The Filth & The Fury

If you happened to be wandering around Dublin city centre on Tuesday 23rd March, you may have spotted a man with a naughty smile and impressively waxed eyebrows wearing a nun’s habit. This would have probably given you a clue that the man walking beside him, regally clad in inky black vestments, probably wasn’t a real priest. If you were still unsure, the phalanx of PR types following them around, and laughing, would have definitely indicated that this pair were not from the church – after all, any PR firm engaged by the Catholic Church has very little to smile about these days.

No, this was definitely not a couple of high spirited people of the cloth making a holy show of themselves, but the comedy duo Topping & Butch in town to promote their show Filth which takes place during this year’s Absolut Gay Theatre Festival.
“I did get the finger from one man,” laughs Michael Topping.
Perhaps he thought you were a real nun?
“Possibly he did. But then I thought I would get more than a finger!” he replies with a cheeky grin.
Topping & Butch’s act came about through a series of fortuitous events. Earlier in his career Michael Topping was the pianist for the drag queen Dave Lynn, while Joe Simmons earned his crust as a television researcher. The pair met, became friends, and started writing songs together for a bit of fun.
“I was in Brighton and I needed to come to London. We shared a space together and started mucking about and from that we developed a song,” explains Joe Simmons.
“We did just the one song and it worked,” says Topping.
“The crowd loved it! It wasn’t ‘Let’s do a full show’; it was more like ‘Let’s do a couple of fun bits’. It all happened very much by chance.”
“We got a booking when somebody didn’t turn up,” adds Topping.
From these humble beginnings Topping & Butch has gone on to take their brand of musical comedy, political satire and commentary around the world, including sell out shows at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival five years in a row. Their songs include subjects such as British public figures Harriet Harman, David Cameron, Susan Boyle and Lily Allen.
Filth is somewhat different to their normal routine – but not too different.
“It’s full of very naughty, very silly songs,” says Topping.
“We decided we’d like to do one show that was particularly naughty and that became a sell-out at Edinburgh a few years back. Then we decided for this festival to re-write some of the show and bring it up-to-date. We felt that the costumes were very much of the moment as well,” says Simmons. “The irony is when we wrote the show we did it to get away from the topicality – to do a show we could bring anywhere.”
“Filth is universal!” laughs Topping.
“What you see here is how the show begins,” says Simmons indicating their outfits. “From there we move into different areas of naughtiness and silliness. We try and mix a sense of joy and fun with a sense of… eh… filth!”
“It’s us being naughty and silly rude,” says Topping.
“But it’s not gratuitous,” adds Simmons.
Topping feigns looking shocked: “Oh no, never! We’re like naughty children. You laugh at naughty children even though you know you should tell them off.”
“It’s quite refreshing to do the Filth show. We’re looking forward to doing it because it gives us a chance to let our hair down – not that we have any!” Simmons continues.
The religious outfits are pretty restrained, all things considered. For most of their career, Topping & Butch have dressed in rubber and leather bondage gear – “I suppose there is some shock value there”, says Simmons – but for the last year or so, the pair have changed tack, first dressing as punks for their last Edinburgh show, now mostly performing in elegant velvet jackets. This change, they say, means people listen more closely to their songs, without the whips and chains to distract them.
“We spend a lot of time on the songs, we don’t just throw them together. We spend hours arguing, hours! And the amount of tea we get through!” laughs Simmons.
The show is, of course, popular with gay audiences, but having done sell out shows around the world and regular slots on BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends, their appeal stretches far beyond that. Although they are both very much out and proud, they attract a diverse audience and celebrity fans include the Pet Shop Boys and Janet Street-Porter.
“The idea is that it’s a mainstream show with two gay performers. You have to buy into the fact that we are gay, we’re not going to be closeted about it,” says Simmons.
“You won’t become gay watching us!” laughs Topping. “I think some people are afraid it might rub off.”
Funny they are, but a Topping & Butch show is not for those of a nervous disposition.
“I think if you looked at the poster and have read that it’s for over-eighteens, then if you’re easily shocked and have bought a ticket, more fool you!” laughs Simmons.
“At Edinburgh, there was a boy of about sixteen with his dad, and his dad asked if he would be allowed in, and the box office said it’s over-eighteens but because he was with his father it’s okay. Apparently they had no idea what the show was about. One of the door staff challenged him and the dad said, ‘Oh it’s okay, we’ve let the girls go off and we’re gonna have a little bit of filth!’ because he must have thought the show was about straight porn or something – about the birds and the bees,” laughs Simmons.
“Not the bees and bees!” interjects Topping.
“They stayed till the end though, and they were laughing all the time.”
Topping & Butch will be performing for six nights at Break for the Border.
“Oh and don’t forget, a matinee on Saturday afternoon. For the children!” laughs Topping. “Show with crèche! Imagine that – it’s a crèche course in filth!”