STAND-UP SCOTT AGNEW The Stand, Edinburgh, Sun 26 Oct
You’d imagine that when an act gets crowned the brand new Scottish Comedian of the Year that the offers would flood in. Well, they certainly
have for Scott Agnew who scooped the award at the end of September in a
closely fought tussle with Keir McAllister and Teddy. But those offers have come from decidedly unexpected angles. ‘l’ve been asked to do the Holocaust Memorial Day in January,’ notes the 6ft 5in self-titled ‘big poof’ of Scottish comedy. ‘And this probably helps the point that they’re trying to make because I thought “why are they asking me, I’m no’ Jewish?” But then I was reminded that “the Nazis gassed the poofs as well”.’
Before that event, he may be having a date or two with the gym. ‘Attitude
magazine have asked if I’m up for doing a topless photo shoot which at my
present poundage I probably shouldn’t do. But they said it wouldn’t be till December. I might just be kidding myself, but it gives me something to aim for.’ On a more obvious comedic front, Agnew’s prizes for lifting the SCotY
include a solo show at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival in March and some gigs in Australia next May.
‘The furthest afield I’ve played is Portsmouth which might as well have been Australia. I was told that there would be an older audience in so I went on first as Chic Murray and then came back on to do my own stuff. Needless to say Chic Murray went down better than I did, but then he was
kind of a genius so it was a fair bet that his writing would always have been
that bit stronger.’ Something tells me they might be saying something similar about Scott Agnew in the not too distant future. (Brian Donaldson)
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to comedy@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Sian Bevan. Indicates Listpicks entry
Glasgow
The Thursday Show The Stand. 33.3 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £7 (£6; members £3). Smiley Rob l)cering pops tip to (ilasgow to spread the joy. appearing with corrrpere Susan Morrison. Nick l)oody. Bruce liummey and Jeff ()‘Boyle.
Edinburgh
Fit 0’ The Giggles @ The Argyle The Argyle Bar. l5 l7 Argyle Place . 22l
975‘). 9pm. £3 (£2). Keara Murphy. the comedian behind the Mercat‘s Absolute Beginners. launches a new comedy night featuring more experienced comedians. The
42 THE LIST 10—130 Oct 9008
opening soiree is rrrade up of Keir McAllister. (ius l.ymburn. Barry McDonald and headliner Vladimir Mc'l‘avish. with the Lady Murphy as M(‘. Heresy The Jekyll & Hyde. I I2 Hanover Street. 225 2022. 9pm. £3. Rick Molland‘s den of iniquity welcomes another load of
comedians unleashing the darkest pieces of
material they can think of.
The Thursday Show The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£6; members £3). Ilost Raymond Mearns bellows in the start of the weekend. while acts such as Stewart lirancis (who's been on .llm‘k the “PM and everything). Sandy Nelson. Andrew O'Neill and Nick Morrow tickle the audience‘s fancies.
Glasgow
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. l,'(i(‘ Building. l l Rerrfrew Street. 0844 844 001-1. 8pm. £12. Alex Boar'drrran. Al Pitcher and Geoff Boy/ are the weekend's entertainment of choice. The ticket price
includes dancing afterwards. and the chance to meet people who you are not related to.
The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £9 (£8; members £5). Susan Morrison hosts a very
genial line-up for the weekend. with acts
such as Rob Deering. .Nick Doody and Bruce Fummey determined to make you miserable lot laugh.
Edinburgh
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()mni Centre. (ireenside Place. ()8-1-1 844 00-1-1. 8pm. £l l. Sandy Nelson and Mike Milligan are among the comedians set to take to the stage to rid the world of fear and doubt. while amusing a couple of hen parties on the way. Forget not that there‘s a shiny disco afterwards.
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £9 (£8: members £5 l. The magnificent Stewart Francis is in town all weekend. with host Raymond Meams. Sandy Nelson. Andrew O‘Neill and Nick Morrow.
Glasgow
Jongleurs Comedy Club longleurs. l'(i(‘ Building. l l Renfrew Street. 0811 8440044. 7.30pm. £I5. See Fri 17. The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 08706006055. 9pm. £12. See Fri 17.
Edinburgh Jongleurs Comedy Club longleurs.
()mni (‘entre. (ireenside Place. 08-1~1 844
00-1-1. 7.30pm. £14. See l‘ri I7. The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558
7272. 9pm. £12. See l‘ri I7.
Glasgow
Ha Ha Raw Comedy Ivory Hotel. Langside Avenue. Shawlarrds. 8.30pm. A beautiful night of new corrredy talent. headed tip by a professional headliner and M(‘. The line-ups change weekly. btrt always get there early for a seat. Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £5 (£4: members £l ). Regular host Redmond has a new set of acts up his sleeve. or possibly hidden in his hair. for his loyal audience. This week Nick l)oody. Iilaine Malcolmson and Martin McAllisterjoin the Irish jester.
Edinburgh Whose Lunch is it Anyway?
The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. lpm. Knights of the art of improvised comedy Stu & (iarry return valiantly to their Sunday afternoon slot. With free comedy. hot food and lemonade. what peasant could ask for more‘.’
Lemoncustarrd Comedy The
Voodoo Rooms. 19;! West Register Street. 556 7060. 8.30pm. £3. It's back? The indie-kid of lidinburgh comedy returns with hosts Dee (‘ustance and Sian Bevan. sketch troupe How Do I (let Up There and sherbet dip comedian Billy Kirkwood. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £1 ). Joe lleenarr hosts this pleasant way to end the week/start.the next one. with acts such as Sandy Nelson and Andrew ()‘Neill here to cheer you up.
Glasgow
Dance, Monkey Boy, Dance The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £4. 'Ilrere'll be sketches. songs and stand-up front the Monkey Boys featuring Raymond Meams. Allen (‘halmers and Paul Pirie.
Edinburgh
Fit 0’ The Giggles Absolute Beginner's The Mercat. 28 West Maitland Street. 225 386l. 8.30pm. £2. Alan Anderson pops over to the capital to guest
THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT . . .
Before he became a comedic superstar, Lee Evans played drums in a punk band all-too aptly called The Forgotten Five and was assistant to a Spiritualist window dresser in Southend.
In 1993. the lad who left school when he could barely read won the Perrier Award. beating off nominees such as Phil Kay. Corky and the Juice Pigs and Greg Proops.
In 2005. he set the then British audience record for a solo comedy act when just over 10,000 showed up for his gig at the Manchester Evening News Arena. smashing the previous record held at that time by Eddie lzzard. Chris Rock has since topped the Evans figure.
He's appeared in a range of movies. such as There ‘3 Something About Mary, Funny Bones, The Fifth Element and The Magic Roundabout where he provided the voice of Train. In 2004, he had his first non-serious starring role in British psychological thriller Freeze Frame. for which he shaved his head and eyebrows. lt all grew back eventually.
One thing you can't say about his shows is that they're laid-back. He is a slapstick man who twists. stumbles. falls and sweats. usually in an ill-fitting suit. His regular dry cleaner in Southend eventually refused to take any more of his business as he had couldn't return the suits in anything like mint condition. Sweat apparently rots the stitching. (Brian Donaldson)
SECC, Glasgow, Wed 22—Frr' 24 Oct.
host the new talent night with headliner Keara Murphy and a cltrtch of newbies trying their ltrck.
Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2. Behold the new comedians. and there are millions of them. perfornring their little socks off in the hope of public recognition. With seasoned types Stu Murphy and Antony Murray.
Glasgow
Red Raw The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 08706006055. 8.30pm. £2 (£1 members). Neil Mcl-‘arlane treads up a bill of new comedy talent. in this fabtrlottsly popular and top-value comedy night. The perfect introduction to stand-up for people with short concentration spans and no money.
Glasgow
Benefit in Aid of the Scottish Cuba Solidarity Campaign The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm.