listings Comedy

Joklng aside

Where the tighter matters

WHOEVER CALLED COMEDY A funny business wasn't having a laugh. These pages should be bursting with three extra pages of Glasgow Comedy Festival coverage. emblazoned with titbits on the likes of Daniel Kitson. Simon Munnery. Natalie Haynes and more. instead, we’re left floundering as the festival is cancelled with just weeks to go. The rum0ur mongers and conspiracy theorists are already hovering maliciously: did Glasgow City Council strong-arm the Tron? What caused some acts to suddenly develop cold feet? How much of a role did the loss of Blackfriars as a venue play? Was it doomed to failure from the outset? Whatever: the fact remains that Glasgow is missing some top entertainment. Sort it out. folks. THANKFULLY THE COMEDY mecca that is the Fringe is as reliable as ever. Things are hotting up with the launch of the programme and website (www.edfringe.com). Emerging hot tickets include Jerry Springer: The Opera, Richard Herring's Talking Cock and the Fringe debut of Men in Coats. Although the ticket lines are only just warming up, the Pleasance opened its box office early to sell tickets for one show: Charlie Woods’ Bare Camp. One half of last year’s Wild On TV, Woods has been making a name for himself on the circuit and was chosen to do the warm-up for the live launch of Big Brother 3. The demand for tickets reached fever pitch after his appearance on London Live radio, forcing the Pleasance to accept bookings.

DETAILS HAVE JUST BEEN confirmed for the comedy/clubbing event of a lifetime. It's the brainchild of Aftershock (a minor detail) and it’ll be bringing Ross Noble. Brendon Burns. Ralf ‘Royle' Little, Mackenzie ‘Office' Crook. the Cuban Brothers and, wait for it. Mystic 'Happy Mondays' Bez to the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh on Thursday 18 July.

Charlie Woods storms the box office

Please note that the Glasgow Comedy Festival planned for Wed 12—Sun 16 June has been cancelled. Tickets bought for shows at the Tron

ll Theatre will be refunded in full.

Thursday 6

Glasgow

Jongleura Comedy Club Jongleurs. UGC Building. Renfrew Street. 0870 787 0707. 7.30pm. £6. Former paramedic and ginger nutter Brian Higgins introduces local lad Charlie Ross. Aussie Steve Hughes and shockingly filthy temptress Mandy Knight. The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £5 (£3). Geordie comedian Mark Maier. known for his Israeli parody character Roni Shimoni. takes the top slot. The Jewish comedian is aided and abetted by word play wonder Des Clarke. Bev Lyons. Bratchy and compere Frankie Boyle.

Edinburgh

Tho Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £5 (£3). Jack of all trades Howard Read indulges his nonsensical side. Host David Kay also welcomes to the stage Sandra Johnston and Grant O‘Rourke.

Reg Anderson's Comedy Cellar Fin MacCool’s. 161 Lothian Road. 622 7109. 9pm. £2. No nonsense banter from Vladimir McTavish. John McBride and Seymour Mace.

Snatch Club The Liquid Room. 9c Victoria Street. 225 2564. 10pm—3am. £3.50 (£2.50). Resident compere and DJ Harry Ainsworth hosts this weekly carry-on meets Hi-De-Hi debauched cabaret. Each week there will be a selection of guests. and competition host Dave Strong conducts the participatory fun and games.

Dundee

Joon Broon Dundee Rep. Tay Square. 01382 223530. 9.30pm. £6 (£5). Stand-up and outrageous costumes from Dundee‘s favourite delinquent daughter.

Friday 7

Glasgow

Jongieure Comedy Club Jongleurs. UGC Building. Renfrew Street. 0870 787 0707. 7.30pm. £12. See Thu 6.

The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £6 (£5). Jewish comedian Mark Maier. plus the ballistic Raymond Meams and comic~turned- illustratomumed jack of all trades Howard Read. Jane Mackay cracks the whip as compere.

Edinburgh

The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £6 (£5). Risque humour from Carey Marx. with dedicated crowd-pleasers Joe Heenan and Des Clarke. Susan Morrison takes compering honours.

Saturday 8

Glasgow

Jongieure Comedy Club Jongleurs. UGC Building. Renfrew Street. 0870 787 0707. 7.30pm. £12. See Thu 6.

Cralc O the Polo Lounge The P010 Lounge. 84 Wilson Street. 553 1221. 8pm. £5. Cheeky celeb mimic Keara Murphy. slow burner David Kay and a special guest get the laughs in at a night promising to be camper than a week in Butlins. Independent Comedy 0 the Brunswick The Brunswick Hotel. 106—108 Brunswick Street. 556 5626. 9pm.

£5. Live Floor Show star and BBC Scotland

darling Craig Hill. Support comes from Marvin McShane. young Glasgow lad Nick Gray and compere James Campbell.

The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands

Road. 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £7 (£4). See 1 Fri 7 only with compere Susan Morrison. Madcap Comedy Club State Bar. 148

Holland Street. 883 2334. 9.30pm. £5 (£4).

Cheeky Scouser Richard Allen tops a bill which includes rising star Jamie McKenzie and David Heffron.

Edinburgh

The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£4). See Fri 7 only with compere Jane Mackay.

East Kilbride

Dan Antopolaki East Kilbride Arts Centre. Old Coach Road. 01355 261000. 8pm. £7 (£5). 2001 Perrier nominee with a nice line in surreal ramblings and an uncanny resemblance to Jesus.

Glasgow Craic O the Sec Cul de Sac Southside/Attic. 1 179 Pollokshaws Road.

§ 649 1819/649 4717. 8pm. £4. 2001 Perrier

nominee Dan Antopolski delivers his surreal ramblings in intimate surroundings. Support comes from local lad Charlie Ross and compere Alan Anderson.

Michael Redmond's Sunday Service The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road.

0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £4 (£2). Gag guarantor Colin Ramone. word-play whiz

Des Clarke and three Velvet Virgins join the good Michael Redmond in more hyperactive comedy worship.

Edinburgh Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The

2 Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 1pm. Free.

Freestyle funniness and hangover-banishing antics from resident duo Paul Graham and Stuart Murphy.

SIX On Sunday The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £3 (£2). Howard Read explores the funnier side of life. with backing from Grant O‘Rourke and Jill Peacock.

Reg Anderson’s Big Fun Quiz Night The Meadows Bar. Moo Bar. 42—44

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Buccleuch Street. 667 6907. 9pm. Free. An offbeat comedy quiz with karaoke. interactive audience games and a spot of stand-up from the man himself.

Monday 1 0

Glasgow

The Comedy Module Solid Rock Cafe West. Dumbarton Road. 556 5626. 9pm. £3. Scottish comedy‘s old faithful Des McLean joins young whipper snappers the Trinity of Mirth.

Edinburgh Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £1. Eight comedy hopefuls take their first steps on the road to glory alongside seasoned pros Brendan Moohan and Blair Watt. Hang the VJ The Three Sisters. 139 Cowgate. 622 6800. 9pm—lam. Free. Join Harry Ainsworth and Dave Strong (aka 2001 Perrier Newcomer winners Garth Cruikshank and Eddie McCabe) as they trawl the tnurky depths of the pop abyss in their new weekly quiz show. Expect their usual blend of cheeky questions and ruthless audience baiting set against a backdrop of multi-screen videos and a alaxy of booze prizes. eg Anderson’s Big Fun Quiz Night Fin MacCool's. 161 Lothian Road. 622 7109. 9pm. £1 to play. See Sun 9.

Glasgow

Caledonia McBrains BBC. Main Reception. Queen Margaret Drive. 305 6602. 7pm. Free. Reasonably funny panel gameshow with host Dominik Diamond. team captains Fred MacAulay and Karen Dunbar. and guests from the stage. screen. sporting world and comedy circuit. For tickets for these live recordings. call (ll-ii 305 6602.

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6—20 Jun 2002 THE LIST 65

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