list.co.uk/comedy

The Improverts Bedlam Theatre, 11b Bristo Place, 225 9893. 10.30pm. £5 (£4.50). See Fri 23. Saturday 15

Glasgow Jimmy Carr: Laughter Therapy SECC: Clyde Auditorium, Finnieston Quay, 0844 395 4000. 8pm. £25. See Fri 14. Lee Evans: Roadrunner SECC, Finnieston Quay, 0844 395 4000. 8pm. £30. See Thu 13. Foster’s Comedy Live @ highlight Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 8.30pm. £12–£15. See Fri 14, except Phil Differ is replaced by Iain Stirling. Jongleurs Comedy Show Jongleurs, The Glasshouse, 20 Glassford Street, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £15. See Fri 14.

The Saturday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 9pm. £15. See Thu 13 for line-up, plus Lynne Ruth Miller. Edinburgh The Beehive Comedy Club Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8.30pm. £4–£7. See Fri 23. Jongleurs Comedy Show Jongleurs, Lava Ignite, 3 West Tollcross, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £15. See Fri 14. Foster’s Comedy Live @ highlight Highlight, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 9pm. £10–£13. See Fri 14, plus Keith Farnan. The Saturday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £15. See Thu 13 for line-up. Jekyll and Hyde Comedy Club The Jekyll & Hyde, 112 Hanover Street, 225 2022. 9.30pm. £8 (£6). See Sat 24.

MY COMEDY HERO CARL DONNELLY The Stand, Glasgow, Thu 13–Sat 15 Oct

Picking one comedy hero is much harder than it sounds, especially for me as I don’t seem to have had the standard path to becoming a stand-up myself. Comedians tend to talk about how they grew up listening to Richard Pryor albums but I actually watched very little stand-up before I became one. I have a few childhood memories that may have planted the comedy seed in my head (watching my brother’s copy of Eddie Murphy’s Delirious when I was 11 or rolling around laughing at Dave Allen’s show without even knowing what half of the jokes were about!) but until I first went to live comedy at the age of 20, I didn’t have a massive interest in stand-up let alone have a comedy hero! Once I started out on the open mic circuit, that all changed. I went back and listened to the greats. I fell in love with Pryor, Hicks, Carlin etc but in late 2004 I stumbled across Mitch Hedberg’s first album and everything fell into place. I was still looking for my own comedy voice and was trying to be edgy and slick onstage as I thought that was what you were meant to be; but hearing Mitch made me realise that there were no hard and fast rules.

He had an incredibly silly world view and a totally honest, almost slapdash approach to comedy (while still writing incredible jokes). Overnight, it changed how I viewed stand-up and gave me the inspiration to be honest and silly and, more importantly, myself. When Mitch died in March 2005, I was genuinely devastated. Despite having never seen him live or meeting him, he is the person that had the most influence on my comedy. (Interview by Brian Donaldson)

Sunday 16

Glasgow ✽✽ Kevin Bridges & Friends The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335

8879. 4pm. £10. See Sun 25. Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £1). With dry-witted Stephen Carlin and Chris Henry.

Edinburgh FREE Whose Lunch Is It Anyway? The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1.30pm. See Sun 25. Jimmy Carr: Laughter Therapy Edinburgh Playhouse, 18-22 Greenside Place, 0844 847 1660. 8pm. £26. See Fri 14. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £1). Dominic Woodward treats us to some of his quirky stories tonight, with Rob Collins and Jill Baxter.

Monday 17 Glasgow Craig Campbell The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £12. The Canadian firecracker spins some ferocious yarns.

Comedy

Edinburgh ✽✽ Reginald D Hunter: Sometimes Even the Devil Tells the Truth

Edinburgh Playhouse, 18-22 Greenside Place, 0844 847 1660. 8pm. £21. See Mon 3. Craig Campbell The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £12. See Mon 17.

Wednesday 19

Edinburgh ✽✽ Russell Kane: Manscaping Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way,

Musselburgh, 665 2240. 8pm. £17.50. The cheeky scamp takes his latest barnstorming Fringe show on the road. Beatnik Comedy @ The Tron The Tron, 9 Hunter Square, High Street, 226 0931. 8.30pm. £3 (students £2). See Wed 28.

Thursday 20 Glasgow The Thursday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £8 (£7; members £4). The irrepressible Raymond Mearns plays host tonight, alongside Kevin Gildea, Dave Ward and Mikey Adams.

Edinburgh The Beehive Comedy Club Newbees Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8pm. £2 (£1). See Mon 26. Red Raw The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2. Scotland’s finest beginner’s showcase with Chris Henry. Edinburgh The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £8 (£7; members £4). This weekend we’re blessed with the presence of comedy pixie Lucy Porter, also Teddy and Tom Craine. Billy Kirkwood hosts.

Tuesday 18 Glasgow Red Raw The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £2. Tonight’s comical fledglings are ushered to the stage by former Scottish Comedian of the Year finalist Chris Henry.

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www.list.co.uk/i-saw-you 22 Sep–20 Oct 2011 THE LIST 59