December 2013
As the final week of 2013 turns into the first week of 2014 the comedy circuit rolls on. While comedians pepper Twitter and Facebook with memories of traumatic, riotous pre-Christmas gigs that they have conquered/survived, the brave ones still standing are now gearing up for their New Year's Eve bookings. There are plenty to choose from, all over London. Some run until midnight and the price includes a buffet. Some run late and include a post-gig disco.
At the risk of digging an even deeper hole for myself I'll try to respond below to Dave Twentyman's response to my original piece here.
It is not an understatement to say that the British comedy world was rocked as well as shocked to hear yesterday that Addison Cresswell, one of the industry's most powerful agents, had suddenly died. He suffered a suspected heart attack in his sleep on Sunday night. He was 53. I think that the last time I saw him was at the British Comedy Awards earlier this month. I only caught a glimpse of him but he seemed to be his usual self, talking fifteen to the dozen to various comedy and media movers and shakers.
After a hectic week I had a pre-Xmas binge on Him & Her at the weekend, catching up with the fourth series on iPlayer. Having already seen the first episode it made sense to watch the final four back to back, movie-style, as they all took place on the same day in the same place – Paul and Laura were getting married, Becky (Sarah Solemani) was a bridesmaid and Steve (Russell Tovey) was best man.
If you are looking for laughs this week the comedy circuit has not quite shut down for the holidays. There is plenty to enjoy at the Soho Theatre, where Tony Law continues his run of Nonsense Overdrive. This hour of nuttiness is maybe not quite as well-crafted as his 2012 breakthrough show Maximum Nonsense, but it is still a fine introduction to one of the most beautifully off-kilter minds in modern comedy.
There has been a bit of a kerfuffle over the announcement that Jack Whitehall is to play a big work-in-progress gig at the Hammersmith Apollo in February in the the run-up to his UK tour. I can't see what all the fuss is about. Tickets will only be £20 whereas when he comes to Wembley Arena in March tickets, including booking fee, will be £32.25.
Comedian Dave Twentyman recently posted an interesting piece on Facebook about snobbery in the comedy industry towards comedians who play the weekend club circuit. Stand-ups who make their living from gigs at stag and hen parties and office parties etc are viewed, said Twentymen, as hack and unimaginative.
So you want to be a comedian? The chances are that if you have landed on my website you are thinking about dipping a toe in the shark-infested waters of comedy. Then take a leaf out of Dave Cohen's book about the industry and his life in it. No, don't just take a leaf, go out and bloody well buy the whole book.
It can't be long now before either BBC3 or Channel 4 comes up with a themed Jack Whitehall night. Maybe they are merely waiting until he gets his knighthood for services to our TV schedules. 2013 has pretty much been his year, with two hit series under his belt (three if you include the fun-if-throwaway Backchat) and last week a King of Comedy gong at the British Comedy Awards to crown it all.
Christmas has come early. Frankie Boyle has lost his joke book. Maybe someone has put it to better use and as we speak is wiping their arse with it. Except that Boyle has a particular reason for wanting this book back.
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