The comedian on his love of poetry, navigating political landmines and why Edinburgh is so close to his heartWest Bromwich-born Frank Skinner, 66, studied for a master’s in English literature and worked as a lecturer before trying standup for the first…
Continue ReadingThe duo have amassed more than 5m downloads with their irreverent take on parenthood, divorce and everything in between. They marked their anniversary with a record-breaking live showWhat fun it is to spend an afternoon with Helen Thorn and Ellie Gibs…
Continue ReadingAll aspects of artificial intelligence will get the comic treatment at this summer’s festivalA comedy show is probably not the first place to hear about a burning new issue, but standup routines have a habit of swiftly reflecting the worries of our tim…
Continue ReadingTheatre and comedy acts at this year’s festival break down their expenses and consider the financial risks“The big, difficult cost this year is accommodation,” says RoguePlay’s artistic director Kim Wildborne. The physical theatre company is heading to…
Continue ReadingThe comedian on getting old, festival toilets and British standups’ failure to talk about inequalityHow did you get into standup?I always loved comedy, but because I didn’t know the who, what, where and when, I didn’t think it would be something I coul…
Continue ReadingThe comedian, who died in 2018, will be remembered in a new exhibition that brings together props, costumes and an interactive ‘giggle map’Tickling sticks, a Dicky Mint puppet and a Yorick skull complete with protruding teeth will go on display in Sept…
Continue ReadingSoho theatre, LondonThe Irish standup’s new show swerves from the problems with getting older to 80s nostalgia, and just about pulls it off“I’m ageing by the minute,” says Deirdre O’Kane. But there’s nothing mellow about the opening stages of Demented,…
Continue ReadingMaking seat measurements readily available and providing alternative options would enable everyone to have a nice time at theatres, cafes … and any place with chairs and peopleI have to call places before I visit them. I never know if I should say “I’m…
Continue ReadingKrystal Evans was scarred, mentally and physically, by the fire. She blocked out the memories – until she decided to write about themIn previous, shorter standup shows, Krystal Evans tried to talk about her childhood experiences, but to say it didn’t w…
Continue ReadingThe Glasgow comic on why she has to shower before a gig, taking a show about womanhood to the Edinburgh fringe and the need for more working-class voices on TVIs it true you first performed standup as a drunken dare?Yes! I went to visit a friend who’d …
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