Comedy
STAND-UP DAVE GORMAN Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, Mon 21 Sep
Dave Gorman rarely takes the easy route to a laugh. Having transformed the comedy landscape with his quest-based, storytelling shows, he’s back performing conventional stand-up. Except that he’s also currently cycling 50 miles a day between gigs as part of a 1500-mile tour from the southernmost to the northernmost tips of mainland Britain, taking in the most easterly and westerly points along the way. ‘Shortly after we finished recording Genius [for BBC2], I started doing a bit of stand-up again in London, keeping it secret from everyone,’ says Gorman. ‘Just cycling to a club and asking if I could have ten minutes.’ Finally rumbled by his manager, they planned a national tour and he
figured why not cycle between each venue? Now he’s hastily reacquainting himself with life in the stand-up saddle. ‘It took a while to get fluid, I still feel a bit rusty at times,’ he says. ‘But it’s exciting because it’s like a hobby again. I’m carrying a notebook for the first time in years and finding my head overflowing with ideas.’
His ‘beautiful’ bike, an £800 racer lent to him by Olympic champion
turned designer Chris Boardman, is better prepared. ‘Bless him, the man is a hero. It’s quite possible he will accompany me for a leg in Scotland.’ The ‘moderately fit’ comedian is also appealing for local cyclists to join him with the sort of advice his sat nav can’t give him. ‘If anyone can give me that sort of headstart and sneakily be a windbreak for me, that’ll make the journey easier.’
Not too many though, because he doesn’t want to be constantly worrying, ‘Are we all still here; is anyone under a lorry?’ (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 10
Glasgow FREE Bratchy and the Wee Man’s Comedy Pub Quiz The Arches Café Bar, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1035. 8pm. Comedic brothers Bratchy and The Wee Man, him of YouTube infamy, host a pub quiz with a difference with interactive games, WWE moves and tomfoolery. Oh, and there’ll be cash prizes and all. The Thursday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £10 (£9; £5). Ooh, this looks like a good ’un. An evening hosted by Raymond Mearns and starring the reliable talents of Ron Vaudry, Keir McAllister, Fred Cooke and Carly Baker. 46 THE LIST 10–24 Sep 2009
Edinburgh The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £8 (£7; members £4). The weekend has arrived, and you deserve a treat. Try an evening in the company of firebrand Susan Morrison as she hosts an evening featuring lovely gentlemen Ian Cognito, Andy White and John Whale.
Friday 11 Glasgow Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 7pm. From £12. Simon Clayton, Jimmie McGhie, Christian Reilly and Mick Ferry from Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow perform for the masses, with free entry to the after-show dancing included in the ticket price. Comedy at the Gram Café Gramofon, 7 King Street, 552 7177. 8.30pm. £5. Viv Gee and Rob Kane host this weekly foray into all things comedy for next to nothing. A different line-up every week, packed
with some of the finest circuit comedians in the land. The Friday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 10 for line-up. Edinburgh Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 8pm. From £11. Comedy goodies from a funny bunch of boys, namely Martin Bigpig, Andrew Bird, Gavin Webster and Richard Morton followed by post-show dancing. The Friday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 10 for line-up.
Saturday 12
Glasgow Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 7pm. From £12. See Fri 11. The Saturday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £13. See Thu 10 for line-up. Edinburgh Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 6.30pm & 10pm. From £11. See Fri 11. The Saturday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £13. See Thu 10.
Sunday 13 Glasgow FREE Ha Ha Raw Comedy Ivory Hotel, Langside Avenue, Shawlands, 8.30pm. Free comedy prevails with a different line-up every week.
Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £1). And so once more dawns the Sabbath and with it the unique comedy of Mr Redmond. This week he’s joined by Rob Vaudry, Fred Cooke, Andrew Learmonth and Ailsa Johnston. Edinburgh FREE Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1pm. Everyone’s favourite lunchtime entertainers return. There’s scrummy food available and more improvised comedy than you can shake a wedge at. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £1). The ever-vibrant Billy Kirkwood hosts this Sunday’s comedy treat, featuring the likes of very lovely comedians Andy White, John Whale and Kim MacAskill.
Monday 14
Glasgow Dance, Monkey Boy, Dance The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £4. Raymond Mearns, John Ross and Allen Chalmers continue the cult of the Monkey Boys, with stand- up, improv and sketches jam-packed in. Edinburgh Fit O’ The Giggles Absolute Beginners Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8pm. £2 (£1). A weekly dose of supportive new comedy, headed up by a different compere and headliner every week. Cheap, delicious laughs. Red Raw The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2 (£1). Bruce Fummey and Ron Vaudry welcome a collection of newer acts, willing to place their dignity in the hands of a roomful of strangers.
Tuesday 15 Glasgow Red Raw The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £2 (£1). Another session of comedy newbies, each pelting out their best stuff for five minutes. Top value night out, with the
Hitlist THE BEST COMEDY *
✽✽ Billy Connolly The Big Yin drops by for several dates in the capital before doing his thing in Glasgow in October. He once did a joke about jojoba sounding a bit like October. Brilliant, it was. Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Thu 17–Sun 20, Tue 22 & Wed 23 Sep. ✽✽ Electric Tales The thin line between comedy and storytelling is thoroughly moved around with this new night starring Stu & Garry, Siân Bevan and Lari Don. Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, Tue 15 Sep. ✽✽ Improv Wars Everyone loves a good dose of improv and Stu Murphy, Chris Forbes and Billy Kirkwood will be giving it their all here. The Stand, Glasgow, Mon 21 Sep. ✽✽ Dave Gorman See preview, left. Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, Mon 21 Sep. ✽✽ Kevin Bridges See 5 Reasons, right. Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, Thu 24 Sep.
added bonus of Chris Henry and Ron Vaudry.
Edinburgh ✽✽ Electric Tales Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556
9579. 7.30pm. £6 (£4). Comedy meets storytelling as The Stand and The Scottish Storytelling Centre let their worlds collide. Featuring funny yarns from Stu & Garry, Derek Johnston, Siân Bevan, Lari Don, Gerry Durkin and Tony Bonning. Midweek Comedy Cabaret The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £4 (£2). Treat yourself to the best new talent to have swung through The Stand’s doors in recent times, with a little help from an experienced headliner and host Stu Murphy. Hairy Watt Comedy Club The Union, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, 451 5333. 9pm. £4 (£3 in advance). Student- friendly comedy appears at Heriot-Watt this evening, with compere Graeme Thomas and acts Keir McAllister and Antony Murray.
Wednesday 16
Glasgow Benefit in Aid of Tak Tent Cancer Support Scotland The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £7 (£5). A night to raise funds for Cancer Support Scotland, or Tak Tent as it’s known, which offers a support network for those affected by cancer. Guilt-free laughter, courtesy of generous comedians. Edinburgh Benefit in Aid of Leith Acorn Centre YMCA The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £7 (£5). A night to raise funds for this fabulous local charity