Laughing in the face of death

IT’S not an obvious topic for comedy, but Seán Hughes has written a critically acclaimed show about the death of his father, aged 72, from leukaemia a couple of years ago.

Hughes will perform Life Becomes Noises at Vicar Street on Thursday, Feb 21. Hughes has never looked forward to playing as much. “It’s a joy to do,” he says. “Once people get over the subject matter, it’s just a comedy show. You’re taking them to places that they don’t normally get to go. People seem to be blown away by that when you do it properly. From comments on Twitter, I think people are shocked that they can laugh and cry in the same show; that’s when it’s working best, and it is joyful tears.”

Hughes doesn’t shirk, not even from his father’s alcoholism. “My father taught me to drink drive,” says his son. Reflecting on power ballads, he says “it’s not Dad dying” that makes him cry, it’s Snow Patrol.