Al Porter is moving onto a new phase in his life. As his friends get married and parents enter retirement, he plans on bringing his comedy into a new phase too.
“I hope I’m doing the right thing, and kind of calling it a day and moving on to just the funny stuff - the next stage. I don’t think there’s any clean break from your past. I think you carry lessons with you, and you have to live in the present, but you also have to acknowledge where you came from."
In 2017 Porter revealed he had been accused of inappropriate behaviour by industry colleagues, and was later cleared of any wrongdoing in an inquiry following a separate complaint when Porter was promoting Mental Health Awareness Week.
"I’ll continue to do a bit with counselling services, and I’m trying to raise awareness for counselling services and recovery services. I don’t mind being called upon as a speaker at anything, or as a volunteer and kind of go: ‘Hey, everybody, don’t be me: look at the mistakes I made when I was younger, and don’t be me’.”
As a creative, the 31-year-old says it is time to talk about new themes, and changes in his own life inspire new material.
“Me and my partner are living together. Our friends are having babies; they are getting married. We are thinking ‘oh Jesus!’ should we get married?’”
Porter reflects on his return to comedy after addressing past issues, such as addiction, in his previous tour. His content feels lighter now.
“I walk out and I say to the audience: ‘I’m going to treat you like my therapist.’ It’s cheaper than therapy,” laughs Porter.
Al says writing a come-back tour was a balance between weighty issues and comedy.
“There were serious themes in there, and there was a lot of ground to cover because people hadn't seen me in six or seven years. A lot had changed in my life... I was very eager that people left those shows thinking I didn’t feel hard done by; out there complaining about cancel culture.” Porter says he wanted audiences to see that there are “consequences to being a dickhead, and [I’ve] made an effort to change [my] life".
Porter is excited about his shows in next week’s 2024 Galway Comedy Festival, especially Al’s Gals which puts the Dubliner alongside drag queen Dame Stuffy, Aideen McQueen and Enya Martin on October 24.
He admits the show’s name confused some punters: “I had people messaging me asking if this is going to be like Menopause: The Musical. And I was going: ‘No. It’s stand-up comedy. It’s not a Charlie’s Angel reboot with me and three girls from Ballymun. It is a stand-up comedy show with three of the best stand-up comedians in Ireland, and me.”
Porter says he aims to make a show he would like to see himself. “Take me off the bill. If I could just go to see Dame Duffy, Aideen McQueen and Enya Martin, my sides would be hurting going home. That would be right up my alley.”
This is Porter's second year in the Galway Comedy Festival. He believes that following his unscheduled career break, Galway crowds have been great supporters, and remembers a standing ovation in the Town Hall theatre.
“I was there about four or five times as part of the Galway International Arts Festival. I feel like there’s a real relationship with Galway. I just love the people.”
Speaking about last year’s first performances in a long time, Porter recalls the nerves: “I was a little bit in my head last year thinking 'do people want to work with me?' And there’s a whole process of regaining people’s trust, and people getting to know you again after a long time, and people getting to know you sober and older. So I was nervous. But I was glad really. Everybody was very welcoming and kind of happy to go: ‘Well, we are happy to give you a chance’."
Al Porter will brings his shows Al Porter: A Work in Progress, Al’s Gal’s as well as Gáire as Gaeilge to the Galway Comedy Festival stage next week.
Tickets from www.GalwayComedyFestival.ie
