WHEN the audience turn on the hecklers at a comedy gig, you know they have over-stepped the mark.

Unfortunately, that was the case from several rowdy members of the crowd as Stephen K Amos kept an otherwise appreciative audience entertained at Evesham’s Regal Cinema.

However, the popular comic, a familiar face on BBC’s Live At The Apollo, handled them like the seasoned professional he is and cut them down to size.

He is not afraid to engage his audience on even the most socially awkward subjects, even if that leads to unpredictability and spontaneous shouting.

That he was also barracked by people keen to impress upon him the importance of asparagus to the town, just made a largely enjoyable evening all the more surreal.

Indeed, Amos himself described it as the “weirdest gig I have ever done”, not least because he was performing on the elevated stage Jim Davidson had refused to set foot on due to a fear of heights earlier this month.

But he had the audience in the palm of his hand for the majority as he recounted hilarious stories and anecdotes, often playing on his Nigerian heritage, meandering seamlessly through material old and new.

Amos was also very complimentary of the refurbished art deco venue. He praised the staff, some of whom are voluntary, and even offered to donate some of his merchandise sales to the Regal’s upkeep.

Given the reaction he received, and the bizarre course the show occasionally took, I suspect Evesham will be on his next list of tour dates.