Bristol Old VicThis play with songs has pleasing performances but needs a clearer idea of what it wants to satiriseA comedy double act since their university days and now working as nannies, Lea and Amy dream of success at the Edinburgh fringe. This ye…
Continue ReadingLondon PalladiumThe fabulously gifted raconteur charts her stellar career with plenty of spit-out-your-wine moments and empowering life lessons‘Do you want to hear the story of the real Mr Big?” Candace Bushnell, the 65-year-old Sex and the City creato…
Continue ReadingStage revivals of the 70s sitcom and The Fast Show have enough nostalgia value to delight fans. Less certain is what will happen to their more problematic materialThe essence of humour is surprise, according to that renowned comedy sage Immanuel Kant. …
Continue ReadingTheatrical adaptation of the sitcom, opening at the Apollo theatre in May, will combine three episodes including The GermansTorquay’s hapless hotelier Basil Fawlty is to make his West End debut, almost 50 years after his first appearance on television….
Continue ReadingRoyal & Derngate, NorthamptonThe Aristophanes play is interwoven with the theatre company’s personal quest in a ramshackle show that loses its wayThis Aristophanes comedy is theatre’s oldest, we are told, but can it still be funny? That is one ques…
Continue ReadingThe comedy series’ originators Charlie Higson and Paul Whitehouse will lead a 30th anniversary live show due to begin in MarchSwiss Toni, Competitive Dad and a pair of unsuitably smutty tailors were among the comic creations introduced by BBC sketch se…
Continue ReadingThe comedy series’ originators Charlie Higson and Paul Whitehouse will lead a 30th anniversary live show due to begin in MarchSwiss Toni, Competitive Dad and a pair of unsuitably smutty tailors were among the comic creations introduced by BBC sketch se…
Continue ReadingSoho theatre, LondonAcross 75 haywire minutes, Zach Zucker’s variety show features fire-breathing, copious nudity and superb performances from acts including Natalie Palamides‘It’s taken us 60 minutes to bring on stage a single comedian!” The variety n…
Continue ReadingLara Ricote is among the standups whose gags have landed with deaf and hearing people thanks to the work of stenographer Claire HillWhen Lara Ricote watches fellow comedians’ gigs, she likes to be near the stage. “I tend to sit in the front row – readi…
Continue ReadingIt is one of the most electrifying and unsettling sounds in theatre. Should we be encouraging crowds to do it more? Experts tell us about booing’s origins – and actors remember being on the receiving end of audience outragePanto season is just about ov…
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