Rob Newman’s New Theory of Evolution

Comedian, journalist, novelist and activist Rob Newman will be performing his new show at Reading’s South Street on 12^th and 13^th September.

After seven years away from the stage, Rob’s highly anticipated autumn tour will detail the 150-year controversy in evolutionary theory, leaving you not only laughing but questioning life as we know it.

Born in London, Rob began work as a farmhand, helping a local farmer cut the field for the Knebworth pop festival. In return, he received a backstage pass where he saw everyone from Led Zepellin to the Rolling Stones, “None of these bands interested me in the slightest but I was fascinated by the audience. From about 1987 I started doing open spots in rooms above pubs on the London comedy circuit. I started out as an impressionist and my ’80s set-list included Top Cat, Basil Brush, Rick Astley, Dirty Den and Tony Benn.”

Rob has spent the last seven years recovering from several operations on his back, researching and writing his book “The Trade Secret”, and researching, writing and rehearsing for his new show.

Speaking about his new show in comparison to his previous work, Rob says “The new show is more focused on science. I’m finding it tremendous fun to talk about the new science of epigenetics, as well as breakthrough discoveries in brain imaging such as mirror neurons. I love exploring the extraordinary behaviour of red harvester ants, flatworm nematodes, penguins, vampire bats, rats and – star of the show – the amoebae Dictyostelium Discoideum, known as Dicty Disco for short.”

Rob adds “Being my belief that the job of the comedian is to cheer people up, I try to dispel the gloom caused by the narrow, pessimistic idea that genes are us, or that we are born selfish. The Neo Darwinists have reintroduced the demoralising idea of Original Sin, and by doing so, have given people what I call ‘Anthropophobia’ – a fear of our own humanity, a depressing sense that deep down we are rotten. So I want to tear a few holes in this gloomy canvas.  The show tells the story of a 150 year struggle to save Darwin and Wallace’s original theory from being hijacked by ideologues.”

In the past 20 years Rob has performed five solo stand-up shows including “From Caliban to The Taliban (500 years of Humanitarian Intervention)” and “Apocalypso Now” which was recorded and aired by More4 under the title “A History of Oil”. He has also written regularly for The Guardian and Vice magazine, and produced four novels.

The Reading performances will be the first of many across the UK and Rob will also perform at New Greenham Arts, Newbury, on Thursday 19 December. Find out more on how to book on our events page.