IMPROBABBLE
What’s that then? Every Friday. the Brunswick Hotel basement in Glasgow's Merchant City plays host to a free-for-all ad libbing improv extravaganza.
Hold on, that sounds a bit like Whose Line Is It Anyway? And so it should. There'd be no show without suggestions from the audience with sketches based around such diverse themes as a space programme, a tenant/landlord confrontation and the Virginia Tech massacre.
Who’s involved? There's a revolving cast of comics taking part but on the night we viewed were compere Billy Bonkers (the elder statesman). Peter Aitchison (the calming influence). Austin Low (the sharp-skulled surfer), Billy Kirkwood (the naturally funny hairy one) and Bernie Mclaughlin (the operation's brains, quite possibly). What kind of games do they lark around with? Titles of rounds include Freeze Tag, with the players taking over from one another at any given moment; Pocket Notes. as random audience scribblings are produced from the participants' trouser-holes and somehow made to fit into the scenario being acted out; and The Oracle, which can best be described as a three-headed beast responding to the big questions of the day one word at a time. Which is actually even odder than it sounds. (Brian Donaldson)
I Brunswick Hotel, Glasgow, Fri 77, 18 May.
Monday 14
Glasgow
The Amazing Bastards! The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. ()870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £3 (£2). Steven Dick. Allan Miller and 'l‘eddy are a bunch of scruflballs who have got together to merge their stillied brains into a night of stand-up. characters and sketches. If you have morals or sense of dignity. stay away. If not. see you there.
Edinburgh
Out to Lunch - Live! The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 1.05—1.55pm. £2.50. See Thu 10.
Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2. The rather terrifying combination of Jane Mackay and (iary Little front tltis popular night of new comedy talent. where you can check otit the best up-and-coming acts. And some of the worst. That makes it more fttii.
Glasgow
Red Raw The Stand. 333 mellands Road. 08706006055. 8.30pm. £2 (£1 members). Watch the birth of new comedy: it could be rtiessy. there may be screaming btit when it‘s good. it's like a wee miracle.
36 THE LIST 10—24 May 200/
Edinburgh Out to Lunch - Live! The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 1.05—1.55pm. £2.50. See Thu 10.
The Amazing Bastards! The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £3 (£2). See Mon 14. Unrest at the Dolphinarium The Royal ()ak. 1 Infirmary Street. 557 2976. 8.30pm. £3. Poet and performer Ash Dickinson brings his quick-fired rhymes to Edinburgh: this is high speed comedy with rhythm. And you gotta have rhythm. ain't ya'.’ Hairy Watt Comedy Club Heriot-Watl L'niversity l'nion. Riccarton. 451 5333. 9pm. £3. Student-friendly japes abottiid. with delightful compere Joe lleenan. Keir McAllister and Wendy Wason entertaining the troops. Well. everyone's a trooper in their owrt special way.
Wednesday 1 6
Glasgow
Jock Tamson Fundraiser The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. (1870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £7 (£5). A benefit night in aid of the (ilasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees. Host Kevin Bridges introduces a giggle of comedians willing to donate their time and energy for free.
Edinburgh
Out to Lunch - Live! The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 1.05-1.55pm. £2.50. See Thu 10.
Booby Birds Benefit The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. Price the. Very lovely comedians give their titne for free to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. And the word booby is funny. The angels of wit this evening are Stisan Morrison. the Stand Players. \‘ladimir Mc'l‘avish and Keir McAllister.
Glasgow
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. l'(}C Building. Renfrew Street. 08707 870707. 8pm. £7 (£3). Thursday frolics to be had with a rather delightful line-up from Jongleurs: Joe lleenan. John Scott. Curtis Walker and Jason Rouse. There's dancing afterwards even though it’s a school night arid your mam'll go mad.
The Thursday Show The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 6006055. 8.30pm. £7 (£6 £3 members). MC latte Mackay is joined by the improv dudes the Stand Players. Patil ‘Saint or" Sinha (see My Comedy Hero. page 35) and Bruce ‘Tam ()‘Shanter‘ Fummey. Although the words in apostrophes in no way link them to Roy ‘Chtibby' Brown.
Brick Wit House The Brick. 207 Bath Street. 248 2123. 9pm. £4 (£2). Comedy stalwart Viv (ice presents a brand new night of comedy ftiii. (ietting things off to a hilarious start are 1)es McLean. Jojo Sutherland. Rob Kane. \‘ance (‘owan and John Purves.
Edinburgh
Out to Lunch - Live! The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 1.05—1.55pm. £2.50. See Thtt 10.
Heresy The Jekyll 8; Hyde. 1 l2 Hanover Street. 225 2022. 8.30pm. £3. See Thtt 10. The Thursday Show The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£6 £3 members). Raymond Mearns hosts like an ambassador at a comedy ball. with esteemed entertainers for your delectation: Richard Morton. (iraeme Thomas and Martha McBrier to be precise. Monsieur. you‘re really spoiling tis.
The Snatch Social The Liquid Room. 9c Victoria Street. 225 2564. l lpm 3am. £5. See Thu 10.
Friday 18
Glasgow Watson’s Wind-up (ilasgow Film Theatre. 12 Rose Street. 332 8128. lpiti. Free. See Fri 1 l.
lmprobabble The Brunswick Hotel. 106-108 Brunswick Street. 552 1552. 8pm. £4 (£3). Sec Fri I l.
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. C(iC Building. Renfrew Street. 08707 870707. 8pm. £10. Thank the Comedy (iods ‘tis the weekend and you've totally earned a night of comedy iii the company of Mike Milligan. Andy White. Harvey ()liver and Jason Rouse. (io on petal. have a nice titne.
The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 08706006055. 8.30pm. £9 (£8-—£5 members). Simon livans. the Stand Players. Bruce Fummey and MC Raymond Mearns are all on the old Stand stage tonight. (lo and have a gander and tell them that you care.
Edinburgh Out to Lunch - Live! The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 1.05 —1.55pm. £2.50. See Thu 10. Jongleurs Comedy Club Jonglettrs. ()mni Centre. (ireenside Place. 08707 870707. 8.15pm. £10. It’s Christmas! Well. it‘s Jarred Christmas. an awfully funny chap who‘s on at Jongleurs with Pltil Walker. Nick Wilty and Cttttis Walker. Forget not. my darlings. that there‘s food and dancing to be had too. The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £9 (£8~£5 members). The mighty Jane Mackay hosts the evening. with a suitably heroic line-up. Richard Morton. Paul Sinha. Martha McBrier and Henrick are a beautifully varied bunch: defiantly something for everybody. See Paul Sinha with My Comedy Hero. page 35.
Saturday 1 9
Glasgow
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. 170C Building. Renfrew Street. 08707 8707(17. 8pm. £13. See Fri 18. Comedy @ The State The State Bar. 148 Holland Street. 332 2159. 8.30pm. £5. (ilen Manley headlines this evening. with wit also provided by Niall Browne. Viv (lee and your liostless. bttt it sounds like a waitress then). Stan Bevan.
The Stand The Stand. 33.3 Woodlands Road. 08706006055. 9pm. £12. See Fri 18.
Edinburgh Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongletrrs. ()mni Centre. (ireensidc Place. ()8707 870707. 8.15pm. £12. See Fri 18. Saturday Circus Red. 73 (‘owgatcn 225 1757. 9pm 3am. Free. See Sat 12.
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £12. See Fri 18.
Glasgow
Michael Hedmond’s Sunday Service The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £5 (£4 £1 members). In the grand tradition of the (ilasgow Stand. Michael Redmond hosts in his inimitable style. He. and possibly you. catt enjoy the mirth of (iary Little. Maitlta McBrier. Chris Forbes and geek- boy Dave Heffron.
Edinburgh
Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. lptii. Free. See Stiti 13.
The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£4 -£1 members). The Stand Players. those clever boys that do improv. are on tonight. Also gracing the stage with their presence are Aberdonian (ills 'l‘awse. Httll-ian (iordon Alexander and the lovely Li/Iie Maran. Joe lleenan hosts.
Glasgow
Roy Chubby Brown SliCC: Clyde Auditorium. Finnieston Quay. ()870 ()40 4000. 7.30pm. £20. Blue comedy from the one and otin Royston Vasey. If you're easily offended or not from the past then stay away.
Dance, Monkey Boy, Dance The Stand. 333 thxllands Road. 0870600
6055. 8.30pm. £4. Stalwarts of the Stand. Team Monkey comprises of comedians Sandy Nelson. Allen Chalmers. Paul Pirie and Raymond Mcarns. Sketches. sottgs and stand-up abound.
Edinburgh
Out to Lunch - Live! The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 1.05—-l.55pin. £2.50. See Thu 10.
Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2. A chance for new acts and new material to flourish under the protective bosom of The Stand. Guiding the fun are Scott Agnew and Pattl Pirie. proper grown-ups who'll itiop tip the tears.
Glasgow
Boy Chubby Brown SFZCC: Clyde Auditorium. Finnieston Quay. ()87() 040 4000. 7.30pm. £20. See Mon 21.
Red Raw The Stand. 333 mellands Road. (1870 6006055. 8.30pm. £2 (£1 members). The best new comedy night itt Scotland. and cheap as chips too. If that's not persuasive enough. Paul Pirie and (iary Little will be performing and looking after the little ‘tins.
Edinburgh
Out to Lunch - Live! The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 1.05- 1.55pm. £2.50. See Thu 10.
Richard Herring The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £10 (£9 members). Hyper-intelligent comedy in Herring's solo show. .llr‘iiugr' (1 (7n. Since storming the 90s comedy scene with Stewart Lee. Herring's solo career has taken a thoughtful path that's resulted in beautifully crafted. whimsical stand-up.
Wednesday 23
Glasgow
Richard Herring The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. ()870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £10 (£9 members). See Tue 22.
Edinburgh
Out to Lunch — Live! The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 1.05 1.55pm. £2.50. See Thu 10.
Alistair Barrie and Silky Double Up The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £7 (£6). Two of the ['K's finest pair tip to prove that style can have substance. and show just how good stand-up cart be.
Glasgow
The Thursday Show The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £7 (£6-£3 members). Hosted by Susan ‘Calmanator’ (‘alman. the Thursday Show offers an early start to the weekend. despite the uncreative title. Neil Hickey and Ian Moore will be more imaginative than naming a gig after the day it’s on.
Brick Wit House The Brick. 207 Bath Street. 248 2123. 9pm. £4 (£2). Raymond Mearns headlines tonight in his inimitable fashion. with Mark Nelson.
Jay Laffetty. Asten Beattie attd James
Heattey. The lovely Viv (iee comperes like a comedy (iodmotlier.
Edinburgh
Out to Lunch - Live! The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 1.05 1.55pm. £2.50. See Thu 10.
Heresy The Jekyll & Hyde. 1 l2 Hanover Street. 225 2022. 8.30pm. £3. See Thu 10.
The Thursday Show The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£6 £3 members). Deliciously tangy Bttice Devlin hosts the evening. with Frankie Boyle (the speccy one off the telly). Andy White and Derek Johnston all there for you to latrgli and point at.
The Snatch Social The Liquid Room. 9c Victoria Street. 225 2564. l lpm 3am. £5. See Thu 10.