Comedy: Helen Arney – Voice Of An Angle
Previewing her Edinburgh show at The Caroline of Brunswick is musical geek pin-up Helen Arney
Your new show is called ‘Voice Of An Angle’. Will there be some fabulous mathematical melodies?
“Absolutely! And probably some cryogenically frozen lovers, the real story behind Schrodinger’s cat, biologically accurate R’n’B and unrequited love at the laboratory Christmas party too…”
You have been very involved in Radio 4’s Infinite Monkey Cage, and then the fabulous Uncaged Monkeys tour with Professor Brian Cox and Robin Ince. Any news if there’ll be another tour this year?
“I’ve been incredibly lucky to be asked on the radio show a couple of times, and doing the tour was an absolute joy. We played to sold-out 1,000 and 2,000-seat venues full of curious, interested people who wanted more than just a night out, they want to have their minds a little bit blown. It was a small victory for entertainment that refuses to pitch to the lowest common denominator, and a victory for the audience who want to see more shows like it.
I don’t know if there will be another tour this year – in the autumn I’m on tour with Festival of the Spoken Nerd, the sci-curious comedy night I do with Matt Parker and Steve Mould. We’re in Brighton for your comedy festival on 12 October, if you need an extra science comedy fix then!”
What was the last thing you learned that made you go ‘ooh!’?
“The Jubilee weekend was also the transit of Venus – the planet passed between the Earth and the Sun and with some simple kit you could watch it happen. It only occurs about four times every 200 years – the next one is 2117 so it really was a once in a lifetime experience.”
What was the last thing you learned that made you go ‘oh, no!’?
“Realising that my family would rather sit at home and watch the Jubilee parade.”
What is the most wonderful thing in your bag right now?
“Some cello rosin I bought yesterday, so I can rosin up and have a go at the musical saw I’ve been loaned…possibly appearing at a show near you soon, if I can get the hang of it and not slice my arm off in the process.”
Given unlimited funds, what would be your next big creative project?
“Write a musical about Ada Lovelace – daughter of the poet Lord Byron. She had a short but fascinating life, and wrote the world’s first computer programme. All the more extraordinary because the first computer wasn’t built until 100 years after her death.”
You’ve done some fantastic collaborations with the likes of Terry Saunders and Paul Richards. Are you working with anyone else at the moment?
“Yep, my boyfriend, Rob Wells! As well as my solo show at the Underbelly, we’re doing a free lunchtime show called Domestic Science at the Edinburgh Fringe. We’ll be solving a few mysteries of science live on stage with help from guests, and cake, and trying to stay in a relationship at the same time. Wish us luck.
Once the Edinburgh Fringe is over I’ll be recording songs from Voice Of An Angle into an album, so there’s plenty of little collaborations in the pipeline for that…Professor Elemental is on the list – he did a guest rap on my ‘Animals’ song last year and I still haven’t met him yet – despite releasing a track together!”
What’s the best unwritten song title in the world, ever?
“‘Celia Pacquola’s Clam Jamboree.’”
With support from Ashley Freize – Discograffiti, Caroline Of Brunswick, Thursday 26 July, for free downloads and tour dates see www.helenarney.com
