THINGS YOU MIGHT 1101 KNOW ABOUT . . .
Having left drama school in Manchester. Eclair started her stage career in an 'alternative cabaret‘ outfit called Kathy Lacreme and the Rum Babas. When the act split. she went solo as a punk poet before eventually going all-out on a stand- up career.
She once described herself as the ‘least over-achieving of three horribly competitive. rather workaholicky children‘: her siblings were both barristers. While Eclair scooped the Perrier Award in 1995. her dad had already pipped her to a high-profile public gong when he received an MBE for services to the Queen's armed forces.
Last year. she appeared in a Food Standards Agency salt ad. which campaigned for us to have less rather than more of the sodium chloridic demon.
Her first job was as a life model for students in 1982. Eclair returned to the kitting-off industry in 1997 when she had a part in Steaming, a play set in the dilapidated Turkish baths of a run-down London borough.
She has a new co-written book out for Christmas entitled Wendy. an annual for middle-aged women, which pays homage to Jack/e. ‘It's for women of a certain age with love stories. quizzes. problem pages and pin-ups of newsreaders.‘
(Brian Donaldson)
Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Sun 28
Sep.
Glasgow
Comedy Speed Dating Arta. 62 Albion Street. 0844-1 771 000. 7.30pm. £18.95. A night of fast-paced dating. broken up with stand-up comedy so you don't have to worry about making up jokes to impress the ladies/gentlemen. Booking in advance essential.
Stand Up Drink Up! Maggie May‘s. 50 Trongate. Merchant City. ()8-1-1-1 771 000. 7.30pm. £7 (£6). A guest host guides round a group of hardcore comedy fans. taking them to a selection of pubs. each with a fantastic comedian within. Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. UGC Building. 1 I Renf'rew Street. 0844 844 0044. 8pm. £8. A rare Thursday outing for Uncle Jongleurs. with Mick Ferry and Geoff Boyz.
Mark Nelson Blackfriars. 36 Bell Street. 552 5924. 8.30pm. £7 (£5). The popular act of the Scottish circuit returns with his show Aftermath. which promises to be gloriously sharp and highly offensive.
The Thursday Show The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £7 (£6; members £3). Joe Rooney and Mick Sergeant join Bruce Devlin fora
42 THE LIST 18 Sep—2 Oct 2008
night of" unadulterated pleasure and laughter probably.
The Grand Gong Show Maggie May's. 50 Trongate. Merchant City. 084-14 771 0()(). 10pm. £3 (£2). The meanest night in comedy returns. where the audience hold the pow er. liach performer has five minutes to convince you of their talents. Only you can decide if they'll beat the gong.
Edinburgh
Have We Got History for You National Museum of Scotland. Chambers Street. 225 753-1. 7pm. £7 (students ££6; members £3). It's history but not as you know it. Stand-up comedians A1. Kennedy. Vladimir McTavish and Susan Morrison celebrate the opening of the museum's new gallery. Scotland: A Changing .\'a!imz. with some historical comedy.
Heresy The Jekyll & llyde. 1 12 Hanover Street. 225 2022. 9pm. £3. See Thu 18. The Thursday Show The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£6: £3 members). Bruce Morton presents a fine selection of comedians: Sean Collins. Steve Cummins. Sean Grant and Shannon Mannian.
Glasgow
Alan Anderson‘s Gallus Glasgow Comedy Walk Maggie May‘s. 50 Trongate. Merchant City. (1844-1 771 000. 7.30pm. £7 (£5). A guide around the fine city of Glasgow. led by comedian and architectural historian Mr Anderson. to broaden and entertain your mind.
Best of Ha Ha Raw Comedy Bacchus. 80 Glassford Street. 08-1-1-1 771 000. 8pm. £3 (£2). The cream of the crop from Alan Anderson’s new talent night showcase their talents.
Billy Kirkwood & Austin Low Bacchus. 80 Glassford Street. 0844-1 771 000. 8pm. £7 (£5). The likeable. and very funny. duo (in into action with Small Yer Maw 2: Yer Maw is No! linuuglr.’ There’s sketches. stand-up and some strange music. bless them.
Bumper Value Comedy Challenge: Male v Female Arta. 62 Albion Street. ()8-1-1-1 771 000. 8pm. £8 (£6). The age-old issue is addressed head on as male and female comedians pit their wits against each other to see who is the funnier gender. .\'B: This is not a strictly scientific experiment.
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. L'GC Building. 1 1 Renfrew Street. 08-1-1 8-1-1 ()0-1-1. 8pm. £12. Whimsy meets more traditional with this weekend’s line-up as the very polite Andy White and James Dowdeswell perform with Mick Ferry and Geoff Boyz.
Bob Doolally for One Night Only! Blackfriars. 36 Bell Street. 552 592-1. 8.30pm. £8 (£6). The country's favourite drunken football pundit. the filthy creation of comedian Paul Sneddon. returns with Live and Talking Balls.
Jim Jeffries Maggie May‘s. 50 'l‘rongate. Merchant City. 08-1-1-1 771 000. 8.30pm. £12 (£10). The ever-gobby Aussie stumbles up to Glasgow and presents his show Hammered to the Merchant City festival. Special three-course meal deal available.
The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £9 (£8: members £5). Bruce Devlin introduces brilliant character comedy from Lee Fenwick. plus Joe Rooney and Mark Maier.
Charlie Ross Bacchus. 80 Glassford Street. (18-144 771 (XX). 9,-15pm. £7 (£5). The Scottish comedian explains how it feels to be a football fan who loves musicals and Dr 11711).
Raymond Mearns Tron Theatre. 63 'l‘rongate. 552 -1267. 10pm. £10. Glasgow‘s finest. still fresh from his Fringe run. tells Us a load of his best Shaggy Dug Stories.
Edinburgh
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()rnni Centre. Greenside Place. 084-1 8-1-1
0044. 8.15pm. £1 1. If your weekend is looking rainy and blue. then this chirpy quartet should sort it out: Mike Wilkinson. Tommy Campbell. Gavin Webster and Richard Moflon.
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £9 (£8; £5 members). Bruce Devlin is your amiable (kinda) host for the weekend. with the delights of comedians with very similar names such as Scam Collins. Steve Surnrnins and Sean Grant on display.
Glasgow Alan Anderson’s Gallus Glasgow Comedy Walk Maggie May‘s. 50 Trongate. Merchant City. 08444 771 000. 7.30pm. £7 (£5). See Fri 26. Bumper Value Comedy Challenge: Glasgow v Edinburgh Arta. 62 Albion Street. 08444 771 000. 8pm. £8 (£6). Another challenge. this time it’s the comedy talents of the west pitted against the wit of the capital's finest. with compere Alan Anderson.
Jeremy Hardy The ()ld
Fruitmarket. Candleriggs. 353 8000. 8pm. £15 (£12). You've seen him on the telly. heard him on the radio. now hear the gentle musings of Mr Hardy in real life. Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. L'GC Building. 1 1 Renfrew Street. ()8-1-1 8-1-1 ()0-1-1. 8pm. £15. See Fri 26. Stu Who? Maggie May's. 50 Trongate. Merchant City. 353 8000. 8.30pm. £7 (£5). The marvellous Mr Who‘.’. who gigs around the land in his role as Scotland's comedy godfather. explains why we're surrounded by liejirs. Susan Calman Blackfi‘iars. 36 Bell Street. (1870 013 5-16-1. 8.30pm. £8 (£6). Lady Calman brings her successful Fringe show Maybe i! is Your Fault to Glasgow. where she explains the idea of blame and accepting responsibility. Comedy @ The State The State Bar. 1-18 Holland Street. 332 2159. 9pm. £5. Gus Tawse. the Aberdonian gagsmith. performs at tonight‘s show. hosted by Chris Broornfield. With Lil/.16 Cass Maran. .\'iall Hamish McNeil and Jason Murphy in support. The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. (187() 6006055. 9pm. £12. See Fri 26. Scott Agnew Bacchus. 80 Glassford Street. (184-14 771 000. 9.-15pm. £7 (£5). The ludicrously tall Scott Agnew investigates a rare mental illness and his journey to becoming a ‘Big Boy‘.
Bruce Morton Tron Theatre. 63
'l'rongate. 552 -1267. 10pm. £10. Comedy stalwart Bruce Morton returns to the theatre where it all began. where he presents his show Soul/rsirlm'.
Edinburgh
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()rnni Centre. Greenside Place. (1844 844 00-1-1. 8.15pm. £14. See Fri 26.
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £12. See Fri 26.
Glasgow Alan Anderson‘s Comedy Coach Tour Albion Street and Bell Street. Corner of Albion Street and Bell Street. 08444 771 ()00. 2pm. £9 (£6; kids £5~Fami1y ticket £1.30). A magical. family-friendly. tour of Glasgow in an open top bus. with architectural historian and comedian Alan Anderson.
Scottish Comedian of the Year
Grand Final The Old Fruitmarket. Candleriggs. 08-1-1-1 771 000. 7.-15pm. £13 (£10). Following a search around the land for some of the best gag merchants around. the Fmitmarket will once again play host to the SCotY awards. With 1)es Clarke. cash prizes and a celebrity judging panel. See preview. page -11.
Jenny Eclair’s Because I Forgot to Get a Pension Tour Tron Theatre. 63 Trongate. 552 -1267. 8pm. £15. The inimitable liclair hands out healthy doses of her stand-up. including dealing
with motherhood. alcohol and being a
. grumpy old woman. See 5 Things.
Ha Ha Raw Comedy Ivory Hotel. Langside Avenue. Shawlands. 8.30pm. See Sun 2 1. Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £5 (£4: members £1). Mick Sergeant. at real Geordie with a moustache and everything. joins the surreal world of Michael Redmond's Sunday night fun club. Tom Stade Blackfriars. 36 Bell Street. 0870 ()13 546-1. 8.30pm. £7 (£5). Canadian comedian Tom Stade brings his show ISii'ear to the Merchant City: comedy which shows you how to curse properly.
Edinburgh
Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. lprn. See Sun 21. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £1). Scott Agnew rounds off the week as host of this comedy affair. with acts including the quizzical Graeme Thomas helping you celebrate the Sabbath.
Edinburgh
Fit 0’ The Giggles Absolute Beginners The Mercat. 28 West Maitland Street. 225 3861. 8.30pm. £2. See Mon 22.
Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2. Poetess and compere extraordinaire Viv Gee is joined by Chris Forbes and a gaggle of newer acts for a jam-packed night of laughter.
Glasgow
Red Raw The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 08706006055. 8.30pm. £2 (£1 members). Billy Kirkwood and Kevin Bridges. two young guns of the Scottish scene. perform alongside a whole heap of comedians just starting out.
Edinburgh
Hairy Watt Comedy Club The Union. lleriot-Watt University. Riccarton.-15l 5333. 9pm. £-1 (£3). Susan Calman comperes an evening of comedy for the students. although growed tips are more than welcome to join the fun. The acts tonight include the marvellous Kevin Bridges and JoJo Sutherland.
Edinburgh
The Stand lmprov The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£2.50 members). Stuart Murphy and Garry Dobson let their minds and imaginations roam across the fields of comedy. to the improvisational gold at the foot of the rainbow of mirth.
Glasgow
The Thursday Show The Stand. 333 \Voodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £7 (£6: members £3). A very good line-up this week. to start your month off with a bang: Paul Sinha. Michael Fabbri. Viv (ice and Derek ‘DJ‘ Johnston. all overseen by MC and Dark Lord the Reverend ()badiah Sicppenwolfe 111.
Edinburgh
Heresy The Jekyll & Hyde. 1 l2 Hanover Street. 225 2022. 9pm. £3. See Thu 18.
The Thursday Show The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£6; £3 members). MC Susan Calman chivvies along the troops. with the help of a cheery line-up including Matt Kirshen and Chris Forbes.