list.co.uk/comedy
Basura Picks of the Fest Comedy Club Brunswick Hotel, 106–108 Brunswick Street, 552 1552. 7.45pm. £9–£10. See Fri 21. Coalition of Comedy: Back and Fourth Flying Duck, 142 Renfield Street, 564 1450. 8pm. £3. See Sat 22. Damian Clark State Bar, 148 Holland Street, 332 2159. 8pm. £8–£10. Over- excited Aussie comic. I Am the Tag Team Champions Queen Margaret Union, 22 University Gardens, 339 9784. 8pm. £6–£8. show Fandom and professional wrestling. Janey Godley Òran Mór, 731–735 Great Western Road, 357 6200. 8pm. £13 (£11). See Fri 28. Nancy Clench Avant Garde, 34 King Street, 552 7123. 8pm. £6–£8. See Sat 22. Comedy Out West WEST Brewery, 4 Templeton Building, Glasgow Green, 550 0135. 8.30pm. £10. See Fri 21. Direct Devitt: Real Wummin The Griffin, 226 Bath Street, 331 5170. 8.30pm. £8–£10. See Fri 28. Endemic Comedy: Shame Spiral Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 8.45pm. £6–£8. See Fri 28. Best of SCOTY DRAM!, 232–246 Woodlands Road, 332 1622. 9pm. £8–£10. See Thu 20. Mae Martin: Slumber Party Blackfriars, 45 Albion Street, 552 5924. 9pm. £9. See LGBT preview, page 70.
✽ Jerry Sadowitz King’s Theatre, 297 Bath Street, 0844 871 7648.
9.30pm. £20.50–£23.50. Angry brilliance, with magic and stand-up. The Late Show WEST Brewery, 4 Templeton Building, Glasgow Green, 550 0135. 11pm. £10. See Sat 22. Vespbar’s Late Late Show Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 11.45pm. £5. See Fri 21.
Edinburgh The Beehive Comedy Club Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8.30pm. £9. See Fri 21. The Saturday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £15. See Thu 27. Sunday 30
Glasgow Lunchtime Comedy Club Mansion House, The Glasshouse, 20 Glassford Street, 553 4888. 1pm. £5–£10. See Fri 21. Director’s Cut Avant Garde, 34 King Street, 552 7123. 7.30pm. £5–£6. See Sun 23. Tom Wrigglesworth The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 7.30pm. £12 (£11). Wrigglesworth twists language into some delicious storytelling. Ginger Ale Comedy The Griffin, 226 Bath Street, 331 5170. 8pm. £2–£3. See Sat 22.
✽ Richard Herring Òran Mór, 731–735 Great Western Road, 357 6200. 8pm. £15. Intelligent satire about death. Vladimir McTavish and Keir McAllister Blackfriars, 45 Albion Street, 552 5924. 8.30pm. £6–£8. See preview, below. Jonny & The Baptists The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 9.30pm. £10 (£9). Surreal musical satire.
Edinburgh Footlights Comedy Edinburgh Footlights, 7 Spittal Street, 229 6466. 7.30–10pm. £3. See Sun 23. Caroline Rhea The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 7.30pm. £15 (£14). See Fri 28.
Monday 31 Glasgow A Pizza Comedy Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 1pm. £10. See Thu 20. Mitch Benn The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 7.30pm. £12 (£11). Benn insists his connection to the Fab Four is valid.
Rory Bremner and Friends Citizens Theatre, 119 Gorbals Street, 429 0022. 8pm. £15. Rory B and pals take to the stage to thrash it out about the referendum. Davysson and Friends Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 8.15pm. £9–£10. See Mon 24. The Good, the Bad and the Unexpected The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 9.30pm. £7 (£6). Jo Caulfield, Richard Melvin and Julia Sutherland (see My Comedy Hero, page 54) front an evening of experimental stand-up, sketch and characters. Edinburgh Red Raw The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2. See Mon 24, but with Hailey Boyle.
Tuesday 1 Glasgow A Pizza Comedy Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 1pm. £10. See Thu 20. Susan Calman: The 68 Comeback Special The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 7pm. £12 (£11). Scotland’s comedy darling’s new show.
Des Clarke Òran Mór, 731–735 Great Western Road, 357 6200. 8pm. £13.50. The chirpy chap with a new solo show. Simon Evans Citizens Theatre, 119 Gorbals Street, 429 0022. 8pm. £14 (£12). Quick-witted stuff from Evans. Edinburgh Jonny & The Baptists The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £10 (£9). See Sun 30.
Central Fife ✽Fife Comedy Festival Various venues, until Sun 13 Apr. Rich
Hall and Jerry Sadowitz among those appearing.
Wednesday 2 Glasgow A Pizza Comedy Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 1pm. £10. See Thu 20. Susie McCabe The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 7.30pm. £8 (£7). Chatting about hols. That Funny Blind Guy Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 7.30pm. £7 (£5). Jamie MacDonald talks blindness. Miles Jupp Citizens Theatre, 119 Gorbals Street, 429 0022. 8pm. £13.
COMEDY
Intelligent humour and withering wit. FREE Ginger Ale Comedy Mini Bar, 244a Bath Street, 332 2732. 8.30pm. See Sat 22. Joke Thieves The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 10pm. £5. Comedians swap sets. Edinburgh Fresh Mutton Comedy Pear Tree House, 34 West Nicolson Street, 667 7533. 8pm. £2. Alt.comedy night. The Broken Windows Policy The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£3). New skits and character treats.
Thursday 3
Glasgow The Festival Club The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. Times vary. £15 (£12). See Thu 20. A Pizza Comedy Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 1pm. £10. See Thu 20.
✽ Josh Widdicombe The Garage, 490 Sauchiehall Street, 332 1120.
7.30pm. £14. Reflecting on a crazy year. Natalie Wicks Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 7.30pm. £4. Self- deprecating musical comedy. Rob Rouse The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 7.30pm. £10 (£9). Cheeky wit and anecdotes. Universal Comedy Presents The Clinic Cottier Theatre, 93–95 Hyndland Street, 357 4000. 7.30pm. £4.50–£5.50. The UC course teaches comedy to people with long-term health problems with tutors presenting the latest graduates here. Five Quid Funnies Maggie May’s, 60 Trongate, 548 1350. 8pm. £5. See Thu 20. Sarah Millican SECC, Finnieston Quay, 0844 395 4000. 8pm. £25. Popular Geordie lets rip. Vintage Comedy Reloved Eco Chic Boutique, 45 High Street, 552 5226. 8pm. £5. See Thu 20. Bob Doolally and Phil Differ Blackfriars, 45 Albion Street, 552 5924. 8.30pm. £7–£9. Duo discusses fitba’. Best of SCOTY DRAM!, 232–246 Woodlands Road, 332 1622. 9pm. £8–£10. See Thu 20.
STAND-UP VLADIMIR MCTAVISH & KEIR MCALLISTER: LOOK AT THE STATE OF SCOTLAND Blackfriars, Glasgow, Sun 30 Mar
Regardless of what happens on September 18, Vladimir McTavish and Keir McAllister have no doubt that the public is more engaged with the independence referendum than when they began performing their Look at the State of Scotland shows in 2012. ‘We had a section educating people on who everybody was,’ recalls McAllister. ‘But now they know Danny Alexander. Which may not be a good sign, but at least we can make jokes about him.’
McTavish (real name Paul Sneddon) agrees, while believing that most Holyrood politicians still aren’t recognised. ‘But there’s a hell of a lot fewer people who don’t care. Even as recently as Christmas, you’d get a sizeable minority in the audience responding “don’t care, don’t gie a fuck”. Whereas that’s unusual now.’
The pair’s Glasgow Comedy Festival date is a compilation of their previous State of Scotland and State of Britain shows, plus plenty of topical material, reflecting the dilemma of there being more of a debate. ‘People are sending us things they want us to cover,’ says McAllister. ‘And we’re having to dissect it for what’s funny and the important points to make funny’. ‘Yes’ advocates who aim to be satirical about both sides, McTavish and McAllister are committed to continuing the show after the vote. ‘In the event of a “no”, most of the issues aren’t going away,’ McTavish points out. ‘While if it’s a “yes”, we’ll all be wondering what this new nation will look like.’ (Jay Richardson)
Edinburgh Absolute Improv The Tron, 9 Hunter Square, High Street, 225 3784. 7–8pm. £5 (£3). See Thu 20. Men With Coconuts Canons’ Gait, 232 Canongate, 556 4481. 8.30–10pm. £5 (£4). See Thu 20. The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £10 (£7; members £5). Susan Calman hosts, with Rob Rouse and Davey Strong.
Friday 4 Glasgow The Festival Club The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. Times vary. £15 (£12). See Thu 20. Lunchtime Comedy Club Mansion House, Glasshouse, 20 Glassford Street, 553 4888. 1pm. £5–£10. See Fri 21. A Pizza Comedy Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 1pm. £10. See Thu 20. Afterbirth State Bar, 148 Holland Street, 332 2159. 7.30pm. £4–£5. See Fri 21. Craig Hill Òran Mór, 731–735 Great Western Road, 357 6200. 7.30pm. £14.50. High camp buffoonery. John Gavin Blackfriars, 45 Albion Street, 552 5924. 7.30pm. £7–£9. Former Scottish Comedian of the Year. Merchant City Comedy Pub Crawl Avant Garde, 34 King Street, 552 7123. 7.30pm. £12–£15. See Fri 21. Ross vs Ross Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 7.30pm. £5. McClelland v McLellan. Basura Picks of the Fest Comedy Club Brunswick Hotel, 106–108 Brunswick Street, 552 1552. 7.45pm. £9–£10. See Fri 21.
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