Verity Sharpe, Clown Beef and Mach Fest
Comedy shows to see this week :)
Hello!
I know you’ve been waiting with bated breath for me to tell you about my visit to see Crybabies work-in-progress-ing their new show last week - and I’ve been waiting to tell you! Oh, it was so funny. There was one point where I was stuck in a giggle spiral, e.g. the kind that risks becoming embarrassing if you let it continue too much because it’s now been such a long time since the thing you were originally laughing at happened. But oh no, more funny things are happening and now I have to laugh at that as well. It’s hard work.
The thing I forgot to mention to my friend is that the last time I saw Crybabies do a WIP around April, they hadn’t finished the story yet so stopped abruptly at the hour mark with the mystery unsolved (there’s always some sort of mystery). This is what happened again, so Joey was like, “what. WHAT HAPPENS?” And I had to very annoyingly say: “you’ll have to see it again to find out!” I can’t wait for Edinburgh when I get to see the finished thing. Crybabies are always a highlight for me, and anyone reasonable.
It also reminded me of this great piece they wrote for LMAOnaise a couple of years ago about their most iconic sound cues. You must read and make sure you listen to the cues. That’s very important. I just accidentally played “Machine whir” out loud in a cafe thinking it was coming out of my headphones. A tad embarrassing, but I think everybody enjoyed it :)
The new branch of the Soho Theatre launches in Walthamstow this week. I can’t wait to see inside. I’ve heard it is:
Nice
Big
Fancy
I will report back on Friday on whether that is true! Place your bets!
And here’s one of your final reminders to come and join me at the Golden Lobes podcast awards next Wednesday at the Clapham Grand, hosted by Tom Lawrinson & Sam O'Leary, and featuring some really great pods! I’ve been listening to the entries in the category I’m sponsoring and giggling away.
LASTLY for this very long intro, this evening (yesterday evening for you, wow, time travel), I’m taking part in a panel for Funny Women. And, guess what? I’ve been asked to do another panel for the award I won last year (the Publisher Newsletter Award for Best Entertainment and Culture Newsletter, in case you forgot). I’m in my panel era, I suppose! Anyone else want me to do a panel?
Our Edinburgh Fringe PR Workshop recording is available! You can get it here now! If you missed out on the workshops and had questions about doing your own PR, I recommend you get it your hands on it :)
Comedy shows to see!
The Clown Beef Show Instalment 2: The Revenant
May 8th, 8:30pm
Museum of Comedy, London; Tickets here
If there’s anything that keeps my ticker going tick-tick-tick, it’s provoking arguments between clowns and comedians who aren’t clowns. None of these people are stressed enough in my opinion – they should be way more worried about what they’re doing and/or saying, so thank goodness this show is here, pitting clowns against anti-clowns in a series of tasks. The clowns are Mikey Bligh-Smith and Luke Rollason, and are up against two people who are definitely not clowns, Joz Norris and Lorna Rose Treen. Master of ceremonies, Ciaran Chillingworth, is joined by special guests Ozzy Algar, Alwin Solanki and Lee Kennedy. It’s very likely it will all end in tears, but at least there will be resolution.
Comedy in Ruins
May 9th, 7:30pm
The Real Al Taproom, Walthamstow; Tickets here
Everybody knows I am a bit of a Walthamstow evangelist these days (though I’m in the “getting people here to hang out” camp, rather than “getting people to buy houses here and make it even more expensive”). Two of Walthamstow’s crown jewels are combining as Comedy in Ruins sets up shop at the Real Al Taproom, one of my fave local places. It’s the first birthday of Emily Bampton’s comedy night, and to celebrate she’s grabbed yet another brilliant line-up: Jodie Mitchell, Kwami Odoom, The Mayor and his Daughter, Fathiya Saleh and Kemah Bob. I know! This is why it sells out every time – because you know the line-up is always gonna be good regardless of who it is. Smashing once again
Verity Sharpe: Landlord’s Wet Dream
May 2nd & May 8th; 6:45pm
Rotunda Theatre, Brighton Fringe; Tickets here
It’s finally arrived! Brighton Fringe is back and raring to go this very weekend. On the very first day, Verity Sharpe is getting things going with Landlord’s Wet Dream. This show is for anyone who’s lived in a crappy house with five housemates and a perpetually damp wardrobe. Do you love having your rent increased constantly for no good reason? Ever been threatened with eviction just for lols? This show is for you! Expect jaunty poems and the desire to join a renter’s union. While you’re at it, have a read of this job advert Verity has posted on the LMAOnaise website.
Also, see more Brighton Fringe shows I’d recommend down below the paywall!!
Clandestina Queer Comedy
May 1st, 7:30pm
The Divine, Dalston; Tickets here
It’s comedy time for the girls, gays and theys as Clandestina Queer Comedy is back at The Divine! Chris Hall, Katie Green, Sarah Roberts and Clandestina’s wonderful founder and LGBTQ+ Comedian of the Year winner Victoria Comedy take to the stage at this month’s show.
Nic Sampson: Yellow Power Ranger
April 29th-May 3rd; 9pm
Soho Theatre; Tickets here
As soon as I had finished watching Nic Sampson’s show Yellow Power Ranger in Edinburgh, I wanted to watch it all over again. For me, he is just about unbeatable as a comedy writer (see Starstruck and his previous show Marathon, 1904). This guy knows how to put together the story of a show, but also how to deliver it with full 100% commitment. This one is all about his time playing the actual Yellow Power Ranger on the telly, which you’ve all seen presumably…I mean, who hasn’t? Bring your Sampson merch, he’ll sign anything. Read my review of Nic’s show here!
Bertie Hodd: Dad Jokes
April 29th-May 3rd, 7:15pm
Camden People’s Theatre; Tickets here
Dad’s home! And he’s ready to learn. Bertie Hodd’s drag-clown-cabaret show goes on a “coming-of-middle-age story” (nice) as one regular dad attempts to understand his queer child. I saw Dad at the brilliant Blokenite drag-king night, which was a real treat. Bertie not only has excellent comedic instincts but immense creativity – the two things that, for me, make a great drag king. I remember thinking: this dad’s got more to say! Dad Jokes will explore softer masculinity and the queer reinvention of family – sounds good to me.
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