Comedy
MY COMEDY HERO JASON COOK The Stand, Edinburgh, Tue 10 Nov; The Stand, Glasgow, Wed 11 Nov
My comedy heroes? That is a toughie as there are so many: the spontaneous genius of Ross Noble; the cutting one-liners of Frankie Boyle or Jimmy Carr; the measured calm of Stewart Lee or Sean Collins. Everyone has their own thing that makes them a ‘hero’ to other comics and I would probably have to split it between Frank Skinner and Billy Connolly, as I think that I try to do storytelling type stuff a bit like they did.
Certainly, as I was growing up, their shows were the videos (yes, VIDEOS) that I was being bought and watching. Connolly and Skinner have a playfulness that I’ve always thought makes them connect with the audience almost immediately, as if we’re not paying to watch a ‘thing’ but we’re going to have a good time with an old friend. And I like how Connolly can wander off into different stories and finally come back to the original point. I always envied his ability to do this, and tried it a few years ago with a very conscious effort, but it was too forced and didn’t work. However, lately I have started doing it as a matter of course in my shows so I’m putting that down to the ravages of age on my mind. But the main reason I would cite these two is that they are just lads from depressed areas who worked hard and made good. Surely everyone can identify with that?
42 THE LIST 5–19 Nov 2009
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to comedy@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Siân Bevan. ✽ Indicates Hitlist entry Thursday 5
Glasgow FREE Bratchy and the Wee Man’s Comedy Pub Quiz The Arches Café Bar, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1035. 8pm. Comedic brothers Bratchy and The Wee Man, him of YouTube infamy, host a pub quiz with a difference with interactive games, WWE moves and tomfoolery. Oh, and there’ll be cash prizes and all. The Thursday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £8 (£7; members £5). Billy Kirkwood comperes this evening, which features a mighty impressive line-up of Lucy Porter, Mark Nelson, Diane Morgan and Andrew Learmonth. FREE Watson’s Wind-up Glasgow Film Theatre, 12 Rose Street, 332 8128. Weekly topical comedy fun at the recording of BBC Scotland’s popular sketch show, starring Jonathan Watson.
Edinburgh FREE Heresy The Jekyll & Hyde, 112 Hanover Street, 225 2022. 9pm. Your favourite night of depraved comedy is now free, but with the same great line-ups lorded over by MC Rick Molland. Chuck a few quid in the bucket if you have a nice time. The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Start the weekend off with a comedy session courtesy of Noel James, Gordon Southern, Phil Differ and Elaine Malcolmson, with Susan Morrison as host.
Friday 6
Glasgow Jim Davidson Pavilion Theatre, 121 Renfield Street, 332 1846. 7.30pm. £18. Controversial comedy from the unsinkable Jim Davidson. If you like him, you’ll love it. We could say it’s the Daily Mail with jokes, but that would be terribly mean, wouldn’t it? Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 5.45pm & 9.15pm. From £12. There’s been some worry about wee Jongleurs in recent times, but tonight’s line-up proves they still have some damn fine talent in their service: Michael Legge, Des Sharples, Paul Sinha and Tom Stade. The Friday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 5 for line-up. Edinburgh Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 6.30pm & 10pm. From £10. Jonathan Mayor and Gordon Southern are joined by Edinburgh Fringe Comedy Award nominee Pete Johansson in a beautifully varied evening. Dancing after included in the ticket price. The Friday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 5 for line-up.
Saturday 7 Glasgow Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 5.45pm & 9.15pm. From £12. See Fri 6. Comedy @ The State The State Bar, 148 Holland Street, 332 2159. 9pm. £6. The long-standing home of comedy, The State Bar features a different line-up of new and experienced comedians every week. The Saturday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £13. See Thu 5 for line-up. Craig Hill Makes Your Whole Week Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267.
10pm. £14.50 (£10.50). Captain camp Craig Hill presents comedy with a seven day-long guarantee. Part of Glasgay! Edinburgh Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 6.30pm & 10pm. From £10. See Fri 6. The Saturday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £13. See Thu 5 for line-up.
Sunday 8 Glasgow Glasgow Kids Comedy Club The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 3–4pm. £3. Live laughs for younger comedy fans. This week Graeme Thomas, Steven Dick and host JoJo Sutherland keep it clean for ages 8–12. No under 5s; all kids must be accompanied by an adult. FREE Ha Ha Raw Comedy Ivory Hotel, Langside Avenue, Shawlands, 8.30pm. Alan Anderson introduces a night of comedy featuring a selection of comedians, topped off with Noel James.
✽ Scott Agnew’s Sunday Service The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road,
0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £1). Scott Agnew steps into the Sunday shoes, ending your week with charm and comedy from Mark Nelson, Viv Gee, Rab Brown and Kim MacAskill.
Edinburgh FREE Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1pm. Make an easy dose of improvised comedy part of your weekend with top notch performers Stu and Garry doing a free show, with hot food available. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £1). An appearance from one of Scotland’s most established circuit comedians: Mark Bratchpiece, with Sean Grant, Antony Murray, Lucy Oldham and compere Susan ‘Calmanator’ Calman.
Monday 9
Glasgow Des Clarke Live! The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £9 (£8). Scotland’s very own Des Clarke returns to the stage, doing what he does best: fast-paced, charismatic comedy for a whole evening. Yay! Edinburgh Red Raw The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2 (£1). Newer comedians try out their stuff in a fast-paced showcase, which may include more established folk testing out new material. With Danny Angelo and Rick Molland.
Tuesday 10
Glasgow ✽ Eddie Izzard: Stripped SECC, Finnieston Quay, 0870 040 4000. 6pm. £30. The cross-dressing whimsy-merchant is back and apparently in blokey mode this time around. See 5 Things. Red Raw The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £2 (£1). Anyone fancying their chances at making people laugh can sign up to perform at Red Raw, which can mean literally anything can happen. Tonight the newbies are joined by Danny Angelo and Scott Agnew.
Edinburgh ✽ Jason Cook The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £9 (£7).
Prepare thyselves comedy fans, as the most marvellous Mr Cook brings his brand of life-affirming comedy back to Scotland with his show Fear. See My Comedy Hero. Hairy Watt Comedy Club The Union, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, 451 5333. 9pm. £4 (£3 in advance). All you students (and people who like hanging out with students) are being treated to the talents of MC Susan Calman, who’ll be introducing Patrick Rolink and Sean Grant.