Katherine MacAlister meets an unconventional stand-up comic on her return to native shores as part of a world tour after making a mark in the tough arena of US entertainment

“It’s blooming cold over here, innit,” Gina Yashere sniffs.

“I‘ve been wearing flipflops and shorts for the past few months so it’s not surprising. But I knew it was coming. I had to brace myself,” she cackles.

Currently on her world comedy tour, the stand-up has just completed the Asian leg, appearing in Singapore, Malaysia, China and Hong Kong, but being a Brit she knew what to expect.

“It’s all about keeping my fan base happy,” she says, “so I come back here regularly.” Having skipped over the pond to LA her fame has finally taken off over there. TV shows, spots on all the top chat shows, massive gigs and a world tour followed and now Gina is exactly where she wants to be.

“I started again over there and there were lots more opportunities and new challenges. I just reinvented myself, and in terms of what I wanted to achieve I’m getting there.”

Not that she ever lets up, writing her new tour – which is coming to Oxford’s Playhouse – while on her current tour: “I don’t sit down and write a show as if I’m doing my homework, I just work on the next one as I go along and try out new jokes on stage. It’s just stuff that happens to me and as long as I don’t run out of material I should be alright. It’s a bit like a conveyor belt, with the old ones dropping off the end. Think of it like a night out with a hilarious best mate, more anecdotal, I don’t like to be stuck with something. I get bored quickly.”

Is that why the 42-year-old moved abroad? “That’s part of the reason I left England. I was stagnant and needed a new challenge. but if I want to do something I just go and do it; no one should tell you otherwise. I have always been like that.”

So why move to New York from LA? “It was too Hollywood and full of actors pretending to be comedians to get into acting. New York is more appreciative of comedy itself, and is therefore full of comedians. There are hundreds of them from all over the world so the competition is fierce. It’s like London on steroids.”

How did she make her mark then? “It hasn’t always been easy, I’ve done crappy gigs like everyone else and come back full of doubt, but you get back on the horse. You have to be confident in your ability.”

Something Gina appears to have bags of.

“I love a live performance, otherwise I would’t be doing it. It’s not rocket science, but it’s the best job I’ve ever done and I love it.”

As for her look, it’s fairly distinctive. Is that something she’s worked on? She cackles with laughter at this question. “It’s not a distinct look out there. Black women have two looks in America – Beyonce or Precious and not much in between. I’m more androgynous so they don’t really know what to do with me really because I’m happy gigging in jeans, a t-shirt and trainers. I’d never put vanity before a performance. I just want to tell jokes.”

I can’t imagine Gina suffering from nerves either. “No I don’t really get nervous. Excited yes, but not nervous, never have done. But then I used to work as a lift engineer in the UK so I’m used to doing things that are fairly unconventional. I was a fairly crazy child so I don't think anyone in my family is surprised I’m an entertainer.”

As for her next challenge, Gina admits: “I’d love to do the Ellen De Generes talk show. I could do that. Or play the hilarious next-door neighbour who always steals the show in a sitcom.

“But it would only be to feed my stand-up. Because to be successful now it’s not done on merit, you have to be a face.”

Not that anyone could forget Gina. So does she like Oxford? “I used to play at Jongleurs there and roar up the A40 on my big motorbike. You see it’s not very glamorous.” I beg to differ.

SEE IT
Gina Yashere comes to Oxford’s Playhouse on Thursday, March 5. 
Call the box office on 01865 305305 or see oxfordplayhouse.com