Katherine MacAlister talks to the actor/writer/poet ahead of his Single White Slut

It’s almost impossible to pigeon-hole Tim Key, and if you manage it he’d probably morph into something else. A rough shot in the dark would be actor, writer, performance poet, comedian even, but let’s ask the man himself.

“I am a professional poet. Very surprised by that. Been plugging away for about 12 years and happy with it all now. Enjoy doing my show.

“Luckily I get to do some interesting things in other people’s shows. But I genuinely enjoy doing it: I’m a lucky boy. But if I was a haiku, I’d say ‘an unwitting poet-guy’.”

His credentials, however, speak for themselves; having studied Russian at Sheffield University he returned to his native Cambridge where he eventually joined the Footlights and was immediately spotted as a fresh new talent when starring in stage production Far Too Happy at the Edinburgh Fringe and picked up a Perrier Award for Best Newcomer.

Numerous award-winning shows followed, both as a straight actor and comedian, and in 2007, Key took his first solo poetry show to Edinburgh, The Slut in the Hut, which sold out.

The Slutcracker followed two years later which toured the world, Masterslut debuted in 2011 and now here we are with Single White Slut, Oxford’s OFS being the last night of the tour. So what’s the latest incarnation about? “Mm. I guess it’s quite a sneaky show. It’s a bit theatrical — as in, I have a large prop and there’s a soundtrack.

“But it still counts as comedy. I’ve written some jokes, which I have secreted into the script. But at the forefront are other things: poetry, a denim onesie, anecdotes about encounters with Hollywood filmstars and some stuff about tooth fairies. It’s 75 minutes long.”

Does he need to consistently switch genres to alleviate boredom? How does touring stand up against acting with the likes of Alan Partridge (Mid-Morning Matters, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa) and Anne Hathaway (One Day)? “Hathaway was briefer but she was a very, very charming lady. Our scene took about 40 minutes. Coogan’s stuff is more intense. There’s more pressure on me. I feel like I could bring down the Empire if I messed up. But obviously it means more to get that gig. It’s a childhood dream come true.”

After months on the road, the 37-year-old must be looking forward to putting his feet up at home? “I don’t like the achingly lonely hotel rooms or travelling, weirdly. The shows, I love.

“But when I’m home I like to run, although currently my back is a mess so I do more walking and sitting. I like to watch films and write divvy poems. Amazingly I get paid for that last one. I also like playing five-a-side football and baths. I recently acquired Sky Sports...”

And DVD boxsets? “I love Hancock, Coogan, Morris, Fry, Laurie, Seinfeld, David and Aherne. My poncier selection would be Gogol, Kharms and Harold Lloyd. But it’s hard to know who’s influenced you and who you just like. He scratches his raggedy beard: “To be honest, I don’t get much time off as I need to write my radio show [Tim Key’s Late Night Poetry Show] and gear up to Christ-mas. Put it this way — I carry a notepad.” More sluttiness to follow then.

Single White Slut
Old Fire Station, Oxford
Tonight 7pm and 9pm
Call 01865 263980 or visit oldfirestation.org.uk