Comedian Neil Delamere has announced a major new tour, with more than 85 dates scheduled across Ireland, alongside an additional 30 to 35 performances planned in the UK.
The tour, 'Reinventing the Neil', will see Delamere return to some of Ireland's most exciting venues, including Dublin’s Olympia Theatre, where he is set to perform on May 8.
Due to strong demand, extra dates have already been added in several locations, including Cork, Sligo and Letterkenny.
Speaking on The Anton Savage Show, Delamere said the scale of the tour reflects both audience appetite for live comedy and his own commitment to touring across the country.
Delamere explained that performing live remains central to how he approaches comedy, despite the growing importance of digital platforms.
“The real experience is being in the room,” he said.
“That’s where everything happens. That’s where the show becomes what it is.”
A feature of Delamere’s performances is his reliance on crowd interaction, with audience members often changing the direction of each show.
He said this approach ensures that no two performances are the same, and makes each gig unique.
“I’ve always wanted to make every show individual,” he told the show.
“You get moments that will never happen again, and that’s what makes it exciting.”
These moments have been circulating online, where short clips of crowd work are shared widely on social media.
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Delamere acknowledged the shift in how comedy is now advertised, but said it has required a change in mindset.
“You give some of it away for free,” he said.
“It’s like music, you don’t give away the shop, but you share enough for people to know what you do.”
He added that crowd work lends itself to social media because it does not compromise the written material.
Despite the online success of these clips, Delamere said his priority remains the live audience in front of him.
“I record most shows,” he explained, “but the focus is always on the people in the room that night. The online stuff comes later.”
Delamere has been a regular face on television in recent years, appearing on programmes such as Countdown, QI and Would I Lie To You?, but he said stand-up continues to be where he feels most at home.
“Live comedy is where everything slows down,” he said.
“When a gig is going well, you’ve got time. You’ve got space to play with it.”
Tickets for Neil Delamere’s upcoming tour are on sale now, with further dates expected to be announced.
Written by Annemarie Roberts
