Tl-lE IMPROVERTS The who? In case you've had yOur head stuck in a paper bag for the last 20 years or so. they're a troupe of improvisational players (around 13 folk in total at the moment) who possess the ability to create fully-formed sketches from the most bizarre and sometimes banal of audience suggestions. Each week, there's a different combination of performers on stage but on the night we attended, the five in question were Humphrey Ker (also known as one third of Miles Jupp's Lost and Lonely Rebels). David Reed. Eliza Hooper, Sam Carter-Allison and Martin Cavannagh. So it’s a bit like Have I Got News for You? then? Well, kind of, although possibly not quite as slick. But it‘s similar in the sense that none of the scenes is scripted. so the results are sometimes surreal, often hilarious and very occasionally fall flat on their arse. The skits we saw involved everything from pregnant hippos to time travelling bread and the inappropriate use of archaic language. When and where can I see them? Every Friday night at 10.30pm in the Bedlam Theatre. Edinburgh during term time. Their last show this year is on 2 December and promises to be a big one. with all members of the troupe getting involved. If you fancy going along, make sure you book your tickets now because they sell out very fast. Even on a regular night the queues are enormous. Anything else I need to know? Make sure you take a jumper and some sunglasses. Sitting in a drafty church for an hour doesn’t half chill the bones. The shades will stop you getting blinded by the rather over-zealous lighting technicians. (Rachael Street) I Bed/am Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 18, 25 Nov; www.improverfs.com
40 THE LIST 1 i’ Nov—1 Doc 1200:”)
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to comedy@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Rachael Street.
Thursday 1 7
Glasgow
Little Britain Sli(‘(‘. liinnieston Quay. 0870 (H0 4000. 7.30pm. £22.50—~£27.50. Matt Lucas and David Walliams continue the tour. with their host of weird characters and comedy fat suits. Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. t'(i(‘ Building. Renfrew Street. ()8707 870707. 8pm. £7. Drew Barr stands up in the company of former punk band front man .Mark Walker. Ronnie Iidwards and fun-loving giant (ireg Davies. The Big Bluu Comedy Gong Show Bltiti. 50 'I‘rongatc. Merchant (‘ity. 548 1350. 8.30pm. Free. Alan Anderson compercs this lirst-past-the-gong extravaganza in which performers race against time to beat the dreaded signal and a £100 cash prize is given to the people's favourite. The Thursday Show The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 (i0() ()055. 8.30pm. £6 (£3 £5). Josh Howie leads the comedy crowd. aided and abetted by Julia Wilson. local lad Neil Macliarlatie. Ross Baillie and chatterbox host Raymond Meariis.
Edinburgh
Big Word Performance Poetry The Tron. 9 Hunter Square. High Street. 226 0931. 9pm. £3 (£2). (ilasgovy slam champ Robin Smith joins Ash Dickinson. lilspeth Murray. Peter Alexander. Bram (iieban and Mark Rafferty. With regular comperes Jerri Rolls and Jenny Lindsay.
The Thursday Show The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £6 (£3 £5). Yogliurt-lover Richard Herring leads this band of merry men. including Andy Askins. magic Steven Dick. Tony Wilkes and guest compete Vladimir Mc'l‘avish. The Three Tuns Comedy Night The Three Tuns Wine Vaults. 7 l 1 Hanover Street. 07909 552345. 9.30pm. Free. Billy Kirkwood introduces your comedy crew for the evening.
The Snatch Social The Liquid Room. 9c Victoria Street. 225 2564. 1 1pm 3am. £5. (‘omic duo Harry Ainsworth and Tony (‘arter rrrix it tip at this cheeky cabaret- cum-disco.
Friday 18
Glasgow
Little Britain Sli(‘(‘. l‘innieston Quay. 0870 040-1000. 7.30pm. £22.50 £27.50. See Thu 17. Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. l'(i(‘ Building. Renfrew Street. ()8707 870707. 8pm. £12. Sec 'Iliu 17. The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 ()00 (i055. 8.30pm. £8 (£7). Moustachioed Aussie Trevor ('ook grabs the limelight. aided and abetted by Josh Howie. Jtilia Wilson and Ross Bailie. plus host Susan Morrison. Club Fab! A Queer Cabaret Tron Theatre. ()3 Trongatc. 552 4267. 10pm. £8 (£6). Join Mistress Rachel Jury for more camped-up madness. including laughs and lines from musical comedian Nicky Mitchell. controversial wordsmitli Derek Mcl.uckie and the infamous Harry & [.ou Pickles lixperience. I’urt o/‘(ilusgtiv'
Edinburgh
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()mni ('entre. (ireenside Place. 08707 870707. 8.15pm. £12. ('ornedy trickster Keith l-‘ields joins Karl Spain. human bcatbox Stefano Paolini and Jim ‘Por'n ldol' Jeffries.
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £8 (£7). Veteran funny man Richard Herring takes to the limelight. with support from former musician Andy Askins. Dunfcrmline‘s Steven Dick. Padraig Hyland and host Jane Mackay. The Bedlam lmproverts Bedlam Theatre. 1 1b Bristo Place. 225 9893.
IMPRESSIONS STAND-UP RORY BREMNER
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Sat 26 Nov; Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Sun 27 Nov
The impressionist, political gadfly and household favourite Rory Bremner plans to divide up his whisky-sponsored stand-up show, Rory Bremner Uncorked, into three sections. It will begin with a humorous discourse on politics and its juicy bits, followed by several impressions of notable figures while the final third will comprise a more personal inspection of Bremner the man. This last slice is a question and answer session which he describes as being akin to An Evening With . . . .
Sat next to a dictaphone in a back office on a bright Edinburgh morning - and with merely playful prodding from the questioner - he opens up, veering from an earnest defence of his work ethic, to holding his head in his hands and admitting that people do find his television series a bit smug and self-satisfied at times. Born in Morningside and educated at public schools in Edinburgh and Berkshire, he has the roofless southern English accent of Tony Blair, is a big cricket fan and loves classic cars. So, is Rory Bremner the establishment in denial? ‘Look at the material. I don’t think the material’s particularly establishment. If [people] could only get inside my brain, because there’s so much self-doubt and so much concern and
anxiety about getting something right.’
Bremner hasn’t done a proper stand-up tour for 18 months, and he’s looking forward to the intimacy. ‘It unlocks a lot of other stories or anecdotes or material, which you can’t always fit into the spine of a stand- up act,’ he asserts. ‘ln a strange way I’ve often found that shows are sometimes the most relaxing time of the day, because for that time you know where you’re supposed to be. I think you always thrive on having a deadline, and having to come up with the goods.’ (Robin Lee)
10.30pm. £3.50 (£3). Long-standing late night laughter institution. involving much audience participation. drunken revelry and spontaneous comedy games. See Profile.
Saturday 1 9
Glasgow
ila Ha Comedy Blackfriars. 36 Bell Street. 552 592-1. 8pm. £6 (£5). (iar‘y Delany joins comedy forces with ()wen .\'iblock. Susan (‘alman and M(' Alan :‘sndet‘son.
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. 1'(i(‘ Building. Renfrew Street. ()8707 870707. 8pm. £13. See Thu 17.
Pam Ann: Flying High The (iarage. 490 Sauchieliall Street. 332 l 120. 8pm. £12 (£10). The vvaspislr lliglit attendant with friends in high places (liltori is a massive fan) returns with more rampant satire on the world of airlines. I’ttrl o/(iluxetrvz' Cosy Comedy Cafe The State Bar. 148 Holland Street. 332 215‘). 9pm. £0 (£5). Writer. stand-tip and consummate storyteller Bruce Morton stands up. with support from the linpro-Babble (‘oiiiedy' Players and compete Billy Bonkers. ()peri spots always available.
The Stand The Siam . 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 (>00 (3055. 9pm. £ 10 (£8). See Fri 18. btit with host Jane Mackay.
Edinburgh
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()rririi ('entre. (ireenside Place. ()8707 870707. 8.15pm. £13. See Hi 18.
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £10 (£8). Sec Fri 18. although Strsan Morrison takes over as compete.
Glasgow
Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 000 (v055. 8.30pm. £4 (£1 £3). l-‘or'nier musician Andy .-\.skins teams tip with trickster Steven Dick. l’hil Differ. Andy McPaitland arid droll host Michael Redmond.
Edinburgh
Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. Iprri. l-‘ree. Beat the Sunday morning blues with a dose of laughter provided by iiripr'ov veterans Paul (irahairi and Stuart Murphy.