SKETCH SHOW

WILL & GREG: A SKETCH SHOW

The Stand, Glasgow, Sun 6 Jul

Before the Fringe kicks in along with the attendant confusion of flyers, here’s your chance to take a sneak peak at one of its prime sketch shows. Fresh from some of the minds who brought you last year’s energetic hit Ugly Kid, Will & Greg are here to cheer up Scotland. Starring Will Andrews (in a different guise you may know him as Tony Carter) and Greg McHugh (whom you may recognise as Gary: Tank Commander), this is the culmination of four-year’s work with the Glasgow-based Comedy Unit. They also created Blowout, the Channel 4 Comedy Lab broadcast in

October last year.

They’re holding this preview at The Stand to road-test the ideas for this year’s festival and the associated TV show they’re shooting in July. ‘This will be the first ever preview and the audience is totally the judge,’ explains Andrews. ‘If they don’t laugh, it won’t go in.’ Sounds sensible, and quite grounded for a pair who seem set to become the new darlings of TV comedy. Although he did also say ‘rude boy,’ so maybe all that London air

has gone to their heads.

Now they return to their homeland with new material to woo audiences with, this time without the company of former sketch mates Susan Calman, Leah MacRae and Michael Manley. It might be rougher round the edges at this stage but, hell, if you want to see a smooth-running sketch show then rent Big Train. Catch Will & Greg now, before the Fringe, and they, really

kick off. Rude boys. (Sian Bevan)

Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to comedyGlist.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Sian Bevan. Indicates Listpicks entry

Glasgow

The Thursday Show The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £7 (£6; members £3). Parrot. John Ross. Wouter Meijs and Jay Lafferty do their best to tickle your fancy. while host Raymond Mearns cracks the whip throughout.

Edinburgh

Heresy The Jekyll & Hyde. I 12 Hanover ,

Street. 225 2022. 9pm. £3. Rick Molland welcomes another gang of comedians to entertain folks in the mighty cellar of doom.

The Thursday Show The Stand. 5

York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£6; members £3). Another line-tip that includes something for everyone: Steve Gribbcn. Francesca Martinez. Keir McAllister. Jim Park and host Joe Heenan. Super stuff.

Glasgow

Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. UGC Building. 11 Renfrew Street. 0870 7870707. 8pm. £12. A lively night of comedy in the Jongleurs den. with Mike Wilkinson. Dougie Dtinlop. Sean Collins and Anthony King all primed and ready for action. As well as slick comedy. there‘s hot food and dancing.

The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £9 (£8; members £5). It‘s the weekend and it's Glasgow, so who better to grind some comedy into your bones than host Raymond Mearns'.’ 11c presents Parrot. John Ross. Wouter Meijs and Jay

1 .affert y.

Edinburgh Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()mni Centre. Greenside Place. 08707 870707. 8pm. £1 1. Four cheery chappies are here to brighten your weekend: Rtidi Lickwood. Dom Can‘oll. Sandy Nelson and Matt Kirshen all offering good old—fashioned fun. There's dancing afterwards included in the price. The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £9 (£8;

' members £5). MC Joe Heenan is the

weekend's cheeky host. introducing the acts with a wink and a grin. Those acts

are Steve Gribbcn. Francesca Martinez.

Keir McAllister and Pete Jonas. How terribly chirpy.

i Glasgow

Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. UGC Building. 1 l Renfrew Street. 0870

7870707. 8pm. £15. See Fri 4.

Comedy 0 The State The State Bar. 148 Holland Street. 332 2159. 9pm. £5.

Comedy dynamo Billy Kirkwood welcomes Rick ‘Heresy’ Molland. Derek

Miller. lilaine Malcolmson and Viv Gee. The Stand The Stand. 333 thxllands Road. 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £12. See Fri 4.

Edinburgh Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()mni Centre. Greenside

Place. 08707 870707. 8pm. £14. See Fri 4.

The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £12. See Fri 4. Glasgow

Will & Greg: A Sketch Show The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 6006055. 6pm. £6 (£5; members

. £3). Grab a sneaky peak at this much-

anticipated show featuring a brand new

set of sketches from the warped minds of ' messrs Andrews and McHugh. See

preview.

Ha Ha Raw Comedy Ivory Hotel. Langside Avenue. Shawlands. 8.30pm. A beautiful night of new comedy talent. headed up by a professional headliner and MC. tucked in the heart of the Shawland. The line- ups change weekly. btit always get there early for a seat. Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand. 33.3 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £5 (£4: members £1). Another evening of mirth hosted by the droopiest man in comedy. lie was in Fat/im- 737/ and everything. Tonight's entertainment comes from Gerry McDade. lan McPherson. Barry McDonald and Rab Brown.

Edinburgh

Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 1pm. The legendary lunchtime show continues to entertain the troops for free. thanks to the improvisational talents of Stti & Garry. There's hot food available. And beer. Lots of beer. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £1 ). Cheer tip your

, Sunday night with compere Billy

Kirkwood and Joe Heenan. with the added bonuses of Del Strain. Nick Morrow. Dave Strong and Rick Molland.

Glasgow

Magners Comedy Monday

McChuills. 40 High Street. 552 2135. 8.15pm. £2 (£1 ). linprobabble cheer tip Mondays in Glasgow with some of their quick-wilted. improvised japes. Come ready with suggestions: they might just ask you for some ideas and silence is just plain awkward.

The Amazing Bastards! The Stand.

333 mellands Road. 0870 600 6055.

8.30pm. £3 (£2; members £1). Entertainment from the three ragaiiiuflins of comedy: Steven Dick. Allan Miller and Teddy. There‘ll be sketches and stand-up in a medley of chaotic glory.

Edinburgh

Fit 0’ The Giggles Absolute Beginners The Mercat. 28 West Maitland Street. 225 3861. 8.30pm. £2.

THE BEST COMEDY

Matt Kirshen The little lad with the big talent might look like he should be preparing for uni, but it’s a top class career in stand-up that awaits. Jong/eurs, Edinburgh, Fri 4 8. Sat 5 Jul.

Francesca Martinez The former Grange Hill and Extras star stuck two fingers up to the Olympics torch parade and deserves a big hand for her raw comedy talent. The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 3—Sat 5 Jul.

Will 8. Greg: A Sketch Show The Scots pair of wags do gags within the ‘broken comedy‘ format. It might just catch on. See preview. The Stand, Glasgow, Sun 6 Jul.

John Gordillo He's shared a flat with Reg D Hunter and directed Eddie Izzard. Time he nabbed a bit of that stand-up fame for himself, then. See Profile. The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu lO—Sun 73 Jul.

Comedy 6 The State A top-flight local line-up headed up by the estimable inaugural Scottish Comedian of the Year, Mark Nelson. The State Bar, Glasgow, Sat 72 Jul.

MC Keara Murphy introduces a selection of new acts with an experienced headliner. bringing comedy to the West End of Edinburgh. If you fancy a shot. then email fitothegiggles@googlemailcom

Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2. Ooh. ‘tis the seventh day of the seventh month and at least seven acts will be perfomiing at this. the best new talent night in Scotland. With Stu Murphy and Del Strain.

Glasgow

Red Raw The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £2 (£1 members). Professional comedian-types Sainsbtiry McGivern and Del Strain are on hand to help along the newer acts having a go at Red Raw. in a night of bargain laughter.

Edinburgh

Fringe Preview Double Bill The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £6 (£5). A great opportunity to see two of the shining lights on the local circuit perform their show while you can still walk freely on the Royal Mile. Teddy

presents his 'Iilddy Bares followed by

Graeme Thomas and Who Do I Complain 7b."

3—1 7 Jul 2008 THE LIST 45