list.co.uk/comedy Previews | COMEDY
5 THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT . . . JAMES ACASTER 1 They used to say that live comedy was full of medics (Harry Hill, Paul Sinha, Simon Brodkin for three) but now it seems that the skin-slapping drumming community is all over the genre. Todd Barry, Al Murray, Dana Carvey, Matt Lucas and now James Acaster are more than adept with the sticks. Having quit the world of education to belt merry hell out of hi-hats in a series of bands, he turned his attention to comedy by attending a course run by the Kettering Volunteer Bureau. 2 Not universally known as a hotbed of comedy (unless you get your giggle-kicks from the likes of statistician Maurice Kendall, Baptist minister Andrew Fuller, Resident Evil actress Sienna Guillory and Hugh Dennis), Kettering is indeed the original base of Mr Acaster. He paid tribute to his hometown with online mockumentary, Sweet Home Ketteringa. 3 Acaster has the unenviable feat of having been nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award a record four times without winning. The most recent was in August with winner Sam Simmons referencing this scenario during his victory speech. Acaster’s early Fringe career was marked by a three-act pub gig in 2009 completed by Nick Helm and Josh Widdicombe. Those two have done pretty well for themselves in the aftermath, too. 4 Last October, Acaster told us that The Rock was his comedy hero. That’s semi-retired pro wrestler The Rock. 5 Papa Acaster once took it upon himself to take The List comedy editor firmly to task while both attended a Mike Wozniak Fringe gig. His beef appeared to be a glowing four- star review for his lad not being nudged up to five. Sometimes, comedy editors just cannot win . . . (Brian Donaldson) ■ Òran Mór, Glasgow, Wed 25 Nov.
CHRISTMAS SPECIALS 14th - 19th December 2015
Do something different this year. Forget wearing paper hats and eating over-priced turkey. Instead come and get some Christmas cheer from some of the finest comics in the country.
www.thestand.co.uk
StandEdinburgh StandGlasgow
@StandComedyClub
EDINBURGH Gavin Webster, Mary Bourke, Ray Bradshaw
and host Bruce Devlin
Group bookings please call 0131 558 7272 to book
GLASGOW Zoe Lyons,
Mark Nelson, Keir McAllister,
Ashley Storrie and host Joe Heenan
Group bookings please call 0141 212 3389 to book
5 Nov 2015–4 Feb 2016 THE LIST 87