Robin Ince – Weapons of Empathy (original) (raw)
★★★★★
Before the show even starts, Ince is buzzing about the stage in an excitable frenzy. Handing out cards with the request to ‘write down any books that made you what you are, that changed you, that tells me about you’. He also recommends books with such a fervour, he gives ‘your favourite English Teacher’ vibes.
Once the show begins proper, Ince enthuses with an unmatched passion about his love of books. Not just the words, but the feel, the binding and even the marginalia. Usually comedian’s preach philosophically and its an annoying ego trip, not here. Ince is authentic in his love for the power of books. He isn’t pretentious, he mixes Derek Jarman’s diaries with the The Book of Dougal from The Magic Roundabout. He also dispels the myth that you ‘have to finish every book you start’, lending each proclamation to a very entertaining anecdote about his travails at book signings and library appearances.
Beneath the jovial Radio 4 safety of the show (which the audience lap up) Ince is quietly activistic and it’s wonderful. He managed to include writings by trans authors and undercut bigotry and prejudice, without once ruffling a feather, it was wonderful to see real allyship on display.
His message that starting a day by reading the odd bit of a book, can enthral you and feed you, in a world where we search for poison, why don’t we reach for nourishment?
Robin Ince – Weapons of Empathy is on at Gilded Balloon at The Museum until August 27th
