Avalon is to launch a bill of award-winning comics, including three Perrier Award winners and three if.comedy/Perrier Award nominees, as it returns for its 21st Festival Fringe this August.
The full line-up features:
DAN ANTOPOLSKI - Silent but Deadly
DAN ATKINSON - Death By A Thousand Pricks
GREG BEHRENDT - Greg Behrendt
SIMON BRODKIN - Still Not Himself
ANDREW COLLINS & RICHARD HERRING - Collings and Herrin Podcast Live!
FERGUS CRAIG - Still Watches Neighbours
TOM DEACON - Indecisive
RICHARD HERRING - Hitler Moustache
COLIN HOULT - Colin Hoult’s Carnival of Monsters
RUSSELL KANE - Human Dressage
RUSSELL KANE - Russell Kane’s Fakespeare ‘The Tragickal Saveings of King Nigel’
JIMMY McGHIE - Jimmy McGhie’s Northern Meeting
AL MURRAY, THE PUB LANDLORD - Al Murray, The Pub Landlord
FRANK SKINNER - Frank Skinner’s Credit Crunch Cabaret
KRISTEN SCHAAL & KURT BRAUNOHLER - Double Down Hearts
LAURA SOLON - Rabbit Faced Story Soup
THE UMBRELLA BIRDS - Sketches in a Shop Changing Room
DANIELLE WARD - Lies
ROSIE WILKINSON & HELEN O’BRIEN - Domestic Goddi 2: How to Cope
JEN BRISTER, ED GAMBLE, CHRIS RAMSEY & GARETH RICHARDS - The Comedy Zone
A preview festival showcasing these shows as works-in-progress will be hosted at Kings Place, Kings Cross between 20th July and 2nd August.
ends
For further information, interview requests or pictures please contact: Jo Cross, Ben Nolan, Jenny Stewart or Dan Lloyd at Avalon. Tel: + 44 (0) 207 598 7222 E-mail: joc@avalonuk.com / benn@avalonuk.com / jenny.stewart@avalonuk.com / danl@avalonuk.com
SHOW DESCRIPTIONS
DAN ANTOPOLSKI - Silent but Deadly
The triple Perrier Nominee and star of BBC2’s Hyperdrive, Hollywood’s The Da Vinci Code, Radio 2’s Out To Lunch returns. A consummate standup show from a smart, stupid, rapping martial artist who can tell you exactly how likely you are to laugh your tits off.
“Innovative, truth-seeking weirdly magical stuff.”
Claire Sawers, The List
DAN ATKINSON - Death By A Thousand Pricks
2008 total sell-out returns with brand new hour of inventive, intelligent comedy. There will also be jokes about body parts along the way.
“A fine comic mind...a brilliant eye for a gag and imagination to burn.”
Kit MacDonald, Metro
GREG BEHRENDT - Greg Behrendt
US stand-up star, Sex and The City consultant and writer of the New York Times bestselling book He’s Just Not That Into You - which inspired the box-office hit film of the same name - makes his UK debut.
“Outstanding, impeccable and one for the ages.”
Montreal Gazette
SIMON BRODKIN - Still Not Himself
Character comedy from the star of ITV1’s Al Murray's Multiple Personality Disorder. Still Not Himself presents four inspired creations from one of the country's most exciting comedians.
“A beautifully balanced act, fresh and exciting, tense and unpredictable but always very, very funny.”
Corry Shaw, Chortle
ANDREW COLLINS & RICHARD HERRING - Collings and Herrin Podcast Live!
Unscripted, unrehearsed, unabashed. RICHARD HERRING and ANDREW COLLINS with intellectual, puerile, needlessly offensive, improvised banter. Five shows only. Different every day. Yet strangely the same. Downloadable from iTunes.
“You can clearly hear echoes of Pete and Dud's devils in the podcasts by Richard Herring and Andrew Collins. If the bile count is lower, their extreme take on the news feels similarly unrestrained.”
Bruce Dessau, The Guardian
FERGUS CRAIG - Still Watches Neighbours
Hackney Empire New Act of the Year, star of Star Stories (C4) and Northumberland under 13s badminton champion 1992, FERGUS CRAIG still watches Neighbours. He’ll explain why by showing you clips from the show and some home movies from his childhood. If nothing else Jim Robinson’s death will be a hoot.
“With killer lines, great delivery and a delightful dollop of surprises, Craig was class.”
Tony Cooke, The Stage
TOM DEACON - Indecisive
Star of The Comedy Zone 2008, Chortle Student Comedian of the Year and BBC Switch regular embarks on his first solo show.
“Looks, confidence, charm and great material. Expect other comics to lynch him.”
Stephen Armstrong, The Sunday Times
RICHARD HERRING - Hitler Moustache
Reclaiming Chaplin’s moustache for comedy, the star of The Headmaster’s Son and ‘90s double act Lee and Herring muses on iconography, whether racists are closer than Liberals to believing that all people are the same and why an innocent square inch of facial hair has taken the blame for Nazism.
“Always a Fringe must-see.”
Steve Bennett, Chortle
COLIN HOULT - Colin Hoult's Carnival of Monsters
Writers' Guild Award winner COLIN HOULT (Zimbani, Colin and Fergus, ITV1’s Al Murray's Multiple Personality Disorder) invites you to a truly original tragi-comic character show that will shock, tickle and appal. Playing with environment, atmosphere and storytelling, the Carnival is an experience unlike any other you’ll find at the fringe.
"Sheer comic gold."
Eddie Harrison, Metro
RUSSELL KANE - Human Dressage
Preening, posing, prancing. Why do we? How do we? Join double if.comedy Award nominee RUSSELL KANE for an hour of fast-paced, tub-thumping merriment.
“One of the finest young performers around.”
Tim Arthur, Time Out
RUSSELL KANE - Russell Kane’s Fakespeare ‘The Tragickal Saveings of King Nigel’
Last year: a sellout Pleasance run, then the RSC’s main stage in Stratford. This year KANE presents a brand new blank verse play: Nigellio is an Essex banker, thus utterly finishéd. Starring RUSSELL KANE and SADIE HASLER.
“The rising star surpasses himself… Clever and funny.”
Stephen Armstrong, The Sunday Times
JIMMY McGHIE - Jimmy McGhie’s Northern Meeting
A few years ago JIMMY went to a disastrous party in the Highlands. It wrecked his relationship and his confidence. Now, hoping it will help, he has decided to share the whole shameful but hilarious story. An hour of very confessional, character-filled, stand-up from this exciting newcomer.
“Charming, bright-eyed and relaxed…he melds rhythm and timing with a polished and honest delivery. His material is well-tailored. He’s a pleasure to watch.”
Ciaran Healy, Fest Magazine
AL MURRAY, THE PUB LANDLORD - Al Murray, The Pub Landlord
All hail to the ale! A lunchtime lock-in with THE GUV’NOR as he returns to his spiritual home, performing his Perrier Award nominated and winning shows from 1996-99, on four consecutive days. All for a fiver.
“One national treasure to cherish.”
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
FRANK SKINNER - Frank Skinner’s Credit Crunch Cabaret
…Laughing all the way to the bank closure.
Straight from a sell-out run in London’s West End, FRANK SKINNER brings his doom-and-gloom busting Credit Crunch Cabaret to Edinburgh. Introducing little-known, breakthrough artists alongside award-winning comics and high-profile musicians, FRANK unites acts handpicked from all corners of the Edinburgh Festivals. Expect a nightly bill jam-packed with top class entertainment from the hottest talents the city has to offer - for just £10 a ticket.
“Skinner deserves a financier-sized bonus for his efforts…one would have to be clinically depressed not to enjoy an evening like this.”
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard
KRISTEN SCHAAL & KURT BRAUNOHLER - Double Down Hearts
KRISTEN SCHAAL and KURT BRAUNOHLER had an amazing time in Edinburgh last year. They had so much fun they couldn't wait to come back. But, they forgot to write new material. In the spirit of American Vaudeville, which repeated the same shit until the movies came, KURT and KRISTEN are returning with an encore performance of last year's Double Down Hearts. If you missed it, then it will be brand new! If you saw it last year then feel free to sing along.
"This is the kind of show the Fringe was made for. Divine madness."
Tim Arthur, Time Out
LAURA SOLON - Rabbit Faced Story Soup
Perrier Award winner LAURA SOLON (BBC ONE’s Ruddy Hell! It’s Harry and Paul, ITV1’s Al Murray’s Multiple Personality Disorder, Radio 4’s Talking and Not Talking) returns with brand new character comedy.
“Seemingly poised for stardom for creating instantly memorable and grotesque comic characters, one might dub Laura Solon the next Catherine Tate. What makes her different is that she specialises in brilliantly written verbal comedy... Almost every sketch is a showcase for ultra-deft characterisation and surprising gags.”
James Kettle, The Guardian
THE UMBRELLA BIRDS - Sketches in a Shop Changing Room
Stars of BBC Radio 4’s The Ladies return with a brand new hour of comedy. After their cult 2007 hit WC, staged in a real Portaloo, and 2008’s Gym, performed on cross-trainers, the acclaimed sketch team explore the dark side of female relationships in a show with a self-explanatory title.
“Tight writing, strong characterisation and snappy delivery - these sketches are laugh-out-loud funny.”
Claire Smith, The Scotsman
DANIELLE WARD - Lies
Dead chickens, fake suicide, roller-blades and Angelica Houston are just some of the words that might be appearing in the new stand-up show from the award-winning writer and star of cult hits Take-a-Break Tales and Psister Psycho.
“Like a Nick Cave album recited by a cheerful would be Dorothy Parker.”
Stephen Armstrong, The Sunday Times
ROSIE WILKINSON & HELEN O’BRIEN - Domestic Goddi 2: How to Cope
After 2008's sellout show, The Herald Pick of the Fringe ROSIE WILKINSON and BBC Comedy Award winner HELEN O’BRIEN return with uniquely-formulated, volume-boosting sketches, giving microbiotically natural characters 300% more moisture for longer-lasting laughs.
Get the look… Get the Domestic Goddi look.
“Funnier than Ainsley Harriott's head in a blender.”
Velimir Ilic, Metro
THE COMEDY ZONE (JEN BRISTER, ED GAMBLE, CHRIS RAMSEY & GARETH RICHARDS)
The longest running and most prestigious stand-up showcase returns with the hottest new talent on the circuit: JEN BRISTER (BBC 6 Music), ED GAMBLE (The Ray Peacock Podcast), CHRIS RAMSEY (Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year 2009 Nominee) and GARETH RICHARDS (Frank Skinner’s Absolute Radio Show; 4 Stands-Up, BBC Radio 4).
“The fringe’s leading stand-up showcase.”
The Times
SHOW LISTINGS
DAN ANTOPOLSKI - Silent but Deadly, Pleasance Ace Dome, 21:20
DAN ATKINSON - Death By A Thousand Pricks, Pleasance Baby Grand, 21:30
GREG BEHRENDT - Love, Sex, Pudding, Death, Assembly George Street, Supper Room, 19:40 [Not 17th and 24th Aug]
SIMON BRODKIN - Still Not Himself, Pleasance Above, 17:00
ANDREW COLLINS & RICHARD HERRING - Collings and Herrin Podcast Live!, Underbelly Belly Laugh, 12:20 [19th to 23rd Aug]
FERGUS CRAIG* -Still Watches Neighbours, Pleasance Baby Grand, 16:30
TOM DEACON - Indecisive, Pleasance Cellar, 20:30
RICHARD HERRING - Hitler Moustache, Underbelly White Belly, 20:40
COLIN HOULT - Colin Hoult’s Carnival of Monsters, Pleasance Hut, 15:30
RUSSELL KANE* - Human Dressage, Pleasance Cabaret Bar, 21:20
RUSSELL KANE* - Russell Kane’s Fakespeare ‘The Tragickal Saveings of King Nigel', Pleasance Cellar, 14:10
JIMMY McGHIE* - Jimmy McGhie’s Northern Meeting, Gilded Balloon Wee Room, 21:30
AL MURRAY, THE PUB LANDLORD - Al Murray, The Pub Landlord, Pleasance Over The Road 1, 13:00 [26th to 29th Aug only]
KRISTEN SCHAAL & KURT BRAUNOHLER - Double Down Hearts, Assembly Hall On The Mound, 22:05 [21st to 30th Aug only]
FRANK SKINNER* - Frank Skinner’s Credit Crunch Cabaret, Assembly Rooms Music Room, 18:50 [14th to 30 Aug, and late shows 27th to 29th Aug]
LAURA SOLON - Rabbit Faced Story Soup, Assembly Rooms Wildman Room, 17:05 [Not 31st Aug]
THE UMBRELLA BIRDS* - Sketches in a Shop Changing Room, Assembly Rooms Wildman Room, 18:20
DANIELLE WARD - Lies, Pleasance Hut, 21:45 [Not 18th & 31st Aug]
ROSIE WILKINSON & HELEN O’BRIEN - Domestic Goddi 2: How to Cope, Pleasance Beside, 13:30
THE COMEDY ZONE JEN BRISTER - ED GAMBLE, CHRIS RAMSEY & GARETH RICHARDS, Pleasance Cabaret Bar, 22:45
Please note, shows marked with * will not be performed on Monday 17th August.
AVALON PROMOTIONS
Avalon Promotions Limited is one of the leading promoters of live comedy in the UK. Productions include: NEWMAN & BADDIEL in the first comedy show ever to be staged at Wembley Arena; FRANK SKINNER’s record-breaking performance to an audience of 6,000 at the Battersea Power Station; Jerry Springer - The Opera at the National Theatre, at the Cambridge Theatre in London’s West End, on national tour and at New York’s Carnegie Hall; HARRY HILL at the Palace and Dominion Theatres in London; and Dave Gorman’s Googlewhack Adventure at the Sydney Opera House, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, on national tour and at the Village Theatre, New York (nominated for Drama Desk Award 2004).
The last 12 months has seen Avalon Promotions: present multi-award winning comics JENNY ECLAIR, RICHARD HERRING, RUSSELL HOWARD and FRANK SKINNER on sell-out runs; produce AL MURRAY, THE PUB LANDLORD live at the O2 and RUSSELL HOWARD at Wembley Arena; introduce some of the fastest-rising stars in comedy such as RUSSELL KANE, KRISTEN SCHAAL & KURT BRAUNOHLER and ISY SUTTIE; produce stage shows, such as Frank Skinner’s Credit Crunch Cabaret and Grumpy Old Women Live, which has toured the UK three times and performed a highly successful run in Australia; and present 23 acts at the Edinburgh Festival, where it has promoted a total of five Perrier Award winners and 17 Perrier Award/if.comedy Award nominees in just 20 years.
ALSO PERFORMING AT THE FESTIVAL FRINGE
ANNA CRILLY & KATY WIX - ‘Anna and Katy’ (18:40, Pleasance Over The Road 3)
ALUN COCHRANE - 'Alun Cochrane is a Daydreamer (at Night)' (22:50, Stand 3)
DIANE MORGAN & JOE WILKINSON - 'Two Episodes of Mash’ (17:45, Over The Road 1)
TOMMY AND THE WEEKS (17:10, Pleasance Beside)
STAN STANLEY is in - ‘Sketch Comedy for Kids’ (13:40, Underbelly Belly Laugh)
