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5 THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT
MARK THOMAS 1 Mark Thomas was born in South London, to a midwife mother and a self-employed builder dad who was at one point a lay preacher at Clapham Junction’s Nazarene Church. Thomas declared himself to be an atheist at the age of 12.
2 While he was trying to get a career in comedy off the ground, he got a job at Jongleurs. Not on stage, mind, but alongside his dad as a painter and decorator.
3 As well as being a pioneering stand-up with a conscience, he has a pretty healthy TV CV. He was the resident comic on Jonathan Ross’ 1990s Channel 4 show Saturday Zoo and went on to make the highly popular (except with politicians) Mark Thomas Product. He does draw the line somewhere, though, and that line has included saying no to appearing in a proposed reality show chillingly titled Celebrity Guantanamo Bay. 4 In 1992 he was nominated for the Perrier Award alongside Jo Brand, John Shuttleworth and winner, Steve Coogan. A decade later he was joining forces with buddy Rob Newman in calling for a boycott of the prize due to the whole Nestlé baby milk furore.
5 He’s in the Guinness Book of World Records for organising the most protests on a single day. This was in defiance of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. (Brian Donaldson) ■ The Stand, Glasgow, Mon 18 Jan; The Stand, Edinburgh, Tue 19 Jan.
✽✽ The Improverts Bedlam Theatre, 11b Bristo Place, 225 9893.
10.30pm. £4 (£3.50). Late night laughter from Edinburgh’s long-standing improvised comedy troupe. There may be madness, but by goodness, it’ll be improvised madness.
Saturday 16
Glasgow Famous for Comedy Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 8pm. From £12. See Fri 15. The Saturday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £13. See Thu 14 for line-up. Edinburgh Famous for Comedy Highlight, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 8pm. From £11. See Fri 15. The Saturday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £13. See Fri 15.
Jason Cook The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, as Geordie stand-up delivers the kind of honest-to-
goodness material that makes you laugh out loud one minute then get all emotional and gooey the next. The discovery of the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe (once he’d stepped out from his spoof kraut-rock band Die Clatterschenkenfietermaus) routinely rakes in the four and five-star reviews for his blend of fast-thinking, feel-good chat and soul baring true-life tales. ■ The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 21–Sat 23 Jan.
Sunday 17
Glasgow Glasgow Kids Comedy Club The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 3pm. £3. Comedy for ages 8–12. This week features Matt Reed, Andy White and Michael Manley; proper comedians, doing proper jokes and probably being a bit stupid. No under 5s; all kids must be accompanied by an adult. FREE Ha Ha Raw Comedy Ivory Hotel, Langside Avenue, Shawlands, 8.30pm. See Sun 10. Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £1). Another evening in the company of the Father Ted star, this time with the very charming Andy White, local legend Mark Bratchpiece and wee upstart Daniel Webster. Edinburgh FREE Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1pm. See Sun 10. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £1). Susan Calman comperes this wee treat of an evening, featuring comedians such as Mat Reed, Siân Bevan and Elaine Malcolmson. It’ll be lovely, and at least it’s someone else providing the heating.
Monday 18
Glasgow ✽✽ Mark Thomas Special The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870
600 6055. 8.30pm. £12. He’s a comedian, author, radio presenter and protester and he’s coming up here to entertain you while seeping important information into your brains. It’s edutainment! But not rubbish. See 5 Things.
Edinburgh Fit O’ The Giggles Absolute Beginners Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8pm. £2 (£1). Beardy Irishman Niall Browne is this evening’s compere, while the weird and wonderful Martin McAllister headlines. There’ll be a zillion other acts doing stuff too, so you can’t really go far wrong. Red Raw The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2 (£1). Another night of new comedy talent, with all its highs and lows, this week topped off by headliner Chris Forbes.
Tuesday 19 Glasgow Red Raw The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £2 (£1). Headliner Sean Grant and host Billy Kirkwood ease a selection of newish acts onto the stage. A packed line-up and a total bargain for a Tuesday evening.
Edinburgh ✽✽ Mark Thomas Special The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272.
8.30pm. £12. See Mon 18.
Wednesday 20
Glasgow Benefit in Aid of Amnesty International The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £7 (£5). A night to raise funds for AI, which helps campaign for internationally recognised human rights. The line-up will be announced but it’ll be full of excellent comedians helping raise much-needed funds and awareness. Edinburgh The Skinny Presents . . . The Dullest Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5. The Skinny
Comedy Hitlist THE BEST COMEDY *
✽✽ Famous for Comedy Jongleurs relaunches itself as Highlight with a strong line-up in both cities. Among the opening acts are Alistair Barrie (pictured), Keith Farnan, Mark Nelson and Craig Hill. Highlight, Glasgow & Edinburgh, Fri 8 Jan. ✽✽ Stewart Francis One of the finest one-line gag merchants in the business hops on the Tour de Francis. See preview. The Stand, Glasgow, Mon 11 Jan; The Stand, Edinburgh, Tue 12 Jan. ✽✽ Mark Thomas Is political comedy dead? Not while this chap is still about. See 5 Things. The Stand, Glasgow, Mon 18 Jan; The Stand, Edinburgh, Tue 19 Jan. ✽✽ The Improverts The Embra ad lib institution makes up more hilarity right there on the spot. Bedlam Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 15 Jan. ✽✽ Jason Cook A short Stand residency for the Geordie. See picture caption. The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 21 Jan.
magazine showcases a fine selection of comedians who’ve written for its ‘Dullest Blog.’ Line-up to be announced.
Thursday 21
Glasgow The Thursday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £8 (£7; members £4). It looks set to be a barnstorming weekend at The Stand, held together with the gaffer tape that is Raymond Mearns. With performances from Tony Law, Andy Sir, Barry Dodds and Rab Brown.
Edinburgh ✽✽ The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Yay! Jason Cook is back in town with his face and his jokes and everything. He’ll be spending the weekend with compere Billy Kirkwood, Simon Clayton and Mary Bourke.
Check out the GreatOffers on page 6
7–21 Jan 2010 THE LIST 43