November 2013
If you like stand-up comedy Beyond The Joke has a treat for you. We have three copies of the DVD of series one of Comedy Central's The Alternative Comedy Experience to give away. The series was transmitted earlier this year and was acclaimed as an antidote to the shiny floor stand-up of Live at the Apollo. Comedy guru Stewart Lee was involved in selecting the acts and he appears on the DVD interviewing acts backstage at The Stand Club in Edinburgh where the series was filmed.
Following his acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe comeback last August, reviewed below, and two runs on the South Bank in London as well as a national tour, David Baddiel has now announced a four-week run of Fame: Not The Musical at the Menier Chocolate Factory from April 29 - May 23. Ticket details here.
I recently read a preview of Ardal O'Hanlon's forthcoming November 21 Richmond Theatre gig in the Richmond & Twickenham Times which began "Ardal O’Hanlon, who you may know as Dougal from Father Ted…". I wondered what O'Hanlon would be thinking if he reads the Richmond & Twickenham Times, as Father Ted finished way back in 1998.
It feels like a festival of Slightly Unsung Comedy Heroes at the Soho Theatre this week. On Tuesday night Arnold Brown, one of the original Comedy Store gang, appears with a show named after his famous catchphrase, & Why Not? This is part of a campaign to fund a film about Brown's life, which I'd certainly like to see.
I was interested to read that Dominic Cavendish of the Daily Telegraph failed to make it past the interval at Stewart Lee's show when he went on a Friday. I also had misgivings about the show on Thursday night, although I had no difficulty staying to the end.
Funny Way To Be A Hero was first published in 1973. Since then comedy has changed beyond recognition. Or has it? John Fisher's update of his stylish and weighty tome complete with riveting rare pictures draws numerous intriguing comparisons between comedians today and the comedians of yesteryear he first focussed on.
This review first appeared in the Evening Standard here.
Even by Richard Herring's prolific standards he is busy at the moment.
Update 7/3/14. David Brent has announced new UK dates for his band Foregone Conclusion. They will play Oxford New Theatre on May 14 and Hammersmith Apollo on May 16 & 17.
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