Tag Archives: Comedy

Devisors: Clare Beresford, Dominic Conway, and Alexander Scott Reviewer: Christie-Luke Jones Little Bulb Theatre’s little cast is quite possibly the most unswervingly joyful group of people ever to draw breath. Ever. Beresford, Conway, and Scott shine with the warmth of a 1.21-gigawatt spotlight that dazzles and delights the post-work punters draped contentedly over the beautiful M. C. Escher-like structure of ...

Reviewer: Dave Cunningham Although The Sons of Pitches shot to fame as a cappella singers on TV’s The Naked Choir they seem determined to expand their range from being simply vocalists. SOP TV sees the group nudging towards ‘all round entertainers’ with comedy sketches based around the theme of TV shows. The group also show their ambitions by branching out ...

Writer: Michael Aitkens Director: David Grindley   Reviewer: Dave Cunningham Some years ago theatres were congested with adaptations of well-loved TV sitcoms. Michael Aitkens’s Waiting for God missed out on the fad but that may be to its advantage as the adaptation now feels more like a ‘proper’ play rather than a nostalgic cash-in. Diana (Nichola McAuliffe) is a retired photo-journalist ...

Director: Tamsyn Kelly Reviewer: Scott Matthewman Anybody who has been sober in the presence of drunk friends knows that, far from being the masters of wit they imagine themselves to be, the inebriated rarely make for the most entertaining of people. So the very concept of Shit-Faced Showtime – a musical offshoot of Magnificent Bastard Productions’ long-running Shit-Faced Shakespeare – is a little worrisome. ...

Reviewer: Clare Boswell Eddie Izzard is a remarkable man. From avidly watching his many shows over the years, including Dressed to Kill, Unrepeatable and Glorious it is undoubtable that Izzard is a first-class stand-up. However, what has become apparent since then is his many other talents ranging from acting through to his gargantuan feat of running 27 marathons in 27 ...

Writer/Director: Jessica Forest and Olivia Nicholson. Reviewer: Sam Lowe What an eye catching name for a theatre company. Sugar Butties Theatre are a young company, who have developed Trolley Girls for a while, taking it to various theatre festivals around the country. Tonight, this two-hander performance is presented as part of The Greater Manchester Fringe, and it slots right in ...

Writers: Bethan Leyshon and Elaine O’Dwyer Directors: Gráinne Byrne and Emily Cameron Reviewer: Scott Matthewman There is a website called Casting Call Woe that catalogues all the ridiculous casting breakdowns for acting roles looking for young women. Such roles are usually underwritten, with any characterisation junked as quickly as the creators want their actresses to shed their clothes. Such indignities ...

Reviewer: Paul Maguire Dave Spikey performed his first stand-up show in 1987 while working as a biomedical scientist at Bolton General Hospital. He tells the three-quarter full Quay Theatre that tonight's show is the story of his career. A tale of how he got from that point 30 years ago, to where he is now via winning The Best Newcomer ...