Comedy Stand Up
HAILEY BOYLE The Stand, Edinburgh, Mon 13–Sat 18, Mon 20 Dec; The Stand, Glasgow, Tue 21, Mon 27–Fri 31 Dec
Back in March, the America Stands Up! bandwagon rolled into town for the Glasgow Comedy Festival with a Saturday night date at The Stand. While host Scott Capurro gave the crowd a typically catty performance, a couple of the lesser-known acts shone brightly. One of them, Hailey Boyle, was born in New York and forged a comedy career there, though her nomadic existence (‘my parents kicked me out because I was obnoxious’) led her to live in various parts of the USA, with her spell in Alaska becoming a defining period. ‘I started stand-up comedy there but there wasn’t too much to aspire to,’ admits the Steve Martin and Harry Potter fan. ‘The comedy scene is incredibly small and very Alaska-centred; if you see a comedian in Alaska, they’re telling jokes about Alaska. I’d have to keep writing new material every week because it was the same audience all the time. It’s very political too, the people there are either very Republican or very liberal, so everything is politics and everything is shouting. I’m not political; I just want pot to be legalised. Other than that I couldn’t give a crap.’
While she is no relation to Susan, Frankie or Jimmy, Hailey Boyle does claim Celtic roots with her grandfather being a Scot. ‘I was very disappointed that I couldn’t find any Boyle tartan on any of the shops on Sauchiehall Street because I was hoping to feel extra Scottish.’ One thing that didn’t have any extra Scottishness on Boyle’s earlier visit was her 20-minute set. While preparing for that Glasgow Comedy Festival show, she admits that her compatriots spent time working out their ‘Scottish set’. Refreshingly, Boyle was uninterested in shamelessly ingratiating herself on the natives. ‘All I did was change the word “hand-truck” to “trolley” in my rape joke, and bam, that was my Scotland set. I’m more likely to be successful in each performance if I just do what feels good to me. If I’m having fun, they’re going to have fun.’ (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 Siân Bevan. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
Thursday 2
Glasgow highlight Comedy Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 7.15pm. From £24.95: special offers available. A Comedy Central special featuring Jojo Smith, Joe Heenan, Tanyalee Davis and Brian Higgins, plus hot food and dancing. Four price packages available. FREE Bratchy and The Wee Man’s Comedy Pub Quiz The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. 8pm. Comedy, questions and prizes. The Thursday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Gus Tawse and John Gavin, Kevin Gildea, Kai Humphries and host Bruce Devlin. Edinburgh highlight Comedy Highlight, Omni
58 THE LIST 2–16 Dec 2010
Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 8.30pm. From £19.95: special offers available. Brendan Riley, Mark Nelson, Marc Theobald and David Hadingham present a night of fun, food and dancing. Four price packages available. FREE Heresy The Jekyll & Hyde, 112 Hanover Street, 225 2022. 9pm. Rick Molland’s cellar of dark, dirty comedy. The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Jake O’Kane, Michael Fabbri, Carl Hutchinson and Bob Graham join MC Billy of Kirkwood.
Friday 3
Glasgow Jongleurs Jongleurs, The Glasshouse 20 Glassford Street, 08700 111 960. 7pm. £15. Chatty comedy from Janey Godley, Dougie Dunlop, Owen O’Neill and Sinck. Arrive by 6pm if you want dinner. highlight Comedy Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 7.15pm. From £24.95. See Thu 2.
✽✽ Scottish Comedian of the Year Grand Final O2 Academy, 121
Eglinton Street, 0844 477 2000. 7.30pm. £16. Ha Ha Comedy present the final group of hopeful comedians aiming to
win the title of Scottish Comedian of the Year. With host Tam Cowan and special guest judges. The Friday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 2. Edinburgh highlight Comedy Highlight, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 8.30pm. From £19.95. See Thu 2. The Friday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 2. Upstairs @ The Beehive Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 9pm. £5. Bill Dewar guest MCs, supported by Barry McDonald, Ed Cassidy and Chris Conroy.
Saturday 4
Glasgow Jongleurs Jongleurs, The Glasshouse 20 Glassford Street, 08700 111 960. 7pm. £15. See Fri 3. highlight Comedy Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 7.15pm. From £24.95. See Thu 2. The Saturday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 9pm. £13. See Thu 2. Edinburgh The Saturday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £13. See Thu 2. Upstairs @ The Beehive Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 9pm. £5. Barry McDonald headlines, with Ed Cassidy and Chris Conroy as support.
Sunday 5
Glasgow Glasgow Kids Comedy Club The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 3pm. £4. Live comedy for younger fans. This month includes Bruce Devlin and Kevin Gildea. No under 5s; all kids must be accompanied by an adult. Comedy on the Square The Piper on the Square, 57 Cochrane Street, 552 1740. 8pm. £7 on the door; £6 pre-booked. New night headed up by local legend Des McLean, with Gus Tawse, Gordon Brunton and compere Joe Heenan. Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £1). A chilled night with Mr R and the terribly talented Carl Hutchinson, Gerry McDade and Woody. Edinburgh FREE Whose Lunch Is It Anyway? The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1.30pm. Hot food and a free dose of improv comedy, courtesy of Stu & Garry. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £1). Michael Fabbri, Phil Differ, Nick Davies and Martin McAllister join chirpy host Joe Heenan.
Monday 6
Glasgow ✽✽ Frankie Boyle SECC, Finnieston Quay, 0844 395 4000. 8pm. £32. It’s Frankie mother-flippin’ Boyle. Nuff said. Dance, Monkey Boy, Dance The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £4. Stand-up, sketches and improv from Raymond Mearns, Allen Chalmers and John Ross. Red Raw The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £2 (£1). Scott Agnew and Stuart Black try out some newbies.
Edinburgh Fit O’ The Giggles Out With the Old Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8pm. £2 (£1). The Beehive offer a space for comics to try out new material.
Tuesday 7 Glasgow FREE Comedy at the Halt Bar The
5 THINGS COMEDY SHOWS WORTH WATCHING ON TELLY Peep Show In tonight’s funnybone-threatening escapade, Jeremy is offered a plum job as head of development for Ben’s music website. But things quickly go horribly wrong when Jeremy signs up Super Hans’ band, Man Feelings. Channel 4, Fri 3 Dec, 10pm.
The Stephen K Amos Show This week, the never unlikeable comic visits his mum (played by one Stephen K Amos), shares news of some recent film offers, and reveals why he will never play James Bond. BBC2, Fri 3 Dec, 10pm. Miranda The second series of Miranda Hart’s ‘tradcom’ (whatever the heck that means) continues apace with Stevie becoming increasingly jealous at Miranda hanging out so much with new buddy, Tamara. BBC2, Mon 6 Dec, 8.30pm.
Mike and Molly Meet Mike, an affable police officer, and Molly, an instantly likeable school teacher. This pair have fallen victim to Cupid’s bow at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting. I think we both know the kind of jokes running rampant here, eh? Comedy Central, Mon 6 Dec, 10pm. Frankie Boyle’s Tramadol Nights With a bit of luck we’ll have reached tonight’s second episode two of Frank’s sketch-based delve into the darker recesses of humanity rather than the whole thing being pulled from our screens by the might of the Daily Mail’s letters page. Maybe the biggest complaints will be about the massive hillbilly facial fuzz he’s sporting at the moment. Channel 4, Tue 7 Dec, 10pm. (Brian Donaldson)
Halt Bar, 160 Woodlands Road, 352 9996. 8.30pm. New comedy talent. Red Raw The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £2 (£1). Host Billy Kirkwood and headliner Stuart Black are aiding and abetting new acts. Edinburgh Comedy Bee Presents . . . The Canons’ Gait, 232 Canongate, 556 4481. 8pm. £2 (£1). New night with resident US compere Becky Donohue. Wicked Wenches The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £3). Mary Bourke, Isma Almas, Lucy Oldham and regular host Susan ‘Calmanator’ Calman bring the funny.
Wednesday 8
Glasgow ✽✽ highlight Comedy Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street,