Comedy escapes CiB’s notice most of the time so here goes a mention of the Birmingham Comedy Festival 2008, featuring an impressive list of talent, including the Edinburgh Festival’s newly crowned Perrier (or whatever) Award Winner, David O’Doherty.
Holding up Birmingham’s end are drag duo Patrick and Bernadine (Solihull Arts Complex, 4 Oct) and a whole host of local folk at ‘Wrote Under and Friends Comedy’ at the Kitchen Garden Cafe on . There’s possibly a few more localers too, but none I recognised on the festival’s listings page.
The Old Joint Stock Theatre is also hosting a day dedicated to Tony Hancock at the Old Joint Stock Theatre on 11 October.
It’s the big names that will stick out, of course, and there are plenty of those this year. As long as Dylan Moran, Mark Steel and Ted Chippington get the attention they deserve all will be well.
The festival starts on 3 October and ends on 12 October. Visit the Birmingham Comedy Festival website for more info.
To my knowledge the key local you haven’t pointed out is Jo Enright (very funny, does a great routine about Erdington High Street). She was recently in Lab Rats. She’s at the Crescent on the 5th October on a night called ‘Birmingham Comedy Selection’ so the others on the bill are presumably locals as well.
The legendary Ted Chippington is a Brummie of course as CIB has previously pointed out. It’s worth repeating though as the man is fantastic. Take a look at Stewart Lee’s Guardian article as well as the video for The Culture Show. Ironman Records stock a CD of Ted’s work. Ted is supported by another local guy, Nadeem Rangzeb. 10th Oct, Hare and Hounds.
Also, Sean Percival is from Dudley (Glee 9-11th Oct).
The two Brummies I thought would be at the festival are local stalwart Andy Robinson and now nationally recognised comedian, author and broadcaster, Natalie Haynes. Hey, hang on, I made a documentary 12 years ago about those two gigging around Brum – cue plug: ‘Stand-up Comedy circa 1996’.
Comedy does seem to get only very rare mentions on CIB which is a shame as its as much a cultural activity as much of the other stuff featured.
Dave
I saw Ted Chippington five years ago. He was fantastic!