Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence combines comedy, songs and athleticism as a young netball player reckons with her own ambitions against an electro-pop scoreA spate of Macbeths will hit the Edinburgh festival this month, all of which bring a novel spin…
Continue ReadingDriving through Manchester one Sunday, at the wheel of a Nissan Micra, Foot suddenly woke from decades of anxiety, anger and misery. He talks about the friends who tried to help him, and the forgiveness he struggled to findFor three years and four mont…
Continue ReadingIt started in a strip joint and ended up bringing alternative comedy to our TV screens. Ahead of a new Edinburgh show, Peter Richardson tells us why his riotous creation still makes audiences laugh 40 years onIt was the moment comedy broke with sexism …
Continue ReadingArtsdepot, LondonThe comedian staggers from the soft play area to deliver a sharp set about Sisyphus, capitalism and motherhoodHer last tour, Success Story, found Sara Pascoe in the loved-up phase of recent new parenthood. Reader, she has now put that …
Continue ReadingThe sketch comedian, who merges gentle absurdity with drag, on performing in the rain to an audience of two and how the comedy world needs to changeWhy did you get into comedy?I’ve always loved making people laugh. I was raised on a diet of sketch show…
Continue ReadingThe sketch comedian, who merges gentle absurdity with drag, on performing in the rain to an audience of two and how the comedy world needs to changeWhy did you get into comedy?I’ve always loved making people laugh. I was raised on a diet of sketch show…
Continue ReadingThe actor will follow stars including Lenny Henry and Sue Perkins, leading the hit show in which a performer enlists the audience’s help to tell ‘funny, sad and unique’ storyMinnie Driver has joined the list of stars performing Every Brilliant Thing – …
Continue ReadingAs Brendan Gleeson prepares for his role in a revival of the 1997 hit, the stars of earlier productions toast its deceptively moving and profound barfly banterAppearances are deceptive. On the face of it, The Weir is not an exceptional play. Set in a r…
Continue ReadingThe foppish comic underwent a drugs trial to fund his Edinburgh show – and caught malaria. The next year he almost died on stage with an exploded appendix. Why is he going back?‘In retrospect, I should have gone to the doctors much, much earlier.” John…
Continue ReadingMolly McGuiness is treating audiences to a buffet, sketch troupe Simple Town bring fast-paced fun and Jessica Barton plays Mary Floppins … Here are half a dozen essential acts at the festival“There should be a buffet at every comedy gig,” says Manchest…
Continue Reading