There’s no denying that Festival of the Spoken Nerd, the monthly comedy night run by Helen Arney, Mat Parker and Steve Mould, has fairly niche appeal, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the most delightful comedy nights in London. I had my first experience of it on Valentine’s Day and definitely think it was the best way to have spent my evening.
First things first: it’s not slick. It doesn’t purport to be, it doesn’t want to be, and the tiny top-of-a-pub room it’s held in wouldn’t allow it to be if it did. From the projector being held in place by condiments to Arney forgetting which way round to introduce Mould and Parker, it really is quite a ramshackle night, but what it lacks in immaculate organisation it makes up for with charm, friendliness and some really funny jokes involving graphs. Helen Arney’s beautiful, nerdy songs – old and new – pepper the show in between sections from regulars Parker and Mould (this month: evolutionary biology and sexy shapes), as well as guest contributions in the form of sexologist confessions from Dr Glenn Wilson and a headline set from the absolute must-see that is stand-up Sara Pascoe. The eclectic mix means there really is something for everyone, no matter what level of nerd you are.
What really makes it is the audience, however. The small venue allows for a cosy atmosphere – possibly the cosiest I’ve ever been a part of, gig-wise – and participation is encouraged in the form of experiments and time for questions at the end of each section, even if they’re not strictly related. It feels more like a Geekoholics Anonymous meeting than a comedy night at times (which is a good thing, I hasten to add).
FOTSN isn’t aiming to poke fun at anything – it’s just a celebration of all things nerd; a comedy night with a difference that’ll ‘make ya think’ whilst making your cheeks ache with laughter at the same time.
Festival of the Spoken Nerd is on monthly at the Green Man, Riding House Street, London. Click here to book tickets and find details about future line-ups.
Tuesday 15 February 2011
Wednesday 9 February 2011
08/02/11: Kevin Eldon is Titting About - Soho Theatre
The Actor Kevin Eldon is a face a lot of people are used to by now, even if they have no idea why: he's like a subliminal message, except not. His CV is ridiculous - Smack the Pony, Fist of Fun, Brass Eye, Spaced, Black Books and so much more - and rightly so, because he is an unspeakably good actor. It turns out, however, that he is also an amazing stand-up, as he proved when he took his first ever one-man show to the Edinburgh Fringe last year. It's currently enjoying a long run at London's Soho Theatre, which I'm very grateful for since I've finally had the chance to see why this show was the talk of the (Scottish) town last August.
And, oh, what a show it was.
You are primarily just watching Eldon mess about on a stage for fifty minutes, of course, and he does it in such a way that he fools you into thinking everything you're seeing is spontaneous and simple, but it's not. Underneath the bubbly, bouncy surface of Eldon's world of obnoxious characters and babbling is clearly something very well-crafted and carefully-observed, and his attention to detail and timing is stunning.
Mostly playing "himself" while dipping between different characters such as poet Paul Hamilton, an arrogant Frenchman who can't speak English and a pension salesman with a heroin addiction, he talks about his process for coming up with the show, rips the shit out of all manner of comedy and theatre clichés, and sings a couple of hilarious songs as well. He's managed to pack so much into just fifty minutes that sometimes even he can't seem to keep up with himself.
Even though there's a lot of mockery and irritation in his material, particularly on the subject of the upward inflection, it's primarily a very joy-filled show. This is intensified by just how much he is visibly enjoying himself on stage; it's infectious.
There's so much to take in that it's impossible to pick a favourite moment or say much more without this getting much longer and more gushing than it already is. I will say one more thing, though: the show is an absolutely must-see for anyone with even a passing interest in comedy. Go. Go now.
Kevin Eldon is Titting About is on at the Soho Theatre until 19 February 2011. View details and book tickets here.
And, oh, what a show it was.
You are primarily just watching Eldon mess about on a stage for fifty minutes, of course, and he does it in such a way that he fools you into thinking everything you're seeing is spontaneous and simple, but it's not. Underneath the bubbly, bouncy surface of Eldon's world of obnoxious characters and babbling is clearly something very well-crafted and carefully-observed, and his attention to detail and timing is stunning.
Mostly playing "himself" while dipping between different characters such as poet Paul Hamilton, an arrogant Frenchman who can't speak English and a pension salesman with a heroin addiction, he talks about his process for coming up with the show, rips the shit out of all manner of comedy and theatre clichés, and sings a couple of hilarious songs as well. He's managed to pack so much into just fifty minutes that sometimes even he can't seem to keep up with himself.
Even though there's a lot of mockery and irritation in his material, particularly on the subject of the upward inflection, it's primarily a very joy-filled show. This is intensified by just how much he is visibly enjoying himself on stage; it's infectious.
There's so much to take in that it's impossible to pick a favourite moment or say much more without this getting much longer and more gushing than it already is. I will say one more thing, though: the show is an absolutely must-see for anyone with even a passing interest in comedy. Go. Go now.
Kevin Eldon is Titting About is on at the Soho Theatre until 19 February 2011. View details and book tickets here.
Hello again.
Remember what I said about my initial, ambitious beginnings last August?
No. No, you don't, and that's precisely the point. I intended for this to contain semi-regular reviews and opinion posts about UK comedy, but instead of DOING that I ran away and hid for a few months while giving you the silent treatment. Sorry. I promise it's me that's the problem, not you.
I remembered to come back to this after I realised I could hear my bank account whimpering and begging for mercy. You see, live comedy recently woke up again, and while trying to put it all in my face on a very low budget I've found myself inspired to write about it. Which is nice. So look forward to some actual proper posts about stuffs and thing very soon.
No. No, you don't, and that's precisely the point. I intended for this to contain semi-regular reviews and opinion posts about UK comedy, but instead of DOING that I ran away and hid for a few months while giving you the silent treatment. Sorry. I promise it's me that's the problem, not you.
I remembered to come back to this after I realised I could hear my bank account whimpering and begging for mercy. You see, live comedy recently woke up again, and while trying to put it all in my face on a very low budget I've found myself inspired to write about it. Which is nice. So look forward to some actual proper posts about stuffs and thing very soon.
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