ALAN FRANCIS The Stand. Edinburgh. Fri 9 & Sat 10 May
A polished performer
A lot of stand-ups say they enjoy returning to Edinburgh when the festival isn’t on. It’s a different city. After the Cowgate fire, of course, it really has changed. Alan Francis has more reason than most to notice - he grew up in Edinburgh. ‘I'm up several times a year seeing family.’ he says. ‘lt’s strange how you notice it changing. whereas I don‘t notice London changing — I guess that shows I am a Londoner now. I remember we were doing this filming on the Cowgate down an alley one night. People coming out of Sneaky Pete’s would inevitably wander down and see what the lights were for, getting more and more pissed as the night went on, while our director kept getting more and more pissed oil. So I hope the Cowgate doesn’t lose that charm.‘
Since winning So you Think you're Funny in 1991, Francis has combined stand-up with writing for TV. Past successes include writing for Alan Partridge. Alistair McGowan ’5 Big Impression (for which he won a British Comedy Award) and The Sketch Show (which picked up a BAFTA). But he sees live performance as the ‘bread and butter of what I do‘.
Last year Francis took both a stand-up set and a character show called Clobbered to the Fringe - and picked up Out of the Blue’s anti-Perrier, the Tap Water Award, for his trouble. But this trip to the Stand will be pure stand-up. ‘It is a great venue,’ he says. ‘But while my character show isn't exactly theatrical. it is more of a sit-down, passive show, and I‘d rather do stand-up in a place like the Stand, something where you get a bit of interaction.‘
Defining comedy is never the easiest task. and Francis, when asked, spends as much time explaining what he doesn't do as what he does. 'I can‘t really say it's hilarious can I? It's observational. It's not overtly political although it does touch on that sort of stuff. I try to have a laugh, to be funny, to enjoy the moment with the audience. It‘s not angry, it’s not silly. It’s somewhere in between.‘ (James Smart)
68 THE LIST " ‘.'.:.
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to comedy©list.co.uk, by post or by tax on 0131 557 8500. Listings are compiled by Maureen Ellis.
Thursday 8
Glasgow
Mrs Brown Rides Again l’axilmii 'l‘heatr‘e. l2l chlield Street. .3 32 ltS-lh 7,30piii. £l3 £15 i£ll £l2i, Dublin‘s laxour‘rte Mammy aka liiendan ()'('ai‘roll returns with more insights into w h_\ it‘s so hard being a woman. Jongleurs Comedy Club .longletii‘s. l'(i(‘ liuilding. Reiitrew Street. 0870 737 0707. S.l5piii. £0. The hyperactixe Stephen K .-\ritos introduces local lass Jane) (itKllL'). Sean Meo and Michael Smiley
The Stand The Stand. 333 \Vootllattds Road, ()S7ll (illll (3055. 0pm. £5 (£4i. Pop satirist Sandy Nelson takes comic pot shots at pop's prima dorinas (ii‘eg Mcllugh and (Min Mc(iil| stand-up in support.
Giggles Mercury Lounge. l-l2 llalh Lane. 2-18 1777, 0pm. £5 l£~li. lrish/ lranian/( ieordie comedian Patrick Monahan headlines. with support l'i'oni llratcli) and comic storyteller James (’aiiiphell.
Edinburgh
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 0pm. £5 (£4). Straight- talking. sassy .-\ussie lass Sarah Kendall regales with her wit and wisdom. (iraeme Thomas. Nigel liticklaiid and coiiipere Raymond Mearns provide the support.
The Snatch Club The Liquid Room. ‘lc Victoria Street. 225 250-1. 10.30pm 3am. £3.50 (£3i. Prepare to swing yer pants and latigh yer head oil at this mid-week comedy-cum-c|uhhing institution. New host Tony ('arter keeps spirits flying high along with cheesy tunes. the DJ liahes and regular guests.
Glasgow
Watson’s Wind-up (ilasgow l‘ilm Theatre. l2 Rose Street. 305 (mill.
1 l.-l5pm. l-‘ree. hut ticketed. ()iily (III Ifu‘me writer Jonathan Watson returns with a new series of his radio show. ('all l'or tickets or email
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Mrs Brown Rides Again Pavilion Theatre. l2l Renlield Street. 332 1346. 7.30pm. £l3 £l5 t£ll £12). See Thu 8.
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jonglcurs. l'(i(' Building. Rentrew Street. 0870 7X7 0707. 8.15pm. £l2. See Thu 8.
The Stand The Stand. .333 \Voodlands Road. 0870 600 (1055. 0pm. £7 (£6). Leading Kiwi comedian liwan (iilrnore headlines. with support from ()ceaiiic counterpart Sarah Kendall and local hero John Ross. Vladimir Mc'l‘ayish is the evening‘s guest coiiipere.
Duntocher Comedy Club l)untig|eiiiian. (18 l)uniharton Road. Duntocher. (ll 38‘) 802300. 9pm. Free. Stand-up stalwart Parrot perches atop the hill. ahly supported by (ireg Mcllugh and Fraser (’amphell.
Edinburgh
0 The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£6). Multi aw ard-w inning comedian and Alistair .ilttimt'un'x lire Impression regular .-\lan Francis is the evening's leading man. His supporting cast include Richard Allen. John Scott and compere Stisan Morrison. See prexiew.
Cumbernauld
Fred MacAulay (‘uiithernauld Theatre. Kildi‘um. 0l 2 3h "USS"
7 45pm £l0 i£Si (‘oinedy olisei‘yations trom home .iiid .ihi'oad trom the ubiquitous comedian and broadcaster
Saturday 10
Glasgow
Mrs Brown Rides Again l’atilmn 'l‘lteati'e. l2l Renlield Street. 332 IS-lo 7 30pm £l3 £l5 i£ll £12: See l'hu S Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleuis. l'(i(' lltiilding. Renliew Street. 03qu 73" 070" S l5piii £l3 See lltti S
The Stand The Stand. 333 \Vtititllalltls Rlltltl. llhflll Nil) (i055 ‘lplll £S See in ‘l but with compete Susan Morrison.
Madcap Comedy Club Slate liar. HS llolland Street. ‘Mo 0230 0 {0pm £5 t£4i (ierry (iranl. llilly Watson and guests |Ulll llilly lionkers lor more ohseryalional antics III the State haseiiient.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Rush ('ahai'et Voltaire. 36 3S lllair' Street. 220 hl7ti. .\ week ol special shows by groups who perlorrn regularly around lidinliui'gh which incorporates li\e music. comedy. cltilis. theatre. film and cabaret l'ntil Sat l7 May.
0 The Stand ‘i‘ht- Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. ‘ipm £S, See l'i'i ‘l but with guest compete Vladimir McTat ish.
Cumbernauld
The Long Riders Tour ('tiiiihernauld 'l‘lieati‘c. Kildruin. 0l23o 732%37. 7.45pm. £0 l£oi. Scottish comedy sharp shooters liruce Morton. Michael Redmond and Parrot saddle tip tor a tour of wit. wisdom and masterclass comedy llighly rectimmended.
Glasgow
Mrs Brown Rides Again l’aulion 'l‘heatre. l2l Renlield Street. 332 lhllo. 7.30pm. £l3 £l5 l£ll £l2i. See Thu
8.
Attila the Stockbroker and David Rovics Tron Theatre. ()3 Trongate. 552 4207. Spiii. £(i t£~li. A unique brand ol performance poetry. rants. yerses and song lrom Attila. with support from r‘ahhle rousing folk singer Royics.
Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 (ilii) (i055. S.3()piil. £4 (£3). (itiitar-totting pop satirist Sandy Nelson is the eyening's leading man. while support is courtesy ol ( ii‘aeiiie Thomas and three guests.
0 BBC New Comedy Awards Scottish Heat Mercury Lounge. H2 Bath l.ane. 2-18 I777, ‘)pin. £5 l£4i Joe lleerian returns from apparent exile to take control ol' the proceedings in the lieeh's annual trawl for the best new comedy talent. (“ontenders tor the lirial throne include Martin and Neil. Sai (‘haudryx Teddy. Jo Jo Sutherland. liratchy. Fraser ('amphell. Dougie Munro and (iraeine 'l‘hoinas.
Edinburgh
Bruce’s Sunday Social Fund The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £4 (£3i. Australian l‘uiiny lady Sarah Kendall indulges in a spot of naval-ga/ing. Support comes from ('olin Mc(iil| and guests.
Edinburgh
Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £l. Nigel liuckland introduces around eight newcomers iii a gig headlined by Sandra Johnston.