Comedy
5 THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT . . .
ED BYRNE 1 Born in the Dublin suburb of Swords, Byrne first got involved in stand-up comedy as a horticulture student at Strathclyde University. As part of the student union, Byrne hosted pub quizzes and karaoke nights which provided him with a taste for showing off and stand-up seemed to be the next logical step. 2 In 1998, Byrne nabbed himself a spot on a universally excellent Perrier shortlist, alongside Peter Kay, Sean Cullen and Al Murray, all of whom had to bow down to the victor, Tommy Tiernan.
3 A whole decade ago, Byrne appeared alongside Davina McCall in Sam’s Game, a largely-hated one-series Friends-esque sitcom which was arguably neither of their finest hours. A more satisfying TV comedy appearance for Byrne arrived last year when he was seen ranting about the ludicrously early success for Daniel Sloss in the Fifer’s sitcom pilot, The Adventures of Daniel. 4 Byrne was one of many celeb dignitaries who signed an open letter protesting against the UK visit of Germany’s Joe Ratzinger (aka The Pope). Among those within the comedy community joining Byrne in condemnation were Natalie Haynes, David Nobbs, Stewart Lee, Robin Ince, Stephen Fry and Richard Dawkins.
5 In 2009, Byrne had a spectacular spat with Piers Morgan on Radio 5 Live’s Simon Mayo show about the merits of Dubai and their leaders’ attitudes to women, money, gay rights and the environment. All of which spiralled wonderfully out of control as Byrne had a pop at Morgan’s part in degrading ‘talent’ shows while the former Mirror editor responded by doing a comedy German SS accent. (Brian Donaldson) ■ Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 4 Nov.
64 THE LIST 20 Oct–17 Nov 2011
Jongleurs Comedy Show Jongleurs, The Glasshouse, 20 Glassford Street, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £15. See Fri 28 for line-up. The Saturday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 9pm. £15. See Thu 27 for line-up. Edinburgh The Beehive Comedy Club Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8.30pm. £4–£7. See Fri 21. Jongleurs Comedy Show Jongleurs, Lava Ignite, 3 West Tollcross, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £15. See Fri 28. Foster’s Comedy Live @ highlight Highlight, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 9pm. £10–£13. See Fri 28, plus Bruce Fummey. Saturday Night Live @ The Shack The Shack, 119 Rose Street, 226 4311. 9pm. £9. Let Jojo Sutherland spice up your weekend with her pick of the freshest talent from across the UK. The Saturday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £15. See Thu 27 for line-up, excepting Ruaidhri Ward. Jekyll and Hyde Comedy Club The Jekyll & Hyde, 112 Hanover Street, 225 2022. 9.30pm. £8 (£6). See Sat 22.
Sunday 30
Glasgow Kevin Bridges & Friends The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 5pm. £10. See Sun 23. Micky Flanagan: Out Out King’s Theatre, 297 Bath Street, 0844 871 7648. 7.30pm. £17.50. See Fri 28. Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £1). Maxing and relaxing with the ever-chilled Michael Redmond. Edinburgh FREE Whose Lunch Is It Anyway? The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1.30pm. See Sun 23. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £1). Jonathan Mayor graces the stage tonight, alongside Craig Murray.
Monday 31
Glasgow Improv Wars Hallowe’en Special The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £4 (£2). Garry Dobson, Stu Murphy and Billy Kirkwood give you the ghostly giggles.
Edinburgh ✽✽ An Evening with Rob Brydon Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street,
228 1404. 7.30pm. £15. The actor, comedian and presenter introduces anecdotes from his new memoir, Small Man in a Book. See First Word, page 2. The Beehive Comedy Club Newbees Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8pm. £2 (£1). See Mon 24. Fit O’ The Giggles Out With the Old City Café, 19 Blair Street, 220 0125. 8.30–10.30pm. £3 (£2). See Mon 24. Red Raw The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2. Siân Bevan introduces Danny McLoughlin and a host of newbies.
Tuesday 1
Glasgow Jimeoin: Lovely Pavilion Theatre, 121 Renfield Street, 332 1846. 7.30pm. £14 (£12). A comic with a delightful sense of the absurd. Red Raw The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £2. Tonight, revel in Danny McLoughlin’s well thought-out wit and some fresh up- and-comers. Edinburgh The Beehive Comedy Club Newbees Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8pm. £2 (£1). See Mon 24.
✽✽ Wicked Wenches The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £6
(£5; members £3). Susan Calman comperes this month’s WW featuring Mary Bourke, ‘Britisher’ Jen Brister and potty-mouthed Diane Spencer. Open Mic Live @ The Shack The Shack, 119 Rose Street, 226 4311. 9.30pm. £3 (£2). A platter of comedy newbies taking their first wobbly steps onto the circuit.
Wednesday 2
Glasgow An Englishwoman, A Scotswoman and an Irishwoman . . . Rose and Grants, 27 Trongate, Merchant City, 552 7575. 8.05pm. £10. Jojo Sutherland, Viv Gee and Pauline Goldsmith. Part of Glasgay!
✽✽ Wicked Wenches The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members free). Ladies night tonight with Mary Bourke, Diane Spencer and Jen Brister.
Edinburgh Jimeoin: Lovely Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. 7.30pm. £14 (£12). See Tue 1. Beatnik Comedy @ The Tron The Tron, 9 Hunter Square, High Street, 226 0931. 8.30pm. £3 (students £2). See Wed 26. The Broken Windows Policy The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £4 (£2). Skits and character treats featuring the best of fresh Scots comedy.
Thursday 3 Glasgow An Englishwoman, A Scotswoman and an Irishwoman . . . Rose and Grants, 27 Trongate, Merchant City, 552 7575. 8.05pm. £10. See Wed 2. The Thursday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Tonight, enjoy Mark Nelson’s vicious quips with Andy Sir, Diane Spencer and host Joe Heenan.
Edinburgh We Happy Few Presents . . . The Banshee Labyrinth, 29–35 Niddry Street, 558 8209. 8.30pm. £2. See Thu 20.
✽✽ The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £8 (£7;
members £2). Sweden’s Magnus Betnér, is joined by Mary Bourke and Andrew Learmonth. Susan Calman hosts.
Friday 4
Glasgow Ed Byrne: Crowd Pleaser Pavilion Theatre, 121 Renfield Street, 332 1846. 7.30pm. £20. The observational Irish wit brings his sparky and vitriolic self to Glasgow. See 5 Things. Foster’s Comedy Live @ highlight Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 8.30pm. £12–£15. With Adam Crow, Danny Angelo and Bruce Fummey. The Friday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 3 for line- up. Jongleurs Comedy Show Jongleurs, The Glasshouse, 20 Glassford Street, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £15. Andrew Stanley jests alongside Chris Henry, Danny Lobell and Sandy Nelson. Edinburgh The Beehive Comedy Club Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8.30pm. £4–£7. See Fri 21. Jongleurs Comedy Show Jongleurs, Lava Ignite, 3 West Tollcross, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £12–£15. With Des Clarke and John Scott. Foster’s Comedy Live @ highlight Highlight, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 9pm. £10–£13. Carey Marx presents his trademark twisted humour, also Kevin McCarthy and Roger D.
Friday Night Live @ The Shack The Shack, 119 Rose Street, 226 4311. 9pm. £9. See Fri 28.
✽✽ The Friday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 3 for line-up, plus Fin Taylor.
Saturday 5 Glasgow Foster’s Comedy Live @ highlight Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 8.30pm. £12–£15. See Fri 4. Jongleurs Comedy Show Jongleurs, The Glasshouse, 20 Glassford Street, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £15. See Fri 4. The Saturday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 9pm. £15. See Thu 3 for line-up.
Edinburgh The Beehive Comedy Club Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8.30pm. £4–£7. See Fri 21. Jongleurs Comedy Show Jongleurs, Lava Ignite, 3 West Tollcross, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £12–£15. See Fri 4. Foster’s Comedy Live @ highlight Highlight, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 9pm. £10–£13. See Fri 4. Saturday Night Live @ The Shack The Shack, 119 Rose Street, 226 4311. 9pm. £9. See Sat 29.
✽✽ The Saturday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £15. See
Thu 3 for line-up. Jekyll and Hyde Comedy Club The Jekyll & Hyde, 112 Hanover Street, 225 2022. 9.30pm. £8 (£6). See Sat 22.
Sunday 6 Glasgow Kevin Bridges & Friends The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 5pm. £10. See Sun 23. Mick Foley Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 7pm. £17.50. WWE champion regales with stories of his extraordinary life. Steve-O: The Entirely Too Much Information Tour O2 ABC, 330 Sauchiehall Street, 332 2232. 7pm. £14–£17.50. Star of Jackass Steve-O presents his brutally honest accounts of addiction and fame. Robin Ince: Happiness Through Science The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £10 (£8). The loveably erudite comedian takes a sideways look at evolution.
Edinburgh FREE Whose Lunch Is It Anyway? The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1.30pm. See Sun 23. Lee Nelson: Live Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. 7.30pm. £24. Character banter from the South London geeza.
✽✽ The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272.
8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £1). Tonight Siân Bevan hosts Swedish powerhouse Magnus Betnér and John McGoldrick. Monday 7
Glasgow Jason Manford: Off On Tour We Go SECC, Finnieston Quay, 0844 395 4000. 8pm. £25. No-nonsense humour from the One Show chap. Benefit in Aid of Cystic Fibrosis The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £10. Mark Nelson, Stu & Gary, Keir McAllister and Gary Little perform for a worthy charity. Edinburgh The Beehive Comedy Club Newbees Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8pm. £2 (£1). See Mon 24. Fit O’ The Giggles Out With the Old City Café, 19 Blair Street, 220 0125. 8.30–10.30pm. £3 (£2). See Mon 24. Red Raw The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2. See Mon 24.