14/02/11: Festival of the Spoken Nerd - Upstairs at the Green Man

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.