COMEDY
E N R O H T A L L U E V E T S
TOP 5 COMEDY GIGS OF 2013
Alexei Sayle Showing the young ’uns a thing or ten, the guy who singularly invented alternative comedy (as he half- jokingly insisted during the brilliant hour-long set he delivered at the Stand in August) made the finest comeback since Lazarus. He was known back in the early 80s for larking about in tight suits, and the joy of seeing him split his trousers on stage during a particularly physical routine was a nostalgic tour de force for all who witnessed it. Russell Brand Another chap known for his slim clothing choices also brought a barnstorming show to an adoring public, and proved once more that he’s got a lot more going on upstairs than many people give him credit for. Bridget Christie A well- deserved victory for surreal wit and feminist wisdom as Christie became the first solo female stand-up to win the big Edinburgh comedy award since Jenny Eclair way, way back in the mid-90s. The Pin This year’s Fringe was tipped to be a showcase of sketch loveliness, and although it might not have wholly lived up to that billing, the pairing of Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen was a prime example of how to turn natural chemistry into something rather wonderful. Tim Key He was here in August doing just some work-in-progress gigs, but even a half-finished Key hour is livelier and more inventive than most other comics’ com- pleted jobs. He arrived, not with a bath on stage this time, but a bed full of cunning theatrical surprises while he mock-seduced his audi- ence via some daft poetry and dafter mutterings about life and love. (Brian Donaldson)
Gary Little Mark Nelson, and two ‘very famous’ Glasgow comics) get together to raise money for the Lord Provost’s Clutha Appeal Fund. Edinburgh FREE Stu and Garry’s Free Improv Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1.30pm. See Sun 15. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm.
76 THE LIST 12 Dec 2013–23 Jan 2014
£6 (£5; members £1). See Sun 15, but with Jamie Dalgleish. Monday 23
Glasgow Gary Faulds’ Comedy Circus DRAM!, 232–246 Woodlands Road, 332 1622. 8pm. £2. See Mon 16. Improv Wars The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £4 (£2). It’s a fight to the death between improv experts Garry Dobson, Stu Murphy and Billy Kirkwood. Edinburgh Red Raw The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2 (members free). The Stand’s spankingly good new talent night. Ro Campbell hosts.
Friday 27
Glasgow Stand Up Comedy Night Manhattan’s Bar and Diner, 235 St Andrews Road, 429 4657. 7pm. £6. A different set of three comics each month. Hogmanay Hootfest! The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 9pm. £12–£22.50 (£10–£19; members £10– £15). The bells are ringing (in a good way) and the laughs are heading your way with the relentless Mark Nelson, Reverend Obadiah Steppenwolfe III, Chris Forbes and host Jojo Sutherland. Vespbar Comedy Club Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 10pm. £8 (£6). Steven Dick headlines with support from Jamie Dalgleish and Kirsty Morrison. MC Viv Gee. Edinburgh Hogmanay Hootfest! The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £12–£22.50 (£10–£19; members £10–£15). If you’re planning on heading down to the Stand’s Hogmanay extravaganza, you’ve made the right decision: it’s warm in there. Congrats! Laugh it up in celebration with Martin Mor, Maureen Langan, Ro Campbell and host Jo Caulfield.
Saturday 28
Glasgow Hogmanay Hootfest! The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 9pm. £12–£22.50 (£10–£19; members £10–£15). See Fri 27. Vespbar Comedy Club Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 10pm. £8 (£6). see Fri 27, but no Kirsty Morrison. Edinburgh Hogmanay Hootfest! The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £12–£22.50 (£10–£19; members £10–£15). See Fri 27.
Sunday 29
Glasgow Hogmanay Hootfest! The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 9pm. £12–£22.50 (£10–£19; members £10–£15). See Fri 27. Edinburgh Hogmanay Hootfest! The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £12–£22.50 (£10–£19; members £10–£15). See Fri 27.
Monday 30
Glasgow Gary Faulds’ Comedy Circus DRAM!, 232–246 Woodlands Road, 332 1622. 8pm. £2. See Mon 16. Hogmanay Hootfest! The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 9pm. £12–£22.50 (£10–£19; members £10–£15). See Fri 27. Edinburgh Hogmanay Hootfest! The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £12–£22.50 (£10–£19; members £10–£15). See Fri 27.
Tuesday 31 Monday 6
Glasgow Hogmanay Hootfest! The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 9pm. £12–£22.50 (£10–£19; members £10–£15). See Fri 27. Edinburgh Hogmanay Hootfest! The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £12–£22.50 (£10–£19; members £10–£15). See Fri 27.
Wednesday 1 Edinburgh FREE Stu and Garry’s Free Improv Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1.30pm. See Sun 15. Hogmanay Hootfest! The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £12–£22.50 (£10–£19; members £10–£15). See Fri 27.
Thursday 2
Glasgow The Thursday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £10 (£5; members £2). Let Scott Agnew help you start the year as you mean to go on. Plus Pierre Hollins, James Dowdeswell, John Gavin and Ben Verth. Edinburgh The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £10 (£5; members £2). Dust off your hangover with the first Thursday show of a new year, featuring Dave Johns, Andrew Stanley, Robin Grainger and host Susan Morrison.
Friday 3
Glasgow The Friday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £12 (£10; members £6). See Thu 2 for line-up. Vespbar Comedy Club Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 10pm. £8 (£6). Stu Who? headlines with support from Johnny Thomson and Iain MacDonald. MC Viv Gee. Edinburgh The Friday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £12 (£10; members £6). See Thu 2 for line-up.
Saturday 4
Glasgow The Saturday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 9pm. £15. See Thu 2 for line-up. Vespbar Comedy Club Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 10pm. £8 (£6). See Fri 3, but Leona Irvine replaces Iain MacDonald. Edinburgh The Saturday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £15. See Thu 2 for line-up.
Sunday 5 Glasgow Glasgow Kids Comedy Club The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 3pm. £4. Live comedy for younger fans, particularly those aged 8–12. Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £6 (£2; members £1). See Sun 15, but with James Dowdeswell.
Glasgow ✽ Trevor Noah: The Racist The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £15. Sharp wit and intelligent commentary from the South African comic. See feature, page 74.
Edinburgh Red Raw The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2. See Mon 23, but with Ray Bradshaw and host Scott Gibson.
Tuesday 7
Glasgow Red Raw The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £2. See Tue 24, but with Billy Kirkwood and Owen McGuire.
Wednesday 8 Glasgow New Material Night Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 8pm. £3. See Wed 18.
Thursday 9
Glasgow Vespbar Virgins Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 8pm. £2. Raw comedy talent from some of the best up-and- comers, hosted by Graham Barrie. The Thursday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £10 (£5; members £2). Susan Morrison with her roster of comedians: Craig Hill, Stu & Gary, Dan Petherbridge and Keiron Nicholson.
Edinburgh ✽ The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £10 (£5; members £2). Fred MacAulay’s topping the bill this weekend, alongside Bennett Arron, Holly Walsh and Bruce Fummey. See Holly Walsh preview, page 73.
Friday 10
Glasgow The Friday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £12 (£10; members £6). See Thu 9. Vespbar Comedy Club Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 10pm. £8 (£6). Gary Little Headlines with support from Bob Graham and Chris Thorburn. MC Viv Gee.
Edinburgh ✽ The Friday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £12 (£10; members £6). See Thu 9, but with added Katia Kvinge.
Saturday 11
Glasgow Comedy @ The State The State Bar, 148 Holland Street, 332 2159. 9pm. £7 (£5). See Sat 14. The Saturday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 9pm. £15. See Thu 9 for line-up. Vespbar Comedy Club Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 10pm. £8 (£6). See Fri 10, but Joe McSloy replaces Chris Thorburn.
Edinburgh ✽The Saturday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £15. See
Fri 10 for line-up. Sunday 12
Edinburgh FREE Stu and Garry’s Free Improv Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1.30pm. See Sun 15. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £6 (£2; members £1). See Sun 15, but with Andrew Stanley, Davey Connor, Katia Kvinge and host Sian Bevan.
Glasgow Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £6 (£2; members £1). See Sun 15, but with Charlie Ross and Katia Kvinge. Edinburgh FREE Stu and Garry’s Free