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one charges you nowt for the pleasure of watching a different line-up every week of some local up-and-comers. Red Raw The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £2 (£1). The magical Steven Dick hosts an evening of up-and-coming comedians trying short spots of funnies in a jam-packed bill.
Edinburgh Wild Colonial Boys Australia Day Special! The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5. It may be chilly, but here’s a collection of antipodean comedians ready to warm you up and make you laugh your thongs off. With Marcus Ryan, Ro Campbell, Damian Clark and Amanda Gray. Wednesday 27
Glasgow Best of Irish The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £7 (£6; members £4). A selection of comedians celebrating all that’s brilliant about that there Emerald Isle. With Johnny Candon, Jarlath Regan, Niall Browne and host Michael Redmond. Edinburgh Best of Scottish The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £3). A celebration of the finest comedy talent developing north of the border, with host Susan Calman and featuring: Vladimir McTavish, Graeme Thomas, Sean Grant and Ailsa Johnston.
Thursday 28
Glasgow The Thursday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Cheeriness abounds this weekend, as host Joe Heenan introduces Shane Mauss, Johnny Candon, Jojo Sutherland and Barry McDonald.
Edinburgh ✽✽ The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Comedy with brains at The Stand this weekend with magnificent headliner Robin Ince. He’ll be joined by Ro Campbell, Jarlath Regan, Rick Molland and host Bruce Devlin.
Friday 29
Glasgow Famous for Comedy Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 8pm. From £12. Comedy goodies from circuit regulars Mat Reed, Kevin Gildea and Rex Boyd, followed by dancing until the wee hours. The Friday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 28 for line-up.
Edinburgh Famous for Comedy Highlight, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 8pm. From £11. The very funny Mick Ferry (from Michael McIntyre’s telly programme), Rob Collins and Phil Butler are all performing the weekend away here. Free entry to Club Risa after the gig.
✽✽ The Friday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £10 (£9;
members £5). See Thu 28 for line-up. The Improverts Bedlam Theatre, 11b Bristo Place, 225 9893. 10.30pm. £4 (£3.50). See Fri 22.
Saturday 30
Glasgow Famous for Comedy Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 8pm. From £12. See Fri 29. The Saturday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £13. See Thu 28 for line-up. Edinburgh Famous for Comedy Highlight, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044.
Janey Godley If the Scottish Bard was given the opportunity to chose a female comic from these shores to keep
his flame burning, chances are he might have picked Janey Godley. They certainly share a love of the fruity, meaty side of our language, and Burns would surely have chuckled with a guilty delight had he been around to celebrate his own birthday. ■ Highlight, Glasgow, Mon 25 Jan.
6.30pm & 10pm. From £11. See Fri 29.
✽✽ The Saturday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £13. See
Thu 28 for line-up. Sunday 31
Glasgow ✽✽ Glasgow Kids Comedy Club The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road,
0870 600 6055. 3pm. £3. Live comedy for ages 8–12 with Robin Ince, Ro Campbell and Siân Bevan doing their best to make everyone laugh. No under 5s; all kids must be accompanied by an adult. Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £1). Another week ends, another exploration of the head of Michael Redmond begins. This week David Kay, John Whale and Michael Manley all enter his world of comedy.
Edinburgh FREE Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1pm. See Sun 24. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £1). Host Scott Agnew leads you by the hand through to the end of the month, with wit from John Ross, Gus Tawse, Jim Park and Ben Verth.
Monday 1
Glasgow Stephen K Amos Theatre Royal, 282 Hope Street, 0844 871 7647. 7.30pm. £17.50. See Sun 24. Dance, Monkey Boy, Dance The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £4. Raymond Mearns, Allen Chalmers and John Ross present more stand-up, sketches and improvised fun. Proper entertainment and that. Edinburgh Fit O’ The Giggles Absolute
Beginners Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8pm. £2 (£1). A night of newer comedy talent trying out their stuff, with professional assistance from the marvellous Bruce Fummey and Vladimir McTavish. Red Raw The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2 (£1). A brilliant (and cheap) showcase of new comedy talent trying out the mic, topped off with headliner Graeme Thomas. With host Siân Bevan.
Tuesday 2
Glasgow FREE Comedy at the Halt Bar The Halt Bar, 160 Woodlands Road, 352 9996. 8.30pm. See Tue 26. Red Raw The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £2 (£1). MC Charlie Ross and headliner Gus Tawse are joined by a selection of new acts hoping to prove that they’re the new Frankie Boyle. Or Susan Boyle, depending. Edinburgh Wicked Wenches The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £3). Regular host Susan Calman introduces some of the best female comedy talent going. With Amanda Gray, Sally Ann Hayward, AL Kennedy and headliner Sarah Millican.
Wednesday 3
Glasgow Wicked Wenches The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £3). See Tue 2. Edinburgh Alex Horne The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £10 (£8). Creative comedian Alex Horne presents his latest show Wordwatching where he embarks on a ludicrous but brilliant campaign to get a new, invented word into the dictionary.
Comedy Hitlist THE BEST COMEDY *
✽✽ Jason Cook The genial Geordie delights us all with a Stand residency of headlining activities. The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 21–Mon 25 Jan. ✽✽ Stephen K Amos One of the most delightful geezers in the stand-up business delivers more of his feelgood fun. Catch him now before he becomes far too famous for the likes of us. See My Comedy Hero. Perth Concert Hall, Sun 24 Jan; Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Mon 1 Feb. ✽✽ Count Arthur Strong A night of delusion with this character comic who divides viewers like a big squeezable container of comedic Marmite. See First Word, page 2. King’s Theatre, Glasgow, Mon 25 Jan. ✽✽ Famous for Comedy Burns Night Special A dandy cast list here with Janey Godley and Paul Pirie among those addressing the potentially kilted throng. Highlight, Glasgow, Mon 25 Jan. ✽✽ Robin Ince Ricky Gervais’ ex-sparring partner has come out of the cackling one’s shadow and is now a true master of his art. The Glasgow Stand gig sees him doing it for the kids in the afternoon. The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 28–Sat 30 Jan; The Stand, Glasgow, Sun 31 Jan. ✽✽ Alex Horne One of the hosts of Beeb4’s We Need Answers perhaps raises more questions here as he goes on the hunt for new words. The Stand, Edinburgh, Tue 3 Feb.
Thursday 4
Glasgow The Thursday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Sarah Millican headlines this weekend, with hosting duties fulfilled by Raymond Mearns. Graeme Thomas, Pete Jonas and Garry Dobson provide additional funnies. Edinburgh The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Jump onboard the comedy bus, setting off for brilliant time as MC Joe Heenan presents Amanda Gray, Sally Ann Hayward, Marcus Ryan and the somewhat odd world of Seymour Mace.
21 Jan–4 Feb 2010 THE LIST 45