Comedy
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 1
Glasgow Slumdog Stand Up Slumdog Bar & Kitchen, 410 Sauchiehall Street, 7.30pm. £19.95 (inc meal). Four top comedians act as dessert after a scrummy Indian banquet. FREE Bratchy and the Wee Man’s Comedy Pub Quiz The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. 8pm. Bratchy and The Wee Man, brothers in comedy and blood, present their monthly madcap quiz. The Thursday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Don’t be a fool (geddit?), join feisty host Susan Morrison as she introduces funny boys Karl Spain, John Ross and Gearold Farrelly. Edinburgh Electric Tales: April Fools’ Day Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7.30pm. £6 (£4). Comedy meets storytelling meets April Fools madness as comedians and storytellers let their worlds collide. Ghillie Gags Ghillie Dhu, 2 Rutland Place, 222 9930. 7.30pm. £25 inc dinner. Calverto presents the shiny new gig on the Edinburgh scene in the shiny new Ghillie Dhu. For £25 you get a two course meal and a selection of top comedians, or head along after 10pm and get in for a fiver for the DJs. The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £8 (£7; members £4) Sandy Nelson hosts the weekend of fun, with Sean Kent, Derek Johnston and a dashing of Irish charm from Robbie Bonham.
Friday 2
Glasgow Famous for Comedy Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 8pm. £12. Susan Calman and Craig Hill are adorning the stage this weekend, with help from Bennett Aaron and Johnny Candon. See 5 Things for Craig Hill. The Friday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 1 for line- up. Edinburgh Famous for Comedy Highlight, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 8.30pm. From £10. It’s a long weekend at not-Jongleurs, with plenty of chances to see Charlie Baker, Dominic Woodward and Barry Castagnola. The Friday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 1 for line-up.
Saturday 3
Glasgow Famous for Comedy Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 8pm. £12. See Fri 2. The Saturday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £13. See Thu 1 for line-up. Edinburgh Famous for Comedy Highlight, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 6.30pm & 10pm. From £10. See Fri 2. Laughing Horse New Act of the Year Quarter Final The Meadows Bar, 42–44 Buccleuch Street, 667 6907. 8.30pm. £5 (£3). The quarter final of this long-standing competition, which aims to find the best new comedians to tickle your fancy. With host Keara Murphy. The Saturday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £13. See Thu 1 for line-up.
58 THE LIST 1–15 Apr 2010
CABARET THE BOY WITH TAPE ON HIS FACE The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 8–Sun 11 Apr
What is it about those Antipodean comics? They’re either bawling their heads off with occasionally potent rage and fury (Jim Jeffries, Brendon Burns, Mark Little, Julia Morris, Steve Hughes) or they’re as laidback as you can get (the gently strumming Flight of the Conchords guys, Adam Hills and, um, actually that’s probably it on the laidback front). But maybe there’s a third way where an alternative to shouting insanely or whispering amiably exists. You could even say nothing at all if you wish. In the 2007 Fringe debut of Claire Hooper, Oh featured the Aussie comic
actress delivering a near-silent show about the ways in which we talk without actually uttering any words, an hour set inspired by the real-life threat of permanently losing her voice. And now up pops The Boy With Tape on His Face, a stage name which is unrivalled for its wonderfully accurate descriptive powers. New Zealander Sam Wills has been doing his mute thing for almost a
decade now. Having been awarded the Best New Face (albeit one semi- covered) at Auckland’s Pulp Comedy Festival in 2001, his success has arrived in merging the panto poignancy of Buster Keaton with the wide- eyed naivety of Mr Bean (and a little bit of Patrick Swayze chucked in for good measure). Be warned though, it’s hard for him to keep his lonely, expressive schtick up for too long so audience members may be asked upon to assist with his gentle yet innovative routines. Heckling is futile. Though just be grateful that he’s now set aside some of the more extreme stage acts of hammering nails up his nose or squeezing himself through a tennis racket. I’d love to see Brendon Burns try that one. (Brian Donaldson)
Sunday 4
Glasgow Glasgow Kids Comedy Club The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 3pm. £4. Proper comedians, this week including Gearold Farrelly, tune their comedy into a younger crowd. No under 5s; all kids must be accompanied by an adult. Famous for Comedy Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 8pm. £12. Bennett Aaron and the delightful Johnny Candon stay on for one more evening. It’s OK, Glasgow, you don’t need to say thanks. Bank Holiday Special The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £10 (£9; members £5). On account of that delicious day off tomorrow (hopefully), Karl Spain, John Ross and Gearold Farrelly will be performing for another evening. With host Michael Redmond. Edinburgh FREE Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1pm. Free improvisational comedy to soothe
away your hangover with Stu and Garry. Hot food’s available, but get there early if you’re after a seat. Bank Holiday Special The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £10 (£9; members £5). The weekend’s dream team are here for one more evening, so enjoy Sean Kent, Robbie Bonham, Derek Johnston and host Sandy Nelson. Famous for Comedy Highlight, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 8.30pm. From £10. See Fri 2. Laughing Horse New Act of the Year Quarter Final The Meadows Bar, 42–44 Buccleuch Street, 667 6907. 8.30pm. £5 (£3). See Sat 3.
Monday 5 Edinburgh Fit O’ The Giggles Absolute Beginners Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8pm. £2 (£1). Graeme Thomas and Bruce Fummey lend their experience to this jolly wee new act night, with a packed bill each week. Red Raw The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2 (£1). The stupidly popular new talent evening at The Stand,
with a buzzing bill of a million newbies. With headliner Joe Heenan and MC Billy Kirkwood.
Tuesday 6
Glasgow Red Raw The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £2 (£1). Tuesday nights are cheered up by a taste of the stars of tomorrow, for £2 and some sympathy laughs. With host Scott Agnew. Edinburgh Wicked Wenches The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £3). It’s April, and Wenches is looking all fresh and lovely with turns from Jo Enright, Caroline Robertson and Karen Bayley. With regulars AL Kennedy and Susan Calman.
Wednesday 7 Glasgow Wicked Wenches The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £3). See Tue 6.
Edinburgh Fit O’ The Giggles Out with The Old Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8.30pm. £3 (£2). An evening dedicated to new material from experienced acts. Watch as comedians step outside their comfort zone, and unleash their latest gags to the world.
✽✽ Scott Capurro The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £10 (£8).
This is the latest show from the whiplashing comedian in Scott Capurro Goes MUCH Deeper. Not for the feint- hearted, but the brave can be rewarded with comedy that makes other ‘edgy’ comedians look like Pam Ayres. Thursday 8
Glasgow Slumdog Stand Up Slumdog Bar & Kitchen, 410 Sauchiehall Street, 7.30pm. £19.95 (inc meal). See Thu 1. T’Pollo Comedy Ibrox Stadium, Ibrox Suite, Ibrox Stadium, 150 Edmiston Drive, 0871 702 1972. 8pm. £10. Ray Bradshaw comperes this night of northern comedy, with Ben Schofield, Ben Lawes and Marcus Shufflebottom. The Thursday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £8 (£7; members £5). The weekend arriveth and bringeth another fine Stand line-up, held together by host Susan Calman. Sean Kent and Jo Enright are joined by Scottish acts Billy Kirkwood and Gus Lymburn. Edinburgh Ghillie Gags Ghillie Dhu, 2 Rutland Place, 222 9930. 7.30pm. £25 inc dinner. See Thu 1. The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £8 (£7; members £4). One of the most varied bills in comedy, as circuit favourite Roger Monkhouse is joined by the cabaret hero The Boy With Tape on His Face (see preview), plus Scottish rising star John Gavin, host Bruce Devlin and the bold musings of Karen Bayley.
Friday 9
Glasgow Famous for Comedy Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 8pm. From £12. Craig Hill returns this weekend with Michael Smiley and the magical Mandy Knight. See 5 Things for Craig Hill. The Friday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 8 for line-up. Edinburgh Famous for Comedy Highlight, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 8.30pm. From £10. Scottish comedy hero Raymond Mearns performs along with