Comedy: Dis Count
Highlighting the mix of comedy ahead this week
It’s great when a prodigal son returns. Especially when he comes back to town with a popular BBC1 TV series, co-starring with a National Theatre actor, and a brand new live show. Welcome back faux Vaudevillian character extraordinaire Count Arthur Strong.
A stalwart of Komedia for years, Count Arthur Strong played the old upstairs venue (now the marvellous Duke’s@Komedia cinema) monthly, with a lively cast and sharp malapropisms aplenty. Having gone out into the BigBadWorld™ it’s grand to see him back in Brighton with a show co-produced by Komedia Entertainment. The message from the man himself is; “If you only buy one ticket for something this year, buy a ticket for this one twice and bring a friend. I promise you won’t regret it. And if you do there must be something wrong with you. No refunds.” True to form.
This town does nurture its comedy talent, and nowhere is this more apparent than at Comic Boom. Particularly this month’s line-up. The format of the evening is pretty straightforward in that there are three sections; the first two sections mix up the best of up-and-coming comics from across the country, always including at least a couple from Brighton. Handpicked, this is not an open mic night but an expertly selected cream of the crop, with every act (usually about six or seven, each doing either a five minute or ten minute slot) destined for comedic recognition, provided they keep working at it. Let’s just say that previous ‘new act’ slots formed part of the early careers of the likes of Nick Helm, Seann Walsh and Paul McCaffrey.
This month’s headliner is another such returning hero, in the form of Angela Barnes. Also heading back to this fond home of excellent gem-spotting is the MC for the evening – Romesh Ranganathan. With both of them regularly seen on TV panel shows, headlining around the country and noticed favourably by critics and award-folks alike, this is well worth a visit.
And for the Wild Card, the leftfield, and the politically unknown, from a mix of nationally established and locally emerging comics, look no further than Austerity Pleasures. It’s a small night in a small room with a ticket price of only £1.50, and with the election not far off and frustrations running high at the status quo, this evening of political comedy could be just what you’re after. This month’s acts include headliner Tiernan Douieb, as well as spots from Joe Wells, Russ Mulligan, Phil Alexander and Dan Wright.
Count Arthur Strong – Somebody Up There Licks Me, Theatre Royal Brighton, Sunday 29 March, 8pm, £21.40, www.atgtickets.com
Comic Boom, Komedia, Thursday 26 March, 8pm, £9/7/6, www.komedia.co.uk/brighton
Austerity Pleasures, Caroline Of Brunswick, Thursday 26 March, £1.50, carolineofbrunswick.co.uk