Work in Progress Comedy Season 2014 - 2015

WORK

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PROGRESS COMEDY

SEASON 2nd Draft y

x = puns y = jokes z = quips

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x = set up y = punchline z = callback

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a = alternative b = stand-up c = sketch

All Tickets ÂŁ5* December - February

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020 7609 1800 www.pleasance.co.uk

DECEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER

WIP Offer - See any 3 shows for £12 (subject to availability) The Pleasance Work in Progress Season is back for a second year, bringing together over 50 of the finest comics on the circuit as they road-test their new material.

This is your opportunity to see household names alongside the best new comedy talent, as they test jokes, sketches and routines that will go on tours, TV or may never see the light of day again.

IAIN STIRLING & TIFF STEVENSON & KATIE MULGREW 3RD DEC 7:45PM £5 Iain Stirling “One of the best joke writers on the circuit” GQ “Possesses all the born-with-it-or-you’renot-qualities associated with the world’s leading comics” ★★★★ The List Tiff Stevenson “Hilarious observations and beautifully written… a touching call to arms for 30 somethings” Metro “Mouthy, cynical and sexually frank, she left us wanting more” The Guardian

RICH HARDISTY & DANIEL SIMONSEN

SEAN LOCK 1ST, 2ND, 5TH, 12TH & 18TH DEC 12TH - 16TH JAN 8PM £10 Sean Lock, the most fertile comic mind in Britain, will be running through some new material, ahead of some European dates, in the intimate surroundings of the Pleasance London.

“Lock’s signature mix of absurdism and everyday observation gets more effective with each new show.”

The Guardian

Katie Mulgrew ”Smart and witty… she has an easy rapport with the audience that many more experienced comedians would sell their joke books for.” Festmag “Among the best on the Fringe…”

Metro

6TH DEC 7:45PM £5

4TH DEC 8PM £5

Carl Donnelly “He’s a remarkable talent - a relaxed, easygoing anecdotalist with an eye for funny details. An hour in his company is a true delight.” Time Out ★★★★ The Times ★★★★ Chortle

Charlie Baker is back at his best. Here’s an hour of him trying to make you laugh about his life. He will also sing. (Maybe.)

Paul McCaffrey “Obviously born to be a comic.” The Scotsman “He has charm, charisma and success written all over him.” Evening Standard

Ivo Graham’s got a string of positive reviews from the Edinburgh Fringe and a couple of hapless appearances on nonterrestrial TV panel shows.

Rob Auton “Charming, eccentric and uplifting, Auton is a talent to watch” The Independent “Gaunt and deliberate” Newsweek

Book now www.pleasance.co.uk 020 7609 1800

Only £1 transaction fee on telephone and online bookings.

NATHAN CATON & ROMESH RANGANATHAN

WIP Offer - See any 3 shows for £12 (subject to availability)

JACK BARRY & STEVE HALL & STEVE BUGEJA

7TH & 13TH DEC 8PM £5

8TH DEC 8PM £5

11TH DEC 7:45PM £5

Rich Hardisty explores this beautiful/ ridiculous universe he’s found himself in. Expect a mixture of musings, funny observations, surreal anecdotes and actual jokes about life, happiness, childhood, religion, girls, missing dads, mental health, being an idiot, drugs, the media and other nonsense.

Nathan Caton is here with brand new material in a special hour long work in progress just for you. His charismatic and laidback style of stand up has seen him quickly establish himself on the comedy circuit.

Jack Barry “An inventive flourish behind his likeable banter… a distinctive wit that should make him one to watch” Chortle “I predict that Barry will be one to look out for in the future” Broadway Baby “Instantly likeable” ThreeWeeks

Romesh Ranganathan returns after his critically acclaimed Edinburgh Festival show, ‘Rom Wasn’t Built In A Day’ was nominated for the prestigious Foster’s Edinburgh Best Show Award in 2014.

“Ranganathan’s punchlines are sharper and funnier than many of his peers.”

The Guardian

Steve Hall has provided the support for Russell Howard on his sell-out national tours Adventures, Dingledodies and the 2009 arena tour Big Rooms And Belly Laughs.

“This is stand-up as it should be: snappy and smart, occasionally nasty, and always funny” The List

Winner of So You Think You’re Funny and Guardian’s One to Watch, Daniel Simonsen has perfected his dark, brooding Norwegian persona. His debut solo show at the Edinburgh Fringe 2012 won him the prestigious Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer.

MARK SMITH & AHIR SHAH & MATT FORDE CARL DONNELLY & PAUL MCCAFFREY & ROB AUTON

CHARLIE BAKER & IVO GRAHAM

WIP Offer - See any 3 shows for £12 (subject to availability)

9TH DEC 7:45PM £5 Mark Smith “One to watch” The Independent “Consistently sharp” The List “Sharp, quick, well delivered... something rather special” ThreeWeeks Ahir Shah “Charismatic and of rewardingly cerebral approach” The Guardian “He is made for stand-up” The List Matt Forde “Perfectly timed” Metro “Good solid gags and a great deal of charm” Time Out “Certain to ruffle the feathers of the righton brigade” The Guardian “A class act… you definitely won’t be disappointed” George Galloway Book now www.pleasance.co.uk 020 7609 1800

Steve Bugeja “Inherently endearing and strong gags” Chortle “Very good, balancing physical comedy with witty observations” ThreeWeeks “Sparky, charismatic, likeable. Young, but a natural comic. One to watch, certainly.”

London Is Funny “Bulletproof stand-up” Steve Bennett

JARLATH REGAN & ADAM HESS & PHIL WANG

MATT RICHARDSON & ANGELA BARNES 14TH DEC 8PM £5 Join Matt Richardson (The Xtra Factor, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Celebrity Juice, Sweat The Small Stuff, Viral Tap) and Angela Barnes (Mock The Week, Russell Howard’s Good News, Edinburgh Comedy Fest Live) as they work through new material and jokes for the follow ups to their smash-hit first solo shows.

CHRIS MARTIN & CARL DONNELLY 15TH DEC 8PM £5 Chris Martin (“One of the UK’s best young observationalists” The Guardian) and Carl Donnelly (Foster’s Edinburgh Award nominee 2013) from the Carl Donnelly & Chris Martin Comedy Podcast share an hour of new ideas and material.

10TH DEC 7:45PM £5 Jarlath Regan “Side-splitting stuff” ★★★★ Metro “A refreshing and hilarious change of pace” ★★★★★ The Independent “A subtle yet sublime helping of observational wit” ★★★★★ The Herald Adam Hess is well-known for his surreal one-liners, prolific writing talents and for his unique brand of comedy on Twitter.

“The UK’s Rob Delaney” Graham Linehan “Batters the audience into laughter” Chortle Phil Wang ”Very promising up-andcomer” The Independent “Phil Wang deals in smart conversational comedy buoyed by a nice dose of rudeness” The Independent “Master of the intellectual dick joke” Time Out Only £1 transaction fee on telephone and online bookings.

PHIL JERROD & ROMESH RANGANATHAN 16TH DEC 8PM £5 Phil Jerrod is here at the Pleasance with new material in an exciting hour set. The shouting bearded weirdo and Leicester Comedy Festival New Act nominee 2014 is back to test out some new material!

Romesh Ranganathan returns after his critically acclaimed Edinburgh Festival show, ‘Rom Wasn’t Built In A Day’ was nominated for the prestigious Foster’s Edinburgh Best Show Award in August 2014.

Book now www.pleasance.co.uk 020 7609 1800

MAX AND IVAN 17TH DEC, 22ND JAN, 11TH & 12TH FEB 8PM £5 ★★★★ The Guardian ★★★★ The Times ★★★★ The Sunday Times ★★★★ The Independent ★★★★ The Telegraph ★★★★ Chortle ★★★★ Time Out ★★★★ Metro ★★★★ Fest ★★★★ British Theatre Guide “Undoubtedly superstars of tomorrow” GQ Only £1 transaction fee on telephone and online bookings.

JOSH WIDDICOMBE 14TH JAN & 25TH FEB 8PM £5 Star of Channel 4’s The Last Leg, Josh Widdicombe is road testing some brandnew material. Josh has had a remarkable impact on the comedy circuit since his debut gig in 2008 and is now considered one of the most in demand and highly regarded comedians in the UK for both his live stand-up and TV work.

RICHARD SOAMES & THE STORY BEAST 20TH JAN 8PM £5 Join the two best ones from The Beta Males, The Story Beast, John Henry Falle, “bearded force of nature” (The Guardian) and Richard Soames, “simultaneously adorable and hilarious” (Spoonfed) as they develop new solo material.

WIP Offer - See any 3 shows for £12 (subject to availability)

DAVID MORGAN 26TH JAN 8PM £5 The “extremely funny” (Chortle) David Morgan (Sweat the Small Stuff BBC3, Fake Reaction ITV2) has some new things to tell you.

“David Morgan is Funny. That’s right.

Capital F” Attitude “Extremely likeable and wickedly funny” The Skinny

IAN SMITH 27TH JAN 8PM £5 “Brilliantly structured with a veritable cat’s cradle of complex callbacks” Chortle “Some fine high-concept audience befuddling. If he follows this path, the next step could be huge” The Sunday Times

RHYS JAMES & LLOYD GRIFFITH 23RD JAN 8PM £5 AMY HOWERSKA 21ST JAN 8PM £5 Raised by a pack of trained killers and skydivers, rising star Amy Howerska brings you an hour of stand up that is definitely not sanctioned by the British government. The show will contain stories of death, skydiving and Swansea.

Rhys James “Charming, clever and selfaware.” The Guardian “A cut above his humdrum peers.”

The Independent Lloyd Griffith Jokes, songs and flirting from the sexiest man from Grimsby.

“Lloyd Griffith is the king of the unexpected” ThreeWeeks

PIERRE NOVELLIE & TIM FITZHIGHAM 28TH JAN 8PM £5 Pierre Novellie ”One to watch” Time Out “The dawn of a major talent” The Guardian Tim FitzHigham “Unhinged, totally without hinges” Eddie Izzard ”Chaos” Mark Watson

JAMES VEITCH 29TH JAN & 19TH FEB 8PM £5 ★★★★★ Broadway Baby ★★★★★ The New Current ★★★★ Sunday Herald ★★★★ The Scotsman ★★★★ London is Funny “Ingenious... One to watch” The Independent

DAVID ELMS HARRY DEANSWAY

25TH JAN 8PM £5

“Hilarious” Justin Long, star of Die Hard 4.0 and Dodgeball

The boy David Elms is back and working on a new way to tickle you. ”This is a beautiful, funny, clever and utterly engaging show from a comic who really turns stand-up into something of an art form. As a debut hour it is exceptional” Kate Copstick The Scotsman ”Elms’s comedy exudes an appealing serenity” Brian Logan The Guardian

Book now www.pleasance.co.uk 020 7609 1800

Only £1 transaction fee on telephone and online bookings.

24TH JAN 8PM £5 “Harry is a train wreck that’s already happened” Rich Fulcher, Mighty Boosh

PETE FIRMAN 30TH JAN 8PM £5 “The new poster-boy for British comedy magic” The Telegraph “The man from Middlesbrough sets the pace for comedy-meets-magic in the 21st century” The Times “If you are partial to a bit of magic with your comedy, Firman is the best of the bunch” Evening Standard Book now www.pleasance.co.uk 020 7609 1800

HARRIET KEMSLEY 31ST JAN 8PM £5 The quirky stand up and winner of Bath New Act Of The Year blends her innocent edge with razor sharp gags as she prepares her debut hour for the Edinburgh festival 2015.

“A very funny new stand up” Time Out Only £1 transaction fee on telephone and online bookings.

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WIP Offer - See any 3 shows for £12 (subject to availability)

WIP Offer - See any 3 shows for £12 (subject to availability)

LAZY SUSAN & SAD FACES 1ST FEB 8PM £5 Join Lazy Susan, the 2014 Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer nominees as they try stuff out and see what sticks.

Sad Faces present a three-man, hour-long live interpretation of JR Chapterhouse’s The Dawn Chorus.

JARLATH REGAN & ADAM HESS & PAUL MCCAFFREY 3RD FEB 7:45PM £5 Jaralth Regan ★★★★ Metro

“Side-splitting stuff”

Adam Hess “The UK’s Rob Delaney” Graham Linehan Paul McCaffrey “Obviously born to be a comic.” The Scotsman

JACK BARRY & STEVE HALL & IAIN STIRLING 5TH FEB 7:45PM £5

Jack Barry “Instantly likeable” ThreeWeeks Steve Hall “This is stand-up as it should be” The List Iain Stirling “Hugely talented rising star” Time Out

Book now www.pleasance.co.uk 020 7609 1800

MATT FORDE & MARK SMITH & STEVE BUGEJA 2ND FEB 7:45PM £5

Matt Forde “Good solid gags and a great deal of charm” Time Out Mark Smith “One to watch” The Independent Steve Bugeja “Inherently endearing and strong gags” Chortle

JOHN ROBINS 4TH FEB 8PM £5 ★★★★★ The Mirror ★★★★ The Independent ★★★★ The Scotsman ★★★★ Evening Standard ★★★★ Sunday Express

ROB AUTON & PHIL WANG & TIFF STEVENSON 6TH FEB 7:45PM £5 Rob Auton “Gaunt and deliberate” Newsweek

Phil Wang ”Very promising up-andcomer” The Independent Tiff Stevenson “Mouthy, cynical and sexually frank, she left us wanting more” The Guardian Only £1 transaction fee on telephone and online bookings.

WIP Offer - See any 3 shows for £12 (subject to availability)

MORGAN AND WEST 7TH & 8TH FEB 3PM £5 The time-travelling Victorian magic duo unload another boxful of bafflement and impossibility. Mixing brain busting illusion and old fashioned tom-foolery, Morgan and West present a show for all the family, where magic and silliness abound for ages 5 to 105.

ALEX SMITH & ADAM HESS & MATT WINNING 7TH FEB 7:45PM £5 Alex Smith’s trademark mix of laser sharp stand-up observations and cleverly crafted comedy songs have helped him rapidly emerge as one the most exciting new acts on the circuit.

WIP Offer - See any 3 shows for £12 (subject to availability)

SEAN MCLOUGHLIN 13TH FEB 8PM £5

15TH FEB 8PM £5

His effortless and hilarious delivery makes Sean McLoughlin one of the hottest stand up comedians around.

“This guy is an exciting talent… as comedians with stupid hair go he is one of the best” The Scotsman “Routines of brilliance” Chortle

Joe Wells “A star of the future... some of the most surprising and thoughtprovoking material coming from any comedian in his early 20s” The Guardian

Adam Hess “The UK’s Rob Delaney” Graham Linehan “Batters the audience into laughter” Chortle

ALEX EDELMAN

Matt Winning Winner of the Hilarity Bites New Act of the Year 2011.

“Fine and distinctive one-liners in his set, with strange points of reference and clever exposition... an inventive writer” Chortle

8TH FEB 8PM £5

Tom Toal “Touching addition to the Daniel Kitson-esque heart-on-sleeve comedy subgenre at the Edinburgh Fringe” The List

ANDREA HUBERT 16TH FEB 8PM £5 If you can snowboard with no anxiety, give a speech in front of thousands without nerves, and do a skydive, but still can’t manage to tell a teenager behind you at the cinema to stop kicking your goddamn seat - this is the show for you.

Alex Edelman, winner of the 2014 Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer, brings an hour of sharp new things to the Pleasance.

JOE WELLS & TOM TOAL

STEPHEN BAILEY 17TH FEB 8PM £5 Stephen Bailey wanted to be a popstar but Cheryl stole his crown - can he still become the nation’s sweetheart with his funny anecdotes and a song in his heart?

“Stephen is good fun and a great addition to the comedy scene” ★★★★ The Sunday Express

10TH FEB 8PM £5 Beth Vyse After winning absolutely nothing for the past couple of years as a character comic, Beth Vyse will try it without wigs and fake boobies... or will she?

Luke McQueen “After winning the prestigious Foster’s Comedy Award for Best Show in 2014 my life has completely changed. This is a real rags to riches story and I cant wait for all my fans to see it.”

Book now www.pleasance.co.uk 020 7609 1800

9TH FEB & 2ND MARCH 8PM £5 HUB: THE HOME OF ALL THINGS FUNNY is a brand new monthly comedy night at the Pleasance, bringing together the best comics from all genres. Sketch, character comedy, stand-up and everything in between!

HUB 1 & HUB 2 We’re giving some of the best acts in the country the chance to test drive some new material in our work in progress shows.

THE BRILLIANT ACTS ARE STILL TBC Only £1 transaction fee on telephone and online bookings.

NICK HELM 18TH FEB 8PM £5 Nick Helm returns to deliver more truths about life, love and being a living legend with a bod that don’t quit. Go and see it.

Enjoy it. Drink it in. But most importantly - grow as a human. ★★★★★ The List “Pretty f*cking amazing” ★★★★ Time Out “It ain’t pretty, but it is hilarious” ★★★★ Chortle “A potential megastar” The Guardian Book now www.pleasance.co.uk 020 7609 1800

BETH VYSE & PAT CAHILL

CHRIS BETTS & JOHN HASTINGS

21ST FEB 8PM £5

22ND FEB 8PM £5

Beth Vyse “It’s certainly the first show I’ve seen when the performer might be upstaged by a vibrator” ★★★★ Steve Bennett, Chortle

Screw Buzzfeed. There are only four kinds of people in the world: Me, Us, We and Them. Chris Betts hilariously breaks down how we group together and the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves.

Pat Cahill will be doing a series of set pieces for you with a neo music hall bent.

5/6/7 easy pieces delivered with as little faff in between as possible.

“True Star quality” Evening Standard

John Hastings is an adult. Come see how this fella makes responsibility hilarious!

(That was supposed to be bad, it is work in progress.) ★★★★★ The Mirror ★★★★★ Broadway Baby ★★★★ Fest

BOX OFFICE

FIND US

Carpenters Mews, North Road, London N7 9EF 020 7609 1800 www.pleasance.co.uk Mon - Sun 10am - 6pm On performance days Box Office will remain open until the start of the final performance.

BOOKING FEES AND POSTAGE

Telephone and online bookings are subject to a £1 transaction fee. Tickets can be collected anytime during opening hours or posted to you for an additional 50p. Bookings made in person are not subject to a transaction fee.

UNDERGROUND Caledonian Road - Piccadilly line (5 minutes walk) OVERGROUND Caledonian Road and Barnsbury (15 minutes walk) BUS Bus 393 stops right directly outside the theatre with buses 17, 91, 259 and N91 all stopping at Caledonian Road Underground Station, 5 minutes walk away.

Please note tickets sold are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged. Latecomers may not be admitted.

HUB BETH VYSE & LUKE MCQUEEN

WIP Offer - See any 3 shows for £12 (subject to availability)

JAMES HAMILTON 20TH FEB 8PM £5 The much anticipated solo debut of a multi award winning sketch comedian is probably happening elsewhere.

Meanwhile, James Hamilton (another multi award winning sketch comedian, significantly less anticipated) is trying out his tragic little one man sketch show about being alone. Might still be good though.

Only £1 transaction fee on telephone and online bookings.

ACCESS

Pleasance Theatre strives to provide access for all. Our Main House is fully accessible via a lift from street level, we have infra-red hearing system in both performance spaces, accessible toilets and Guide Dogs are welcome. Sadly at present our StageSpace does not have step free access.

Our aim is to make your visit as enjoyable as possible for further information or to discuss any access requirements please contact Box Office.

Book now www.pleasance.co.uk 020 7609 1800

FOLLOW US www.facebook.com/thepleasance @thepleasance thepleasance www.pleasance.co.uk/digital pleasancetimes.tumblr.com *Sean Lock tickets are £10 and not included in the WIP Offer.

Only £1 transaction fee on telephone and online bookings.