RHLSTP with Richard Herring RHLSTP Book Club 175 - Chris Evans (not that one)
Apr 3, 2026
Chris Evans (not that one), founder of Go Faster Stripe and indie publisher of comedy DVDs, books and merch. He tells how the company started, why recording live comedy matters, and the quirky business choices behind LPs, pocket paperbacks and an unusual club model. They also cover design-first bookmaking, near-disasters like a failed audiobook, and the joys of preserving niche comedy culture.
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Humble Origin Of Go Faster Stripe
- Chris Evans started Go Faster Stripe by offering to make a DVD of Stewart Lee's show after noticing no one would release it.
- He borrowed Chapter Arts Centre, rallied friends, recorded the show cheaply and sold it via early web mailing lists to comedy fans.
Preserve Live Comedy Over Profits
- Evans treats publishing as preserving ephemeral live comedy rather than chasing profit.
- He likens recordings to putting a beautiful Edinburgh 'butterfly in a tin' so future audiences and historians can revisit shows.
Support Recordings Through A Low Cost Club
- Join the Go Faster Stripe club to support recordings: pay £5/month for downloads, free live-recording tickets and a t-shirt after a year.
- Membership funds are explicitly used to finance new stand-up recordings.
