SIMON BRODKIN, acclaimed writer and performer on Al Murray’s Multiple Personality Disorder (ITV1), returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with his brand new multi-character comedy show. Hold tight as the Writers’ Guild Award-winner presents four comic creations, united for the first time in Still Not Himself.
Meet: Hugo Victor-Grant, aka H-Bomb, a trustrafarian political bandwagon-jumper with slogan-driven philosophies on everything from African poverty to the war on terror, rallying against injustice with his impassioned - but misguided - mix of urban poetry, Banksy-style street art and direct action, “Tomorrow there’s a march in the Meadows to free Tibet. We’re meeting at 10am and we’re aiming to have Tibet freed by 4ish”; preening premiership footballer Jason Bent taking questions on his multi-million pound transfer, long term knee injury and alleged assault “I think the press blew the whole Christmas party thing out of all proportion. And then people tend to over react when they read an article with the word rape in it”; Bangalorean medic Dr Omprakash, the well-meaning but bungling presenter of daytime TV reality show ‘Royal Hope Hospital’, advising viewers on all things medical - including the ever popular ‘breaking bad news’ segment; and Lee ‘Nelsy’ Nelson, the irrepressible, self-appointed South London ‘legend’ educating audiences with his views on relationships, gang life, and fatherhood, “I was a young dad but I'm glad I weren't even younger, it would have well awkward going to the same school.”
Switching between alter egos, get ready to be immersed into the worlds of four distinct characters as SIMON presents personas that are Still Not Himself.
SIMON performed his first solo show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2006. A complete sell-out, it saw him awarded the Writer's Guild Award for Best Newcomer. Still Not Himself will see him return to the Fringe for his fourth consecutive year. A regular on television and radio, SIMON is currently developing a multi-character comedy pilot for BBC THREE. In addition to writing and performing on Al Murray’s Multiple Personality Disorder, SIMON’S recent projects include: starring in The Wall and Comedy Shuffle (both BBC Three); appearing on BBC Radio 2's Out To Lunch; touring the country as part of the renowned Edinburgh & Beyond tour; and writing and performing Funny Cuts - Simon Brodkin Sketch Show (E4).
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LISTINGS INFORMATION
Venue: Pleasance Above
Date: 8th - 31st August 2009
Time: 17:00
Box Office: 0131 556 6550
For more information and press tickets, please contact: Jo Cross, Ben Nolan, Jenny Stewart or Dan Lloyd. Tel: 08700 70 50 50 [Edinburgh office] or 020 7598 7222 [London office]. Email: joc@avalonuk.com, benn@avalonuk.com, jenny.stewart@avalonuk.com or danl@avalonuk.com
WHAT THE PRESS HAS SAID ABOUT SIMON BRODKIN…
…SIMON BRODKIN IS LEE NELSON
“A beautifully balanced act, fresh and exciting, tense and unpredictable but always very, very funny.”
Corry Shaw, Chortle
“Sharp, quick-fire verbal sparring.”
Malcolm Jack, The Scotsman
“Blunt, swaggering, and likeable, Brodkin plays a very believable chav.”
Anna Fenton, Three Weeks
…ONE MAN COMEDY CLUB
“He’s even more brilliantly outrageous than before.”
Rodger Cox, The Scotsman
“Conceptually, Simon Brodkin's new show is inspired…Brimming over with massive amounts of energy and confidence, Brodkin instantly lights up the room.”
Zofia Niemtus, Metro
“Brodkin is undeniably a gifted character comedian. Every tic and mannerism of his various creations is so minutely observed that it’s very easy to get swept along with the notion of a grotesque open mic slot.”
Allan Radcliffe, The List
“Top act is his incarnation as Premiership footballer Jason Bent, reading from his autobiography. This is a magnificent creation, a Liverpudlian England international with the mental age of four who lives in his "scouse house" and says his dad is like a father to him. It is so painfully close to the real thing, down to every last inflection in the accent, but this character deserves to have an hour devoted to his story of obscene wealth and social ineptitude.”
Colin Somerville, The Herald
…EVERYONE BUT HIMSELF
“Scintillating and hilarious….killer line after killer line.”
Steve Cramer, The List
“His finest creation, cockerney geeza Lee Nelson, is worth the price of admission alone.”
Roger Cox, The Scotsman
“Simon Brodkin has a refreshing approach to his multi-character comedy show - he has just four alter egos. Where other acts might pack twice that number into some kind of showcase, he allows his creations to interact with the audience as if he were a freewheeling stand-up and his costume changes are part of his act.”
Julian Hall, The Independent
“One to watch is Simon Brodkin, who metamorphoses into four characters worthy of Harry Enfield…His stroke of genius is to keep talking to us inbetween sketches, analysing his comedy with perky intensity as he strips down to his pants and puts on his costume for the next character.”
Nicholas Barber, The Independent on Sunday
…FURTHER PRAISE FOR SIMON BRODKIN
“Whoever he’s playing, he’ll make you laugh.”
Rhys Pearce, Three Weeks
“Funny and fresh… masterful.”
Kate Copstick, The Scotsman
"So impressive and funny, the potential to join Al Murray."
Steve Bennett, Chortle
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.
