‘We’re not Ant and Dec!’: an interview with Low Effort Sketches
The erudite sketch comedy duo on Gorillas, mullets, and not standing in a particular order
Typical. You wait ages for an interview with either an indiepop singer or a sketch comedy duo and then two come along on consecutive days.
Wednesday January 31st is the first Next Level Sketch of the year at Hoopla Impro - come along! Buy tickets!
To celebrate, I asked questions of one of our guest acts, the fab Low Effort Sketches, and completely ignored the other three, for I am a cold, cold man who longs for death.
Also, I’ve interviewed Joz Norris already.
Hi Low Effort Sketches! What’s the most inaccurate name you’ve ever been welcomed to the stage with? (I once introduced “Shelf” as “Sketch”).
"Low Effect Sketches" was brutal, but perhaps just as accurate as our real name!
How would you describe your comedy style to Simon Munnery with a bucket on his head?
Low effort. Also, sketches. Also, do you want a hand with that bucket??
Did you get into comedy for the fame, the glory, the groupies, or the significant financial reward?
Yes.
I believe you are friends from “childhood”. What are the advantages and disadvantages to writing with someone that knows you so intimately?
The upside is that, when writing together, we rarely have creative differences.
The only exception to this is that Andy is weirdly obsessed with gorillas and always wants to incorporate them into our sketches, which Alice is not on board with.
If you ever see us perform a sketch with a gorilla in it, just know that behind the scenes Andy has had to slowly wear Alice down to get to that point.
The downside (apart from gorillas) is that it can be quite difficult to be objective about our writing.
Sometimes we write something thinking it's hilarious, and it bombs on its first outing, probably because it relies heavily on some shared niche mindset or experience.
Did you have a particular moment where you thought “oh, we’re actually good at this! Shit.”
I think we’re still waiting for this moment?? Winning Sketch Off was (and remains) a genuine shocker, and was at least the moment when we realised we should probably start pursuing it more seriously.
Sketch Off 2024 is impending. As previous winners, what is your advice to those who long to wear this particular crown?
It might take multiple attempts to get through to the later rounds, luck is genuinely a massive factor! We entered in two previous Sketch Offs without getting to the semi finals and our act wasn’t even that different.
Also, if you get to the final, do have a quick think about what you might say in an acceptance speech.
We didn’t, and subjected the audience to the most awkward rambling nonsense they’ve ever heard.
What have you to say to the rumours that quite a lot of the acts aren’t really sketch performers at all, and are often just stand-ups in a fake moustache?
We cannot confirm the veracity of these rumours, but there’s no shame in donning a fake moustache in the name of comedy! (Andy has done so).
Hold onto your hats, this is a two-part question. A) Which one of you is taller, and B) which one of you stands to the left when addressing the audience from the stage?
Andy is taller, and usually stands on Alice’s right from the audience perspective. But we mix things up sometimes - we’re not Ant and Dec!
There are a lot of clowns about at the moment, and a lot of character comedians. Whereas I always feel you are always sort of versions of yourself.
What are your thoughts on the current alternative comedy trends, and have you ever considered moving to Paris to be brutalised by an Octogenarian Frenchman?
We’ve never been particularly theatrical, which is perhaps why we end up playing versions of ourselves.
There are some brilliant character comedians breaking onto the scene, and all credit to them - if you can do it, and it’s funny, then why the heck not!
I know one of you is an astronomy PhD style human, but you can both answer this: what’s the best star sign for gingers?
We conducted a highly scientific review of the literature, and found a Glamour article from 2021 citing “sunny tangerine” as Leo's “kindred spirit hair shade”.
So, we tentatively conclude Leo, but note that this finding has not yet been subjected to rigorous peer review.
Ok fine I’ll ask a serious question. What do you think we might be on the verge of slightly more understanding that is currently extremely baffling, and is it dark energy?
Why mullets have made a comeback. Andy is going to find out by getting one to see what all the fuss is about. Watch this space.
You can follow Low Effort Sketches on Instagram if you like! Also why not buy tickets to our show, eh.