James Veitch (comedian)

James Veitch
Residence London / New York
Nationality British
Alma mater Sarah Lawrence College, University of Aberdeen
Occupation Comedian
Organization Pale Fire
Website www.veitch.me

James Veitch /ˈviːtʃ/ is a British comedian, director, writer and producer. He is artistic director and founder of site-specific theatre company "Pale Fire." He was educated at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland[1] and Sarah Lawrence College[2] in New York. He has worked with the Royal National Theatre, BBC[1] and directed for Seattle Public Theatre.[3]

He has been described by The Guardian as "ahead of the poetic curve",[4] "ingenious, one to watch" by The Independent [5] a "fiercely intelligent theatrical jack-of-all-trades", by Broadway World,[2] "a British theatre director with a wicked sense of humour" by The New York Times.[6]

The Fundamental Interconnectedness of Everyone with an Internet Connection

Veitch's first solo comedy show debuted at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe[2] in 2014. Veitch had spent the past year responding to as many scam emails as he could; the show concerned scam emails and, more broadly, the nature of the internet. “The internet is, like much of life, full to the brim with uncertainties. On the one hand it’s allowed a doctor in Dubai to perform a life-saving operation on a patient in Peking. On the other hand it’s also allowed me to enrol a gerbil at Eton. I’m not sure where I stand is basically what I’m saying.”[7]

Universally praised, its sell-out run [8] was described by the Sunday Herald as "Topically brilliant comedy. Tears-down-the-face funny," [9] and by The Scotsman as containing "Near-constant belly laughs." [10] The Independent described Veitch as "Ingenious ... one to watch."[5]

The correspondence with scammers, some of which Veitch publishes on his blog Bluffable[11] is due for publication in summer 2015.[12]

Pale Fire Theatre Company

His company Pale Fire derives its name from the novel by Vladimir Nabokov[2] and is influenced by Nabokovian ideas of art.[2] Veitch has described art as being about "duplicity and multiplicity."[2] Pale Fire's mandate shuns didacticism, allegory, authorial intention and art as a form of social commentary. Pale Fire 'adores' the truth of the imagination, fantastical deceit, indolence and aesthetic bliss.[13]

Notable productions as director

The Hothouse

In 2006 Veitch directed Harold Pinter's The Hothouse to critical acclaim in Vancouver, Canada.[1] Reviewing The Hothouse The Courier described Veitch as a "brainy, intense young actor/director.[1] The production was characterised by elements of farce; silhouetted action took place behind a scrim accompanied by sound that critics described as a 'cacophonic assault appropriate to the collapse of the twin towers.'[1]

Keats in Hampstead

In 2007 Veitch wrote, directed and produced Keats in Hampstead, a play that takes place in the garden of Keats House.[14][15] developed as a celebration of John Keats' life, work and love affair with Fanny Brawne.[16] In 2010 Keats in Hampstead was mounted at Keats House for the third consecutive year.[3]

Room No. 103, Hotel Chelsea

External video
This is what happens when you reply to spam email, James Veitch, 9:48, TED talk[17]

In December 2015 Veitch gave a talk at a TED conference entitled "This is what happens when you reply to spam email." The talk was made available on TED.com on Friday, January 8th 2016, and by Wednesday the 13th had accrued over 5.4 million views.[17]

In 2010 James Veitch wrote, directed and produced Room #103 inside suite 103 at the Hotel Chelsea in New York City.[18] Room #103 included music from Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and a excerpts from the collected letters of Dylan Thomas (all former residents of the hotel)[19] which critics described as a "wonderful example of art making the past come to life while being presented by a company that took great care to treat the source material with respect"[19] and a 'history meets memory' play.[2] Among the former guests invoked were the characters of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen[19] the latter of whom was murdered in the suite the play was performed in.[3]

He has written several short plays including Romantics, a one-act comedy about the Romantic poets, published in Awkward 2 by Awkward Press[20] and "Leisure", a one-act that premiered at the Vancouver Walking Fish Festival in 2007.[1]

Works

2010s

Comic transcripts of his interactions with a scammer have been published by The New York Times.[21][22] He will return to Keats House in 2011 with a play he is writing about the lives of the Romantics Poets. He is currently writing a musical.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ledingham, Jo (4 July 2006). "Young director no hot house flower when it comes to Pinter Hothouse". Vancouver Courier. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Blumenthal, Deborah (22 July 2010). "BWW Features: James Veitch & Site Specific Theatre". Broadway World. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Love Affair with Fanny Brawne to be played out at Keats House". The Ham and High. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  4. ↑ Thorpe, Vanessa (9 July 2009). "Art beat: Poetic justice for John Keats". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  5. 1 2 Jones, Alice (8 August 2014). "Laughs go global as Eddie Izzard and Dylan Moran bring international comedians to the Edinburgh Fringe". The Independent. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  6. ↑ Pogue, David (23 December 2010). "A Day With an E-Mail Scammer – Comments". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  7. ↑ Walker, Martin (16 July 2014). "The James Veitch Three Minute Interview". Broadway Baby. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "James Veitch: The Fundamental Interconnectedness of Everyone with an Internet Connection". Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "James Veitch Gilded Balloon: Turret Until Aug 25 Four stars". The Sunday Herald. 17 August 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  10. ↑ Gray, Martin (13 August 2014). "James Veitch: The Fundamental Interconnectedness of Everyone with an Internet Connection". The Scotsman. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  11. ↑ Veitch, James. "Conversations with Scammers". Retrieved 28 Dec 2014.
  12. ↑ Clarke, Lauren (13 August 2014). "Quadrille Deal For James Veitch And Dot Con". Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  13. ↑ Veitch, Alastair James. "Pale Fire". Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  14. ↑ Hart, Christopher (2 August 2009). "Savour John Keats' poetry in garden where he wrote". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  15. ↑ Hazel (30 July 2010). "Preview: Keats In Hampstead @ Keats House". Londonist. Gothamist LLC. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  16. ↑ Loeb, Josh (15 July 2010). "Feature: Theatre – Keats in Hampstead at Keats House". The Islington Tribune. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  17. 1 2 "This is what happens when you reply to spam email". TED (conference). 8 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  18. ↑ Peter, Thomas (23 February 2010). "Playbill, Evocative Evening About Dylan Thomas to Play Hotel Chelsea". Playbill. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  19. 1 2 3 Hollander, Judd. "A Fascinating Look at a Fascinating Place – "Room No. 103, Hotel Chelsea"". Broadway after Dark. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  20. ↑ Dinsmore, Jeffrey (25 August 2010). "Meet the Awkward 2 Writers". Awkward Press. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  21. ↑ Pogue, David (23 December 2010). "A Day With an E-Mail Scammer". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  22. ↑ Gobry, Pascal-Emmanuel (28 December 2010). "Hilarious: London Writer Takes Email Scammer For A Ride". Silicon Alley Insider. Business Insider. Retrieved 13 March 2011.

External links

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