list.co.uk/festival Sarah Callaghan | FESTIVAL COMEDY

‘The comedy circuit is quite addictive’

Top 5 FRESH STARTS

Brian Donaldson picks six of the best debutants seeking to make audiences literally wet themselves in August

PHIL JERROD John Lennon, Jesus, British murderers and Bake Off were all topics when Jerrod performed his Neanderthal show last October prior to it scooping a debutant award at the Leicester Comedy Festival. The guy is going places, for sure. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 8–30 Aug (not 17), 7pm, £7.50–£10 (£6.50–£9). Previews 5–7 Aug, £6.

JENNY BEDE As one half of last year’s Bren & Jenny, Bede started the ball rolling on making a i ne old name for herself. She’s here with a solo debut of pop culture-inspired songs and stand-up. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 7–30 Aug (not 8, 24), 3.30pm, £9–£11 (£7–£9). Preview 6 Aug, £6.

FUNMBI OMOTAYO

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With his roots in Nigeria and comedy voice carved in Hackney, Omotayo has plenty source material to call upon and his claiming of several awards already (Leicester Square New Act for one) shows that he’s using it productively. Gilded Balloon, 622 6552, 8–30 Aug, 9pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£7.50–£8.50). Previews 6 & 7 Aug, £5.

NICK CODY Self-proclaimed ‘stand-up, actor and idiot’, Australia’s latest comedy export has supported Bill Burr and Jim Jefferies on tour, which gives you a fair indication of the kind of no-nonsense material this guy might have to offer. Assembly George Square Studios, 623 3030, 8–30 Aug (not 17), 9.40pm, £10–£12.50 (£9–£11.50). Previews 5–7 Aug, £6.

LOLLY Having admitted that creating characters was a way of conquering her stage fright, Lolly Adefope comes to town with a whole host of them. Will she put the ‘LOL’ into ‘Lolly’? (Yes, we’re not the i rst and won’t be the last to attempt that one). Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug (not 17), 4.30pm, £7–£9.50 (£6.50–£9). Previews 5–7 Aug, £6.

JONNY PELHAM Shades of Kitson, we’re told, in this chap who has been in a bunch of i nals for new comedians. The fact that he won none of them will help if he’s going for the outsider status vibe of St Daniel. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug, 6.45pm, £7–£9.50 (£6.50–£9). Previews 5–7 Aug, £6.

6–13 Aug 2015 THE LIST FESTIVAL 45

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