Birmingham Comedy Festival 2009: Listings
Thursday
Robin Ince Vs The Moral Majority. Noted intellectual Ince is back with more of his angry tirades, followed closely by some quiet musings. This is the kind of stand-up that will both inspire and entertain.
The Electric Cinema, 47-49 Station St, Bham B5 4DY. Tel: 0121 643 7879; £10, £7.50 conc; 7pm. www.theelectric.co.uk
Friday and Saturday Oct 9 & 10
David O’Doherty. David O’Doherty, the Ryanair James Bond, the 1990 East Leinster under-14 triple jump bronze medalist, returns. There will be standing up, there will be sitting down, there will be a song where he tries to seduce the entire audience. Whimsical genius. The Glee Club Studio, The Arcadian, Bham B5 4TD. Tel: 0871 472 0400; £11.50, £11 online; 7.30pm. www.glee.co.uk
Friday Oct 9
The Curate’s Egg Deadpan Comedicine Show. Alternative comedy godfather Ted Chippington returns for more ‘non-jokes’ alongside Simon Munnery, the Spike Milligan-esque creator of Alan Parker: Urban Warrior. Together they plough stubborn and unique furrows. The Hare And Hounds, High St, Kings Heath, Bham B14 7JZ. Tel: 0121 444 2081; £7 door, £5 adv; 8pm. www.myspace.com/thecuratesegg
Friday Oct 9
Stoolpigeon’s Postcards On The Edge. A two-hour musical comedy trip featuring stand-up, satire and monologues reminiscent of a McGill saucy seaside postcard, all brought to life by the foot-tapping Stoolpigeon.
Old Joint Stock Pub and Theatre, Temple Row West, Bham B2 5NY. Tel: 0121 200 0946; £10, £9 conc; 7.30pm. www.bobgessey.co.uk
Friday Oct 9
Stewart Francis: Tour De Francis. Great comedians come in cycles! Featuring deadpan Canadian comic and writer Francis, as seen on Mock The Week, Michael McIntrye’s Comedy Roadshow, 8 Out Of 10 Cats and The Omid Djalili Show. Comedy Junction, Station Pub, Station Street, Sutton Coldfield B73 6AT; £10; 8pm. www.comedyjunction.co.uk
Saturday Oct 10
Dr Johnny Façade’s Something About Nothing. Dr Façade presents a fast-paced interactive show that fuses magic, multimedia and stand-up. Hilarious ‘clean comedy’ that will appeal to a broad age range. Old Joint Stock Pub and Theatre, 4 Temple Row West, Bham B2 5NY. Tel: 0121 200 0946; £8 (3pm); £10 (8pm). www.oldjointstocktheatre.co.uk
Saturday Oct 10
Ticklish Allsorts: A Mixed Bag of Comedy Delights. A pic’n’mix of sweet comedy treats, including characters, music, theatre and stand-up from the likes of Craig Deeley, Vikki Stone, Lee Dempsey and a bunch of other local acts. Award-winning Birmingham comic and writer Shazia Mirza headlines. The Crescent Theatre, Sheepcote St, Brindleyplace, Bham B16 8AE. Tel: 0121 643 5858; £12, £10 conc; 7pm. www.crescent-theatre.co.uk
Saturday Oct 10
Gary Colman Is...Very Rarely Rong. After 14 years as an army doctor he quit just before the last Gulf War (the secret of comedy? Timing) and now gets his ‘buzz on’ from diving, snowboarding and ‘extreme neighbourhood watch’.
Custard Factory Theatre, Gibb St, Gibb Square, Bham B9 4AA. Tel: 0121 200 0910; £8; 8pm. www.custardfactory.co.uk
Sunday Oct 11
Pam Ayres. The much-loved Radio 4 regular and bestselling writer of such verse as I Wish I’d Looked After Me Teeth and Do You Think Bruce Springsteen Would Fancy Me? presents poems both old and new.
Symphony Hall, Broad St, Bham B1 2EA. Tel: 0121 780 3333; £16.50; 3.30pm. www.thsh.co.uk
