Young actors give a tip to stand-up comic

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Monday 23rd Apr 2001.

THE comedian who has found himself in a national competition despite having no jokes, has been taking lessons from a Swindon drama group.

Stewart Silberburg's only joke has been given to him by his five-year-old son Tom, yet he is appearing in The Grand Final of the Cup A Soup Extra Comedy Challenge on Thursday afternoon.

In desperate need, Stewart turned to his 12-year-old daughter Virginia's drama group to get some tips on how to impress the judges.

Swindon Young Actors and the Teddy White Band have given him lessons on microphone and voice techniques.

"The promoters have told me that I got this far because of my stage presence and now I have to be funny as well," said Stewart of Upper Stratton.

"The way I see it, there will be 3,000 people in the audience and somebody has to like me.

"At the end of my act I will try to go for at least one sympathy vote by saying I have promised my son I will tell one of his jokes. `What do you get if you cross a snowman and a vampire? Frost bite!'"

USA-born Stewart is a familiar face in Swindon as a stand-up comedian and compere.

He won the Swindon and regional heats of the competition and will be competing against nine other people from across the country on Thursday in London. The show will be attended by TV personality Jonathon Ross, and the winner gets £10,000.

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