I was writing the other day about the way Edinburgh acts can be divided into the mainstream crowdpleasers and arty experimentalists. Of course things are never quite that simple. Where, for instance does Carl Donnelly fit in? On the surface he seems like your tight-trousered off-the-peg gagsmith with a quip for every occasion. But he is definitely no lowest common denominator clown. Donnelly’s stories have emotional depth and heft to them as well as belly laughs.
Actor/comedian MacKenzie Crook has joined the line-up of the first Radio Times Festival, which takes place at Hampton Court Palace from September 24 - 27.
Crook, who writes, directs and stars in the Detectorists will appear alongside producer Adam Tandy, to offer an insight into the programme's uniquely British story of love, companionship and eccentricity.
When it comes to the Fringe it always feels as if there is an underlying tension between the arty acts and the straightforwardly crowdpleasing stand-ups. Earlier this week I read a debate on Facebook about whether Roy “Catchphrase” Walker should be doing Edinburgh. I guess the proof is in the commerical pudding. If they shift tickets they’ve made the right decision. I wouldn’t put Chris Ramsey in the Roy Walker camp but I would put him in the Jason Manford/John Bishop camp. In a Good Way.
Dave's comedy storytelling series Crackanory has announced some of the guests who will be appearing in its third series.
Among those sitting in the char will be US actor Christopher 'Back to the Future' Lloyd, The Inbetweeners star Simon Bird and comedians Sarah Millican, Tamsin Greig and Greg Davies.
Every sketch group needs its resident idiot and Pappy’s has Tom Parry. Although Ben Clark does run him close at times. It is Parry who tends to come up with madcap schemes. It is Parry who tends to wear costumes made out of old children’s toys. It is Parry who tends to strip off at the drop of a hat. In the Pappy’s shows he has other perfomers to consider, but this year he is doing his first Fringe solo show and has a whole hour to himself to be gloriously silly in.
With the Edinburgh Fringe almost upon us, comedian Dave Chawner has kindly put together a video offering some tips on Festival survival. You can watch the short video below. Obviously there is a fair bit about the weather and comfy footwear. One word of warning. A mankini is involved and once seen it may be unseeable.
The third instalment in Matt Berry’s online series finds our seductive-toned narrator guiding us through his version of the history of summer holidays. Or to be more precise, the “UKAY summer holiday” as Berry deliciously phrases it.
The three-day freebie binge in Balham comes to an end today with another triple-barrelled bill of comedy. There are shows from 2.30pm in three different rooms at the Bedford pub so you'd be well advised to plan your schedule before you arrive. Among the afternoon highlights are sets from outspoken feminist Kate Smurthwaite and character comedian Anna Morris, who recently created mayhem in the ITV2 prank show Bad Bridesmaid. Tim Shishodia should also be worth a look.
Award-winning comedian Sean Hughes is back with a new show called Mumbo Jumbo. His national tour starts on September 4 at the Crucible in Sheffield and finishes at Beverley East Riding Centre on November 28. He plays the Tricycle Theatre in London on September 22, 23, 29, & 30.
Whether you are in a band or a sketch group when members start doing solo shows it can mean various things. Maybe their egos are too big contain as part of an ensemble. Maybe they just want to flex their creative muscles on their own for a while. Maybe this is a hint that the group is about to go their separate ways. Or maybe, in the case of Pappy’s, they just couldn’t be arsed to do a brand new show for this year’s Fringe, so Matthew Crosby and Tom Parry did solo shows instead.
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