Girlfriend Club, Mr Chonkers and Marj
Comedy shows to see this week :)
Hello!
Hope you’re feelin’ good - I noticed this week that it’s the dark blue kind of night-time at 5pm now, not the pitch black kind. That is hugely important to me. It means that it’s nearly my birthday and by “nearly” I mean it is in a month. If you know me, or have been a subscriber for more than a year you will know how important my birthday is to me. I don’t really know why - it’s not about presents or parties, which I guess means it’s about attention? It’s certainly NOT about marking the passage of time. Time should be left alone, it is under too much pressure as it is.
Anyway, even my birthday isn’t as important as this fish tie. I said all that stuff about my birthday as subliminal messaging to suggest that someone should get me this fish tie as a present (I guess it is about presents after all).
Now, one for the performing-type people here: I’m doing some workshops again! I absolutely loved running sessions about how to do your own PR last year, so when the incredible PR guru Lily Marriott got in touch to see if I wanted to team up I said YES PLEASE! We’ve got two workshops scheduled on March 24th and April 9th, and they’re going to be even better than last time because Lily is just the most fabulous person and publicist. We’re both absolutely committed to not gatekeeping any of this information, because it’s just so expensive to pay for PR for a whole Fringe run. SO, if you’re going to Edinburgh, thinking about going to Edinburgh, come along. Early Bird tickets on sale now (until they’re all gone!)
March 24th, 7pm / April 9th, 7pm
Addendum: It is built around Edinburgh Fringe, HOWEVER, like last time there will be a lot of information and resources that will be useful for doing your own PR at any point (whether for other Fringes or if you are trying to get coverage for tours etc).
RIGHT enough of me promoting my own stuff, now for some stuff from other people! Don’t you just love other people, mostly?
Comedy shows to see!
Mr Chonkers (on tour)
On tour from Feb 7-March 15th
Monkey Barrel, Edinburgh; The Grub, Manchester; Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds; The Alma, Bristol; Moth Club, London; Komedia, Brighton; Tickets here
I do actually think that I’d be really difficult to induct into a cult, no matter what anyone tells you. That said, there is one cult that risks pulling me in a bit far and that is Mr Chonkers. Put Mr Chonkers in a venue and I’m there so, so fast. Pass me that lime bike, I have to get to Mr Chonkers! And now, despite being American, he is here, on his first ever UK tour. John Norris’s show is an actor showcasing his talents, a comedian playing. It’s silly and absurd and magnificent. Please go. I feel this should be one of those instances where I tell you to do something and you just do it??
All Mouth: Queer Comedy (Gay-lentine’s Special)
Feb 13th,7:30pm
Monkey Barrel Comedy, Edinburgh; Tickets here
Glasgow’s regular queer comedy night is in Edinburgh for one night only in celebration of that day we all know and love – Gay-lentine’s Day. Not Galentine’s Day…Gay-lentine’s. It makes sense. As usual Kate Hammer hosts, with Sam Lake, Amanda Dwyer, Maddie Fernando, Jodie Sloan, Alvin Bang on the line-up. (And then, back in Glasgow at the end of Feb with business as usual at The Rum Shack.)
Haus of Intrusive Thots Presents: A Valentine’s Day Special
Feb 15th, 10pm til late
The Yard, Hackney Wick; Tickets here
Drag, burlesque, clown and performance art combine for an especially hot Valentine’s special, with performances and then a party into the wee hours (at least they are wee to me, maybe not to the more spry readers). Lachlan Werner, Luke Rollason, Lady Bolognese, Samra Mayanja, Keith Lorraine, Placenta of Attention, Sad Bunny, Sarjana Singh and Scarlett Love Stitt are just a few on this 15+ long line-up. Is gonna be huge. Dress code is: mating ritual. Spray on those pheromones.
Ada & Bron: The Origin of Love (WIP)
Feb 6th, 9pm
Pleasance Islington; Tickets here
Last week I saw Ada Player and Bron Waugh premiere Spare Part, a really funny and quite heartbreaking short film about a shy woman who’ll do anything to get her footballing boyfriend’s attention. I loved it. As much as I loved their Channel 4 blap, PEAKED, which I’ve mentioned in this newsletter before because of the aforementioned loving it. Now they’ve got a new live show together, a “cursed couple’s character comedy show” with live music! I predict I will also love this. Triple whammy!
Naughty Cabaret
Feb 7th, 7:30pm
Jacksons Lane, London; Tickets here
Naughty and Nice aren’t just for Christmas. Back after smashing a few nights at the Fringe, Naughty and her assistant Nice are hosting a night of comedy, drag and circus. Musical cult collective House of Life, brilliant comedian Josephine Lacey, multi-talented circus artist Joana Dias, our very own siblings, Siblings, and AMEN – the new boy band in town starring Amanda Tunsberg, and hosts Marie Kallevik Straume and Anna Marie Simonsen. It’ll be one of those totally unique, anything might happy nights.
Girlfriend Club: Valentine’s Special
Feb 13th, 8pm
The Castle, Aldgate; Tickets here
I’m getting the feeling that it might be Valentine’s Day soon? It seems to be a theme. This comedy night will be your girlfriend for one evening, if “being your girlfriend” means you sit there quietly and laugh at her jokes and do NOT interrupt. On the Girlfriend Club line-up is Rob Copland, Marty Gleeson, Jonathan Oldfield, Shalaka Kurup, Sapphire McIntosh and Hannah Whyte. That’s one stunning girlfriend you’ve got! Congratulations, how did you swing that?
Leicester Comedy Festival
Feb 5-23rd; full programme here
Leicester Comedy Festival is back, baby, spreading its joy all over the city. Here’s who I reckon you should go see:
Works-in-progress:
Chloe Petts, Grace Mulvey, James Trickey, Tal Davies, Bella Hull, Joe Kent-Walters, Pravanya Pillay, Erika Ehler, Rhiannon Shaw, Holly Spillar, Ada & Bron, Sikisa, Shawn Uyosa, Shalaka Kurup, Ayoade Bamgboye, Molly McGuinness, Jain Edwards, Mary O’Connell
And brilliant returning shows:
Alex Franklin: Gurl Code
Lil Wenker: Bangtail
Rob Copland: Gimme (One With Everything)
Marjolein Robertson: O
Joe Kent-Walters is Frankie Monroe Live!!!
Katie Norris: Farm Fatale
John Tothill: Thank God This Lasts Forever
Bella Humphries: Square Peg
Dee Allum: Deadname
Cerys Bradley: Queer Tales for Autistic Folk
Josh Glanc: Family Man
Amy Annette: Thick Skin
Celya AB: Of All People
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