180 nights and travelled the length of Great Britain. Since he'll play to audiences of 10,000 a night, his 2010 tour - the cunningly named The Tour That Doesn't Tour Tour, which comes hot on the heels of a night hosting the Brit awards – may see him reach as many people without having to leave Manchester. For Kay it's the perfect compromise. He gets to stay at home with the kids and watch the Paul O'Grady Show while still selling 200,000 tickets (and it wouldn't be surprising if Kay added even more dates). Why go to Norwich when Norwich can come to you?
Kay's residency is, I suspect, a trend that will become common in the next decade with big-name comedians and musicians sticking to the convienience of their home towns or relocating to London (as Michael Jackson was planning to do at the O2) to avoid the pain and cost of touring. Fans unwilling to travel can visit their local multiplex (Ross Noble was the latest comedian to simulcast his show to a live and cinema shackled audience) or await the inevitable DVD.
On the plus side, without the confines of travelling, live performances can be bigger and more technically ambitious – do people go to those never ending Las Vegas residencies because they admire Elton John or Celine Dion or because they believe they are to be dazzled? Not that anyone travelling to the MEN to see Kay should expect much in the way of pyrotechnics or glitz – the last time he toured, his stage set consisted of a balloon and a chair. No one will mind; for all his lack of work he still has the ability to make people laugh like few others. I just hope he's written some new material - garlic bread might have been the future back in 2001 but we've all tasted it now.
