COMEDY
TV REVIEW ALMOST ROYAL E4, Sun, 10pm ●●●●●
It’s easy for us all to say it in hindsight, but you’d have thought that the Americans would have seen regal siblings George and Poppy Carlton (heirs to the throne, albeit way, way down the list) coming a mile off. Sacha Baron Cohen had already made US folks look pretty silly through the ballsy auspices of Borat and Brüno, but here come this supremely posh, nice-but-dim pair dropping in on various locations which engender obvious comedic potential. But enjoyable as it is, it’s unlikely to ruffle a Corgi, never mind terrify the horses.
So, they visit the set of sitcom The Bold and the Beautiful with Poppy trying to pursue an acting career (she’s terrible, naturally), while George bores the pants off a Tea Party gathering with his speech about his local cricket team; Poppy’s main beef is the distinct lack of tea being offered. Historians are cajoled, baseball pitchers are teased and historical re-enactment societies are left befuddled. While Amy Hoggart’s Poppy is in the same ballpark as her ditzy, slightly creepy Pattie Brewster creation, Ed Gamble certainly channels something other than the matey but unladdish persona he adopts on stage, either in his solo stand-up or alongside comedy buddy Ray Peacock. Ultimately though, Almost Royal is a gentle romp through a sub-genre that feels a little past its use-by-date. (Brian Donaldson)
Saturday 30 them back in afterwards.
Glasgow Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, The Glasshouse, 20 Glassford Street, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £16. See Fri 29 The Saturday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 9pm. £15. See Thu 28 for line-up. Edinburgh The Beehive Comedy Club Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8.30pm. £9. See Fri 22.
Sunday 31 Glasgow Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £1). Redmond returns with his brand of lo-fi comedy to ease your weekend to a chilled close and prepare you spiritually and mentally for work tomorrow.
Monday 1
Glasgow Steampunk Comedy Steampunk Café, 1 Drury Street, 204 2929. 8.30–11pm. £2.50. See Mon 25. Edinburgh Red Raw The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2. The Stand’s spankingly good new talent night, encouraging the latest comedy stars out of the woodwork. Then maybe putting
56 THE LIST 21 Aug–18 Sep 2014
Tuesday 2
Glasgow ✽ Frankie Boyle: Work in Progress Tron Theatre, 63
Trongate, 552 4267. 7.45pm. £15 (£13). A pretty special chance to catch The Boyle in a new work-in-progress show. FREE Pop-Up Comedy The Halt Bar, 160 Woodlands Road, 353 6450. 8.30pm. See Tue 26. Red Raw The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £2. See Tue 26.
Edinburgh G Spot The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5. See LGBT listings.
Wednesday 3
Glasgow ✽ Frankie Boyle: Work in Progress Tron Theatre, 63
Trongate, 552 4267. 7.45pm. £15 (£13). See Tue 2. New Material Night Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 8pm. £3. See Wed 20. Comedian Rap Battles The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £6 (£4). The hit show returns, bringing with it that unmissable combination of rap fantasies and big egos.
£5. The Stand’s monthly sketch show returns with new skits and character treats featuring the best of Scots comedy.
Thursday 4 Glasgow Best of West Brewery Comedy Club WEST Brewery, Building 4 Templeton Building, Glasgow Green, 550 0135. 8–10.30pm. £7. Jamie Dalgleish hosts some of his comedy buddies who’ve impressed at the West’s monthly stand-up gigs. Vespbar Virgins Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 8pm. £2. See Thu 21. The Thursday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £10 (£7; members £5). Bruce Devlin, Neil Dougan, Damian Clark and Rich Wilson will be making you laugh this weekend. Just Comedy Wild Cabaret & Wicked Lounge , 18 Candleriggs, 552 6165. 9–11pm. £5 (£10 with a sharing plate and drink). See Thu 21.
Edinburgh The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £10 (£7; members £5). Comedy will be firing at you with all cylinders this weekend, so why not give into it all and allow The Stand to take you under its wing with hilarious acts left, right and centre? Friday 5
Edinburgh The Broken Windows Policy The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm.
Glasgow ✽ Gilded Balloon Comedy at Drygate Drygate Brewing Co, 85
Drygate, 212 8810. 7.30–9.30pm & 10pm– midnight. £15 for show only; £30 for show and two-course meal; £33 for show and three-course meal. See Fri 29, but with Ray Bradshaw hosting Hannah Gadsby, Amy Howerska and Stuart Mitchell. The Friday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £12 (£10; members £6). See Thu 4 for line-up. Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, The Glasshouse, 20 Glassford Street, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £15–£16. A team of Scotland’s best primed to make you laugh. With Stu Who?, Liam Speirs, Del Strain and Raymond Mearns. Edinburgh The Beehive Comedy Club Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8.30pm. £9. See Fri 22. The Friday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £12 (£10; members £6). See Thu 4.
Saturday 6
Glasgow Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, The Glasshouse, 20 Glassford Street, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £15–£16. See Fri 5. The Saturday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 9pm. £15. See Thu 4 for line-up. Edinburgh The Beehive Comedy Club Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8.30pm. £9. See Fri 22. The Saturday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £15. See Thu 4.
Sunday 7
Glasgow Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £1). See Sun 31.
Edinburgh ✽ Aye Right? How No?: Comedy Countdown to the Referendum
The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £7 (£5). Vladimir McTavish and Keir McAllister take on the independence debate in a show that blends stand-up, poetry, spoken word and politics.
Monday 8
Glasgow Steampunk Comedy Steampunk Café, 1 Drury Street, 204 2929. 8.30–11pm. £2.50. See Mon 25. Edinburgh Red Raw The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2. See Mon 1.
Tuesday 9
Glasgow FREE Pop-Up Comedy The Halt Bar, 160 Woodlands Road, 353 6450. 8.30pm. See Tue 26. Red Raw The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £2. See Tue 26.
Wednesday 10
Glasgow New Material Night Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 204 0060. 8pm. £3. See Wed 20. BBC Comedy Presents The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £4. See the rising stars of comedy before they get too big for their boots at this night of comedy shows in development. Edinburgh Melting Pot The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £2.50). Vote for the best of new sketches and skits from local comedy types.