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listings
COMEDY CLUB Oot
Glasgow: The Stand, Sun 11 Jun; Edinburgh:The Stand, Tue 13 Jun.
'It's as if being gay is worse than being a bigot'
Craig Hill has built up a splendid reputation for camp humour, with his impersonations of various torch song stars. Those who’ve already seen him will bear witness to his show-stopping Shirley Bassey and Celine Dion impressions while the addition of a Macy Gray parody promises more treats. Hill has developed steadily over the last year or two, and is now regularly hosting Scotland’s only gay comedy night in Oct, now running for six months at The Stand in Edinburgh and
Glasgow.
Hill revels in his new role, and shows an interest in broadening his already polished act with a wider range of observational humour. 'The compering has been great fun,’ he says. ’lt’s more off the cuff; you can’t just stand back, you have to mix with the audience. It takes more balls to do that, but I enjoy it.’
But what should we expect from Oot? Is it just for gay folk? ’lt's mixed on both sides of the stage; it isn‘t only gay performers. It has humour which appeals to gay people, but it’s not just about being gay; there’s nothing essentially funny about that. It’s a light-hearted exuberant night where the emphasis is on comedy, not
gay!
ls Hill concerned about recent attacks on the gay community by Section 28 zealots? 'I don’t understand how it's got this far,’ he said. ’Everyone knows there are gay people out there, but it’s as if they don't want to acknowledge they exist. They put gay people below them, as if being gay was worse than being bigoted. l might add another component to my act: I'll be a nurse’, he adds, with a little
mischief in his voice. (Steve Cramer)
THURSDAY 8
Glasgow
The Stand The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £4 (£3). Bill Dewar and Brian Hennigan do a ‘Useless Guide To Scotland’ turn, with support from Dougie Dunlop, Susan Vale and comp Frankie Boyle.
Madcap Comedy Club State Bar, 148 Holland Street, 357 5387. 9.30pm. £4
74 THE usr 11—25 May 2000
(£3). Turning comedy tricks tonight are Bill Dewar, Susanne Fraser, Frankie Rodgers and Johnny Love.
It's A Scream Curlers, 256 Byres Road, 338 6511. 9.30pm. £4 (£3). Getting the gags in are Craig Crookston and Brandon Reed, with one other to be confirmed.
Edinburgh The Stand The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £4 (£3). Feisty fun with
Richard Allen, Frank Quinn, John Sinclair, Steven Dick and comp Joon Broon.
FRIDAY 9 Glasgow Jester's Comedy Club Mansion’s Cafe Bar, 63 St George’s Road, 333 1418. 8pm. £5 (£4). ln tonight’s comedy crew are Stan Vernon, Owen Rankin and Colin Ramone, with compcre Janey Godley. The Stand The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £6 (£5). Anything is fair comedy game as renowned ranter lan Cognito takes to the stage, with support from Richard Allen, Frank Quinn and comp Jane Mackay.
Edinburgh
Scruffy Murphy's One Comedy Night Scruffy Murphy’s, 49/50 George [V Bridge, 225 1681. 8pm. Free. Gerry Grant and Lou Chawner get the giggles, alongside compete Reg ‘Voodoo’ Anderson.
The Stand The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.15pm. £6 (£5). Insightful comic antics from Nick Wilty, who is supported by Dougie Dunlop, Susan Vale and regular at the helm, Susan Morrison.
SATURDAY 10 Glasgow
Jester's Comedy Club Mansion’s Cafe Bar, 63 St George’s Road, 333 1418. 8pm. £7 (£6). Kicking off Jester’s West End Festival series are Bill Dewar and Brian Hennigan in their ‘Uselcss Guide To Scotland’ guise.
The Stand The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £7 (£4). See Fri 9 except Susan Morrison is your hostess.
Madcap Comedy Club The Fotheringay, 17—21 Nithsdale Road, 357 5387. 9.30pm. £4 (£3). Craig Hill does his funny stuff in the company of Brandon Reed and Gerry Grant.
Madcap Comedy Club State Bar, 148 Holland Street, 357 5387. 9.30pm. £5 (£4). Gerry Grant fills the top stand-up slot with support from Mark Bratchpiece, Benny Esposito and comp Raymond Mearns.
Edinburgh
The Stand The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.15pm. £7 (£4). Like Fri 9 except Jane Mackay is the compere.
lrvrne
Viv Gee 8: Jill Peacock Harbour Arts Centre, 114—116 Harbour Street, 01294 274059. 9pm. £3.50 (£3). Farcical fun from comic duo Viv and Jill, who make a welcome return after several Fringe successes. Support comes from regular on the Scottish scene Susanne Fraser.
mum- Glasgow
Bohemian Night Bar 10, 10 Mitchell Lane, 572 1448. 7.30pm. Free. Robert Knox hosts a night of poetry, music and, most of all, comedy, in a new club. Pay no money at the door, and listen to a host of guest stand-u s and comic verse. Jester's Come y Club Mansion’s Cafe Bar, 63 St George’s Road, 333 1418. 8pm. £7 (£6). Solo stand-up from Geordie japester Gavin Webster at this special West End Festival show.
Got In Glasgow The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £5. Lesbian laughs from Clare Summerskill, who shares a bill with Susan Vale and regular comps Craig Hill and Cormac O’Hara.
The Comic Club Blackfriars, 36 Bell Street, 552 5924. 9pm. £5 (£4). Standing up for stand-up are Benny Esposito,
Brandon Reed, Charlie Ross and MC Viv Gee, with Billy Bates taking his first comedy steps in the open spot.
Madcap Comedy Club State Bar, 148 Holland Street, 357 5387. 9.30pm. £4 (£3). Craig Crookston, Brandon Reed and Benny Esposito keep the comedy cracks coming.
Edinburgh
Whose Lunch Is It Anyway? The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1—3pm. Free with drinks or a meal. Freestyle funniness from Paul and Stuart.
SOS: Six On Sunday The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £3 (£2). The gagtastic Graeme Thomas hosts this mixed bag of comedy capers, featuring both established and new acts, including Richard Allen, Bene Linchesticov (laughter is the best medicine they say) and Miles Jupp.
Ktrltcaldy
Fife Comedy Club Path Tavern, Mid Street, 01592 263671. 8.30pm. £4 (£3). Turning comedy tricks are John Gillick, John Gordon, Chris Ozog, John Sinclair and comp Joon Broon.
Edinburgh
Red Raw The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £1. Bruce Devlin is your guest compere, ushering some complete comedy beginners through their paces. Guest closing spot comes from Bene Linchesticov.
TUESDAY 13
Edinburgh
Oot: Out On Tuesday The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £5. Compere Craig Hill presides over the camp capers with help from regular games host Cormac O’Hara and guests Clare Summerskill and Cot debutante, Susan Valet.
WEDNESDAY 14
Edinburgh
Rhymes And Misdemeanours The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 7.30pm. £4 (£3). Powerful poetry and witty words from The Stand’s usual crew, featuring Eric Davidson, Brendan Moohan and Sheridan Strawberry, alongside special guest Annie Wallace.
World Of Comedy Quiz The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £1 per person to play. Bill Dewar initiates you into the strange world of comedy trivia, spurred on by a potential £100 rollover jackpot.
THURSDAY 15
Glasgow
The Stand The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £4 (£3). Outraged antics from Allan Miller, with support from Brian Hennigan, Bill Bruce and resident compere Frankie Boyle.
Madcap Comedy Club State Bar, 148 Holland Street, 357 5387. 9.30pm. £4 (£3). Comic antics with Alex Baldwin at the top of the bill. Support comes from James Campbell and one other to be confirmed.
It's A Scream Curlers, 256 Byres Road, 338 6511. 9.30pm. £4 (£3). The stand-up spotlight falls on Alex Baldwin, with support to be confirmed.
Edinburgh
The Stand The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £4 (£3). Political polemics from John Flint, who joins Bene Linchesticov, Miles Jupp, Chris Ozog and hostess with the mostess Joon Broon.