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PREVIEW NEW CLUB WOODLANDS BUMPER VALUE COMEDY CLUB Uisge Beatha, Glasgow, Sat 29 Nov, 6 Dec
With parts of the Jongleurs’ chain under threat of sell-off, these are interesting times for comedy in Scotland. Even more so now with the growing number of smaller nights emerging to challenge the Stand-Jongleurs hegemony and spread the stagetime around. By launching a regular Saturday night at Uisge Beatha, just up the road from The Stand’s Glasgow arm, local impresario Alan Anderson might be perceived as moving in on the established club’s turf. But relations seem cordial enough and Anderson stresses that his half-price comedy night, so-christened because the £6 entry is half that of The Stand’s on its busiest evening, is simply ‘picking up’ the Woodside club’s ‘overspill’ and pitches itself at cash-conscious locals and students who are enticed in for £4. With 80 or so punters crammed like galley slaves into a clammy intimacy
with compere Scott Agnew, the inaugural night bode well for the future, with opener Rab Brown showcasing a skilled turn of phrase that belied his newcomer status. His standout gag might have originally belonged to Vladimir McTavish but Brown makes it his own with successive well-executed callbacks. Rob Kane was rather more aggressive, less ambitious and seemed to be competing with Agnew for the crowd’s ‘oohs’ of knee-jerk disgust, but Teddy (pictured) was an assured presence at the mic, pulling off a shamelessly contrived Heather Mills gag and successfully negotiating the charm tightrope of his sordid romantic misadventures.
Emancipated from presenting Children in Need the night before, some of headliner Des Clarke’s routines had a whiff of mothball, such as his observations on the Glasgow Airport terror attacks, but there’s no restraining his impish wit and fresh-faced star quality in a venue normally reserved for folk music. Intriguingly, future headliners for this cosy night include the outsize personalities of Janey Godley, Raymond Mearns and Stu Who? (Jay Richardson)
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to comedy@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Siân Bevan. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
Thursday 27 Glasgow Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 8pm. £8. Thursday nights are more or less the weekend, so go and enjoy the sights and sounds of Roger Monkhouse, Stu Who? and Sean Meo.
The Thursday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £7 (£6; members £3). With compere Joe Heenan and the remarkably clever and witty Robin Ince, could Thursdays be any better? How about Bernard O’Shea and Saj as well? You’re welcome. Edinburgh Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 7.45pm. £8. It’s nearly the festive season, so get in to watch comedy before you’re jostling with work Christmas dos for space. This weekend is decorated with Rob Collins, Chris McCausland, Ian Coppinger and Rex Boyd.
Fit O’ The Giggles @ The Argyle The Argyle Bar, 15–17 Argyle Place, 221 9759. 9pm. £3 (£2). Keara Murphy hosts an evening of quality comedy, with the grown- up version of her popular Absolute Beginners night. Enter the magical joke competition for a chance to win a bottle of fizzy plonk. Heresy The Jekyll & Hyde, 112 Hanover Street, 225 2022. 9pm. £3. Offensive, dark and edgy are all words which comedians performing here like to use about themselves. Head down to the Basement of Doom to find out why it’s still a cracking night of comedy. The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£6; members £3). Michael Smiley, Ricky Callan, Kevin Loughlin and John Scott all do their best to brighten up the winter nights, led by the hand and heart (probably) by compere Scott Agnew.
Friday 28
Glasgow The Mighty Boosh SECC: Clyde Auditorium, Finnieston Quay, 0870 040 4000. 7.30pm. SOLD OUT. Join Vince Noir and Howard Moon (that’s Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt in disguise), plus a whole host of recognisable characters, on their wacky and colourful adventures. DAM Fine Comedy Gramafon, 7 King Street, 552 7177. 8pm. £5. A new comedy night on the block, with a professional headliner and bargainous volumes of new talent, hosted by Jon Stanley. The Stand The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £9 (£8; members £5). See Thu 27. Edinburgh Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 7.45pm. £11. See Thu 27. The Stand The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £9 (£8; members £5). This weekend’s frivolities are headed up by Andrew Maxwell, him of Fullmooners fame, with the esteemed company of John Scott, Jim Park and compere Mme Susan Morrison.
Saturday 29
Glasgow The Mighty Boosh SECC: Clyde Auditorium, Finnieston Quay, 0870 040 4000. 7.30pm. SOLD OUT. See Fri 28.
✽✽ Tim Minchin Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 8pm.
£15. The 2005 Perrier Best Newcomer winner, him of the fabulous eye-liner, shows off his skills as a comedian, actor, composer and musician. Comedy @ The State The State Bar, 148 Holland Street, 332 2159. 9pm. £5. With a line-up that changes weekly, The State has long been an alternative home for weekend comedy featuring some of the finest acts on the local circuit. The Stand The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £12. See Thu 27.
✽✽ Woodlands Bumper Value Comedy Club Uisge Beatha,
232–246 Woodlands Road, 564 1596. 9pm. £6 (£4). See preview. Edinburgh Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 7.30pm. £14. See Thu 27. The Stand The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £12. See Fri 28.
Sunday 30 Glasgow FREE Ha Ha Raw Comedy Ivory Hotel, Langside Avenue, Shawlands, 8.30pm. This lovely Shawlands gig continues to provide top entertainment from precisely nought pounds nought pence. Get in early for a seat. St Andrew’s Day Special The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £1). Joe Heenan
Comedy Hitlist THE BEST COMEDY *
✽✽ Tim Minchin The Aussie maverick brings us his tousled and eyelinered ways with more songs, both naughty and funny. Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Sat 29 Nov. ✽✽ Woodlands Bumper Value Comedy Club A cheap and cheerful yet quality-packed new club night for the Glaswegians among us. See preview. Uisge Beatha, Glasgow, Sat 29 Nov & Sat 6 Dec. ✽✽ Steve Coogan Having just about fully conquered Hollywood, Coogan delivers Alan Partridge and Other Less Successful Characters to our doorsteps. See 5 Things. SECC, Glasgow, Wed 3 & Thu 4 Dec. ✽✽ John Shuttleworth It’s no longer grim up north with the likes of the bespectacled, pigeon-admirer Shuttleworth about, though southern softies had best look out. Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Wed 3 Dec. ✽✽ David O’Doherty The reigning if.comedy champ muscles in for some lo-fi, happy clappy, musically comedic banter. The Stand, Edinburgh, Tue 9 Dec; The Stand, Glasgow, Wed 10 Dec.
comperes this comedy evening held in honour of the patron saint of kilts and Irn Bru, with Bruce Morton, Gus Tawse, Saj and Michael Manley. Improbabble The Liquid Ship, 171–175 Great Western Road, 331 1901. 9pm. £4 (£3). The Improbabble crew (Billy Bonkers, Peter Aitchison, Obie and Kari McKenna) perform a high-energy night of sketches and stand-up based around audience suggestions. Edinburgh FREE Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1pm. Resident improv gurus Stu and Garry provide free entertainment. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £1). Susan Morrison comperes the end of the week, no doubt orchestrating a fabulous night from the talents of John Scott, Steven Dick and Martin McAllister.
Monday 1
Glasgow Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 7.30pm. From £8. A whole week of comedy goodies now available at Jongleurs, as the festive season really kicks in. December opens with Mickey Hutton, Jason John Whitehead, Richard Morton and Sinck. Book online for the cheapest tickets. 27 Nov–11 Dec 2008 THE LIST 41