Comedy HITLIST THE BEST COMEDY EVENTS
Des Bishop A massive hit at last year’s Edinburgh bash, My Dad Was Nearly James Bond arrives westward with the added poignancy of Bishop Snr’s recent death. Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 1 Apr.
Uncaged Monkeys Some media- friendly brainboxes (Singh, Goldacre, Ince and Cox) gather up to wonder what the devil science has got to do with comedy. See feature, page 26. King’s Theatre, Glasgow, Sun 3 Apr. Imran Yusuf Having emerged from the Free Fringe to nab himself a Best Newcomer nomination last August, Mr Yusuf returns to cement his rising reputation. See feature, page 27. The Stand, Glasgow, Mon 4 Apr.
Mark Thomas Who says political comedy is dead? Breathing life into the old horse is the self- dubbed ‘libertarian anarchist’ and all-round good guy. Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, Mon 4 & Tue 5 Apr. Sarah Millican Probably the most aptly titled show of the month, Chatterbox is the Geordie stand-up’s Edinburgh Comedy Award- nominated rollercoaster. Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, Tue 5 Apr.
Luke Wright The agile performance poet and all-round good geezer unleashes his Cynical Ballads featuring some sad and happy tales across this sceptred isle. See preview, page 52. Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 8 Apr.
Peter Kay If you don’t have a ticket yet, chances are you won’t be going to see the old Lancastrian. Never mind, the peals of laughter will ring around the city at his everyday japes. SECC, Glasgow, Thu 14–Mon 18 Apr.
Tim Minchin The future of musical comedy has rarely been in safer hands than those of the mad- haired and wild-eyed Aussie chap. Playhouse, Edinburgh, Sat 16 & Sun 17 Apr; SECC, Glasgow, Mon 18 Apr.
56 THE LIST 31 Mar–28 Apr 2011
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 16 days before publication to comedy@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Siân Bevan. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry 557 5869. 7.30pm. £5 (£4). See caption, page 56. Part of Ladyfest The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Glasgow festival guest Costaki Econompoulos joins host Billy Kirkwood and the uplifting Rob Rouse.
Thursday 31 Friday 1
Glasgow Curry Comedy @ Slumdog Slumdog Bar & Kitchen, 410 Sauchiehall Street, 0844 395 4005. 7pm. £19.95 including meal. Chris Broomfield presents a night of comedy accompanied by a luscious Indian banquet. FREE No Hard Feelings BBC Scotland, 40 Pacific Quay, 422 7000. 7pm. BBC Radio Scotland Comedy presents two free live recordings of John Gordon Sinclair’s radio sitcom No Hard Feelings. Steve Gribbin The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 7.45pm. £9 (£7). A look at a life spent in a relationship with comedy in Love At First Sight. Comedy in the Buff The Buff Club, 142 Bath Lane, 0844 395 4005. 8pm. £7 (£5). A showcase of (fully-clothed) comedy from all over the shop. Jenny Eclair Citizens Theatre, 119 Gorbals Street, 429 0022. 8pm. £16.50. For Old Dog New Tricks, Eclair is the dame you all know, older, a bit wiser (she has ‘new tricks’ after all), with her latest show taking a wonderfully grumpy look at life. Julia Sutherland and Sarah-May Philo The 13th Note Café/Bar, 50–60 King Street, 0844 395 4005. 8pm. £5 (£4). Two up-and-coming filthy female comedians team up in Fooling Around. Norman Lovett Òran Mór, 731–735 Great Western Road, 0844 395 4005. 8pm. £13 (£11). Comedy chat from the man who’s a lot more than Holly from Red Dwarf. But he was also that. What Happened Is This Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. 8pm. £9 (£7). Never Did Nothing presents a new comedy from Nick Underwood. Andrew Bird Brel, 39–43 Ashton Lane, 0844 395 4005. 8.30pm. £7 (£6). The trials and tribulations of wanting to be liked by everyone in The Unlikely Lad. Billy and Chris’ Comedy All-Sorts Classic Grand, 18 Jamaica Street, 0844 395 4005. 8.30pm. £5 (£4). An array of carefully selected comedians to cheer up your evening, courtesy of Chris Henry and Billy Kirkwood. Comedy @ The Lee The Lee, 100 St James Road, 0844 395 4005. 8.30pm. £5. Gary Little introduces three top acts to one of the newer comedy venues on the block. Delete the Banjax Capitol, 468 Sauchiehall Street, 0844 395 4005. 8.30pm. £8 (£7). The rising sketch quartet brings the larks up to Scotland. Griffin Giggles The Griffin, 226 Bath Street, 0844 395 4005. 8.30pm. £7 (£5). A selection box of comedy treats plumping up the festival atmosphere. Josh Howie Blackfriars, 36 Bell Street, 0844 395 4005. 8.30pm. £8 (£7). The nerdy comedian tells the tale of living with his grandmother in Gran Slam. The Wee Man The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 0844 395 4005. 8.30pm. £7 (£5). Glasgow’s own comedy Ned champion is back with Nedator. Zombie Science 1Z Queen Margaret Union, 22 University Gardens, 0844 395 4005. 8.30pm. £5 (£3). Do some learning (kinda) with your comedy as the inimitable Dr Austin combines stand-up with live demonstrations and a spoof scientific lecture on the undead. Magners Festival Club The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 10pm. £10 (£8). One of the highlights of the festival, this late-night show has had every big comedy name on the scene in its warm embrace. Edinburgh LadyFest Comedy Night Edinburgh City FC, 7 Baxter’s Place, Leith Walk,
Glasgow The Big Lunchtime Comedy Chat Show Corinthian, 191 Ingram Street, 0844 395 4005. 1pm. £10 including lunch; £5 without. Have a delicious lunchbreak with charming funny boys Des Clarke and Scott Agnew, who’ll be joined by a selection of guests. Alan Anderson’s Gallus Glasgow Comedy Walk Maggie May’s, 60 Trongate, 0844 395 4005. 5pm. £7 (£6). Seventy minutes of banter and patter as Mr Alan Anderson, comedian and architectural historian, guides you round Glasgow. FREE No Hard Feelings BBC Scotland, 40 Pacific Quay, 422 7000. 7pm. See Thu 31. Daniel Sloss The Garage, 490 Sauchiehall Street, 0844 395 4005. 7.30pm. £10. That there Daniel Sloss who everyone’s excited about continues his epic comedy rise with his show My Generation. Fred MacAulay The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 395 4005. 7.45pm. £12 (£10). The jovial uncle of Scottish comedy presents a rare full- length solo show. ✽✽ Des Bishop Citizens Theatre, 119 Gorbals Street, 429 0022. 8pm. £15. A poignant show ahead as the American- Irish comic remembers his late father in My Dad Was Nearly James Bond. An Alky, a Junkie and a Psycho Walked into a Bar The Buff Club, 142 Bath Lane, 0844 395 4005. 8pm. £5. Three Scottish stand-ups in no way pander to local stereotypes in this show about living in the west of Scotland. The Comedy Supper Club Arta, The Old Cheesemarket, 62 Albion Street, 0844 395 4005. 8pm. £9 show only (£7). The weekend show from Arta includes performances from some fine festival acts, with meal deals on offer to munch before you laugh. Arrive at 6.30pm for dining. Craig Hill Òran Mór, 731–735 Great Western Road, 0844 395 4005. 8pm. £13.50 (£10). Terrifyingly cheerful comedy from Mr Hill for his adoring fans, like a bouncy castle of fake tan and fun. Ha Ha Half Price Comedy Club Dram, 232–246 Woodlands Road, 0844 395 4005. 8pm. £7 (£6). A special festival edition of the weekly showcase, courtesy of Ha Ha Comedy. Ha Ha Half Price Comedy Southside The Shed, 26 Langside Avenue, 0844 395 4005. 8pm. £7 (£6). Alan Anderson and Bratchy present this mixed line-up evening. Meal deals and free club entry available. Raymond Mearns April Fool Show O2 ABC, 330 Sauchiehall Street, 0844 395 4005. 8pm. £15. The Glasgow ranter revels in a night of pranks, jokes and general foolishness. What Happened Is This Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. 8pm. £9 (£7). See Thu 28. £5 Festival Funnies Maggie May’s, 60 Trongate, 0844 395 4005. 8pm. £5. Compere extraordinaire Scott Agnew introduces a selection of festival acts. Anna Devitt The Griffin, 226 Bath Street, 0844 395 4005. 8.30pm. £7 (£5). Direct Devitt features comedy, song, dance and other things to make you happy. Barry McDonald The State Bar, 148 Holland Street, 0844 395 4005. 8.30pm. £7 (£5). Engaging Scottish comedian Barry McDonald chats through life in My Big Fat April Fool. Comedy Central Live Stand Up Show Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 8.30pm. £12. One of the finer showcases of the