Review: Alun Cochrane @ Warwick Arts Centre, 6th March 2016

Alun Cochrane: Man

As show titles go, A Show With A Man In It is a wholly accurate description of what ensued in this 90 minutes. Suggested by Alun Cochrane‘s son, the stand-up adopted it for his run at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe and, in its pleasing simplicity, seems to comfortably reflect the un-showy nature of Cochrane’s output.

Now a regular at the Fringe, on Radio 4 and touring the UK’s arts centres, Cochrane cuts a figure of understatement, from that title to his outfit to the self-deprecating way he describes his show and its alleged lack of jokes, though that claim turned out to be far from the truth.

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Review: Richard Herring @ Warwick Arts Centre, 3rd March 2016

Richard Herring: Happy now?

Richard Herring is a stand-up veteran and also something of a workhorse these days. His disparate stream of podcasts and stage output in recent years has been an impressive example of productivity, not content to restrict himself to one new show every year and instead churning out hours upon hours of free entertainment for fans.

The real meat of his oeurve, though, remains his stand-up. In the past decade or so Herring has taken a unique comic look at subjects such as childhood, family, adulthood, love, death, religion and racism, among others, usually with stirring results.

Preview: Mark Thomas – Trespass

Mark Thomas: Trespass

If politicised stand-up and comic activism are what you like, you’ll be glad to know Mark Thomas is returning to Coventry later this month with this current show, Trespass. In a similar vein to his previous offering 100 Acts of Minor Dissent, Thomas brings his melange of comedy, journalism and “rabble rousing” (so say the Metropolitan Police) to Warwick Arts Centre on Friday 18th March.

Having also dabbled in theatrical and storytelling works in recent years, Trespass sees Thomas return to fertile ground – campaigning to give ordinary people a voice, and sticking it to the establishment. A veteran of stage, TV and radio, the stand-up’s credentials are well-known and this is sure to be an evening of investigative journalism and revolutionary mirth.

Mark Thomas: Trespass is at Warwick Arts Centre on Friday 18th March and at Lichfield Garrick Theatre on Saturday 19th March.

 

Review: Mark Steel @ Warwick Arts Centre, 11th February 2016

Mark Steel’s back in town

Nature or nurture? You might think you know who you are, and why, but veteran stand-up Mark Steel‘s latest show proved it might not be as clear-cut as you thought. The Radio 4 favourite and cricket fan grew up in Swanley, in Kent, knowing he was adopted, and in Who Do I Think I Am? he told the tale of how he found out the strange truth about his mother and father.

While there was a strong undercurrent of Steel’s politicised material – he’s an ardent left-wing comic and activist – this show was a deeply personal couple of hours which concentrated far more on storytelling than his usual output would suggest.

Preview: Q&A with Bridget Christie

Bridget Christie: sublime stand-up and big themes.

Bridget Christie is one of British comedy’s most distinctive and important voices, so the publication of her debut tome, titled A Book For Her, was bound to garner lots of attention. And with good reason – the 2013 Edinburgh Comedy Award winner has forged a reputation for combining satire and surrealism in order to discuss difficult subjects and big themes, including feminism and FGM.

After hugely successful runs of A Bic For Her and An Ungrateful Woman, she’s embarking on a tour and book signing, with visits to Coventry and Birmingham as part of her nationwide jaunt. It’s a great opportunity to see one of the UK’s finest, and most challenging, stand-ups melding intelligent comedy and silliness better than almost anyone on the circuit.

Preview: Richard Herring on tour

Richard Herring: Happy now?

Acclaimed stand-up and podcasting king Richard Herring returns to the West Midlands next month as part of his first tour since becoming a father. His latest show, Happy Now?, sees him exploring what it means to be happy and asking whether we can ever be truly content.

Herring has often employed such personal subject matter in his past shows to great effect, with The Headmaster’s Son, What Is Love Anyway? and We’re All Going to Die being among his finest outings.

His tour dates include visits to Coventry’s Warwick Arts Centre on Thursday 3rd March, Birmingham’s Glee Club on Tuesday 15th March and Wolverhampton’s Slade Rooms on Friday 25th March. For ticket prices and booking please see the venue websites.

Preview: Johnny Vegas @ 6 On Broad Street, Thursday 18th February 2016

Johnny Vegas headlines Just the Tonic Birmingham on 18th February

The Just the Tonic comedy club returns to Birmingham on Thursday 18th February for a much-anticipated night, with headliner Johnny Vegas. St Helens’ finest comedy export will be top of the bill at 6 On Broad Street, hot on the heels of the promoters’ Birmingham launch which was hosted by Ross Noble. With a regular roster of big names at venues across the UK, Just the Tonic looks set to be a huge addition to Birmingham’s stand-up scene.

Vegas, aka Michael Pennington, is an acolyte of Who’s Laughing Now? favourites Stewart Lee and Simon Munnery, performing with them in the cultish Cluub Zarathustra. He shot to fame as a regular panellist on Shooting Stars, alongside a string of other television appearances.

Other acts on the bill include Jarred Christmas, The Boy With Tape On His Face, and special guests. Tickets are £15 and are available from the Just the Tonic website.

Preview: Mark Steel – Who Do I Think I Am? on tour

Mark Steel’s back in town

Mark Steel returns to the West Midlands as part of a long UK tour, with his latest show – perhaps his most personal to date. The stalwart of the UK comedy circuit, and Radio 4 favourite, is back with Who Do I Think I Am?, which sees Steel tracing his own life and finding out about his birth mother’s life too.

In recent years Steel’s shows have been geared towards his …In Town format, which sees him doing material about the area where he’s performing, and he’s recorded several series for BBC Radio 4 in addition to regular tours. But this latest outing finds him tackling subjects much closer to home.

Mark Steel performs Who Do I Think I Am? at Coventry’s Warwick Arts Centre on February 11th and at Birmingham’s Old Rep Theatre on June 3rd. Please see the venue websites for ticket prices and booking details.