It remains a common belief that comedians are rare beings who are blessed with a unique outlook which allows them to see life from a different perspective. They are devoid of linear thought and view each situation with a close, analytical eye. However, what if that clever, observant eye is actually blind and prevents the comic from witnessing the absurdity of life, what does this say about the evolution of comedy? Writer, comedian and podcaster David Eagle has defied the odds and aimed to bring his comedic observations to the mainstream. Starring in Rosie Jones’s Disability Comedy Extravaganza, available to watch on U and Dave and now fresh from a sold out Edinburgh Fringe show, he is ready to take on the world and offer this unique perception to his audience.
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Embracing the path trodden by the award winning Chris McCausland, Eagle has become a festival stalwart in the past few years, first crowning victory in 2019 at The Comedian Of The Year Awards at the Leicester Square Theatre. Yet what possibly sets this performer apart from his contemporaries is his impeccable, somewhat miraculous skills as a consumate pianist which he has incorporated into his live act. Following a long tradition of musical comedians from Victoria Wood, Bill Bailey and Rachael Parris, David uses music as a device to break his act up and make his stand up routines memorable. The ability to musically improvise with comedic material offers endless possibilities and this can often provide a more engaging, collaborative experience for the audience. At the risk of banging the disability drum, this is another example of David’s inspirational approach to entertainment.
Embracing new technologies, David has been podcasting since 2014, doing one episode per day in 2016. In 2022 David entered the podcast world alongside his wife Ellie for their take on the personal perspective format. The decision to record their wedding may have been quite a brave concept but this may symbolise the natural evolution of the lifestyle podcast. The David Eagle Podcast follows the lives of David and Ellie through a range of different experiences and gives an insight into what it’s like to have a visual impairment in 2024. Due to popular demand, the podcast has spawned a live show and the dynamic between the two remains the crux of the show.
Having enjoyed a successful Edinburgh Fringe, David is excited about the next phase of his career and upcoming appearances on Rosie Jones’s Out Of Order on Comedy Central will hopefully provide the perfect springboard. I always thrive upon the ability to feature a performer right at the beginning of their entertainment journey and although Eagle is by no means a novice, it feels like there’s a lot still to come from this extraordinary original performer. It was a pleasure to welcome the creative polymath David Eagle to Beyond The Title and I’m already looking forward to the next time!