Your comprehensive guide to what laughs are on where... TUESDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2004 THE SIDESHOW SOCIETY More than a comedy sketch show ... it's a way of life! With their explosive brand of humour - Python meets Little Britain - Sideshow Society returns to the festival for more mayhem & absurdity, prior to taking the show to London The Hexagon Theatre, mac, Cannon Hill Park, Bham, £5, 7.45pm. Tel: 0121 440 3838. www.macarts.co.uk / www.sideshowsociety.com THURSDAY 30 SEPTEMBER LENNY HENRY: SO MUCH THINGS TO SAY
 After at critically acclaimed run in London, Dudley's Lenny brings his latest show to the Comedy Festival. The show tackles a variety of subjects including: Parents, Love, Sex, War ('Huh! What is it good for? Absolutely-nothin', say it again - actually, better not) and reggae music. It's a rip roaring tour de force of character comedy, brought to you by the man himself. Alexandra Theatre, Bham, £19.50-£23.50, 7.30pm. Tel: 0870 607 7544. www.lennyhenry.com FRIDAY 1 OCTOBER FRIDAY NIGHT COMEDY Marcus Brigstocke, Simon Bligh, Micky Flanagan, John Moloney. The best in live comedy from the Midlands premier comedy venue. Show followed by late bar and disco. Full menu available. The Glee Club, The Arcadian, Bham, Fri £13, £11.50 online, £6.50 nus, 8pm; Sat £15, £13 online, 7.30pm; Sat Late Show £12, £11 online, £7.50 nus, 9.45pm. Tel: 0870 241 5093. www.glee.co.uk Birmingham Comedy Festival 2002 New Act Winner Rupert Knutt makes a rare live reappearance along with Dean Garbutt, Dan Smith and friends. Part of The Bartons Arms' Beer Festival. The Bartons Arms, 144 High Street, Aston - FREE (complimentary tickets available from venue in advance only) 8pm. Tel: 0121 333 5988 50 First Dates: Odeon New Street screening - 50 FIRST DATES: Odeon Bham screening - Rupert Knutt & Friends, new event added Fri 1 Oct. JONGLEURS COMEDY! A great comedy line-up featuring Johnny Candon, former classical actress Mandy Knight, rising star Inder Manocha and comic actor Smug Roberts Jongleurs, Quayside Tower, Broad Street, Bham, Fri £13, Sat £14, 7pm. Tel: 0870 787 0707 www.jongleurs.co.uk LENNY HENRY: SO MUCH THINGS TO SAY at Alexandra Theatre (see Thur 30 Sept) SATURDAY 2 OCTOBER THE 2nd ANNUAL CHARITY CRAWL A bizarre event as award winning comedian and radio presenter James Cook invites you, yes you, to join him and his associates in a casual stroll down Kings Heath High Street, and in each charity shop, pause to buy an item of clothing and then wear it. Meet in the Pound Stretcher car park, Kings Heath, Bham at 10am. For more information, email charitycrawl2004@yahoo.co.uk, or just show up. Free. www.comedykav.b13.net SILLY STORIES & RIOTOUS RHYMES Tales of mirth and merriment for the young. All ages welcome. Centre For The Child, Birmingham Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Bham, free, 2pm-3pm. Tel: 0121 303 2421 www.birmingham.gov.uk/centreforthechild LENNY HENRY: SO MUCH THINGS TO SAY at Alexandra Theatre (see Thur 30 Sept) SATURDAY NIGHT COMEDY The Glee Club (see Fri 1 Oct) JONGLEURS COMEDY! Jongleurs (see Fri 1 Oct) MONDAY 4 OCTOBER THE BEST OF BRUM! The Hilarious Comedy team launch their latest and largest comedy night with an amazing extravaganza of local mirth and laughter headlined by the fantastic Mrs Barabara Nice, with Andy White, Edinburgh sell-out Karen Bayley & Craig Deeley, plus compere Ryan Gough. The James Brindley, 12 Bridge Street, Bham, £8, 7.30pm. Tel: 0121 644 5971 www.hilariouscomedy.com TUESDAY 5 OCTOBER BARBARA NICE'S COMEDY PLAYGROUND ***PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS NOW CANCELLED DUE TO TV COMMITMENTS*** mac, The Theatre, Cannon Hill Park, Bham, £10, £7, 8pm. Tel: 0121 4403838. www.macarts.co.uk / www.barbaranice.co.uk WEDNESDAY 6 OCTOBER ODEON SENIOR SCREEN PRESENTS... A surprise contemporary comedy hit in a screening aimed at the over 50s, but all welcome. Odeon Cinema, Maney Corner, Sutton Coldfield, (£2, doors 10am, film 10.30am) - and - Odeon Cinema, Hagley Road West, Birmingham, (£2.30, doors 11am, film 11.30). Refreshments included. Tel: 0871 442 2007 www.odeon.co.uk MORE SILLY STORIES & RIOTOUS RHYMES Story fun for the under 5's. Centre For The Child, Birmingham Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Bham, free, 11am-11.30am. Tel: 0121 303 2421 www.birmingham.gov.uk/centreforthechild THE SORE JAW COMEDY CLUB Back for a very special one-off Festival showcase! If you missed SoreJaw when it was a monthly club, you now have another chance to see why it's such a great event with four great acts. Opal Lounge, High Street Solihull, £5, 7.30pm. Tel: 0121 705 9944/ 07956 662020 www.SoreJawComedy.co.uk The Cat's Pyjamas Puppet Company & Hand to Mouth Theatre: PUNCH & JUDY EPISODE 2: ATTACK OF THE CLOWNS by Ken Campbell A Punch & Judy Show that flies into the 21st century, piloted by a pair of world-travelled 'Professors', navigated by a ventriloquist's dummy and fuelled by centuries of myth and mayhem. With occasional byways suggested by the decadent Victorian author, alcoholic and opium addict Eric, Count Stenbock, this latest episode in Punch & Judy's living tradition is not suitable for children! mac, The Theatre, Cannon Hill Park, Bham, £9.20/£6.40, 8pm. Tel: 0121 440 3838. www.macarts.co.uk THURSDAY 7 OCTOBER ODEON SENIOR SCREEN PRESENTS... 50 FIRST DATES (12A)
The Wedding Singer team of Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore are reunited for the recent box-office smash. After a chance meeting with the girl of his dreams, Sandler looks set to live happily ever after, but the next morning, she has no idea who he is, and
he is forced to woo her all over again in an unconventional romantic comedy. A screening aimed at the over 50s, but all welcome.
Odeon Cinema, New Street, Birmingham, £2, doors 10am, film 11am. Refreshments included. Tel: 0871 442 2007
www.odeon.co.uk
JONGLEURS COMEDY! A great comedy line-up featuring Michael Legge, Scotsman Sandy Nelson, 6'7" Aussie Colin Cole and high-speed gagster Matt Welcome Jongleurs, Quayside Tower, Broad Street, Bham, Thur £8, Fri £13, Sat £14, 7pm. Tel: 0870 787 0707 www.jongleurs.co.uk THURSDAY NIGHT COMEDY Steve Gribbin, Ben Norris, Rob Rouse, Glenn Wool. Four top comics plus food. The best in late and live comedy from the Midlands premier comedy venue. The Glee Club, The Arcadian, Bham, Thur Food and Comedy: £11.50/ £9.95 online; entrance only £8.50/ £7.50 online/ £5.50 nus, 8pm; Fri £13, £11.50 online, £6.50 nus, 8pm; Sat £15, £13 online, 7.30pm; Sat Late Show £12, £11 online, £7.50 nus, 9.45pm. Tel: 0870 241 5093. www.glee.co.uk Tara Arts presents: MANDRAGORA KING OF INDIA Birmingham writer Nirjay Mahnidru's witty first play takes audiences on a thrilling flight of fantasy to India. As his Queen gives birth to an heir, King Mandragora's kingdon is plagued by a terrifying series of omens. This fast and funny new production creates a vivd world, populated by kings, soothsayers and clowns in a clash between old and new civilisations. (Age recommendation 12+) The Door, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Centenary Square, Broad Street, Bham, £9.75, £6.50, £2.99 (16-26 yrs), Thur/Fri 7.45pm, Sat 2.25pm, 7.45pm. Tel: 0121 236 4455 www.birmingham-rep.co.uk PUNCH & JUDY EPISODE 2 mac (see Wed 6 Oct) FRIDAY 8 OCTOBER COMEDY UNCOVERED: Open Mic Nite The traditional Glee Comedy Festival event is back again. We provide the comedy ladder while some enthusiastic new acts try to climb it. The Glee Club, The Arcadian, Bham, £5, £4 online, 7.30pm. Tel: 0870 241 5093 www.glee.co.uk HOIPOLLOI: MY UNCLE ARLY Inspired by the illustrations, life & nonsense poems of Edward Lear, My Uncle Arly takes you on an absurdly comic journey into the imagination of one of Britain's favourite writers. Weaving together Lear's poetry with original songs and comic recreations of some of his best-loved characters, this is delightful and extraordinary theatre for all ages. mac, Cannon Hill Park, Bham, £10.90, £7.60 concs, 8pm. Tel: 0121 440 3838 www.macarts.co.uk / www.hoipolloi.org.uk SIKHS IN THE CITY When a dejected British Sikh gets yet another slap from multicultural Britain he begins a journey of self-discovery to make sense of his conventional life. The Funjabis' Sody Singh Kahlon plays a host of eccentric and extraordinary characters. The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre, Hurst Street, Bham, £9.00, 7.45pm. Tel: 0870 730 1234. www.birminghamhippodrome.com / www.sody.co.uk UPFRONT CAFE The popular UPfront Cafe returns for a new season featuring the best in black comedy, music and poetry, kicking with off with a headline set from 'The Don' Curtis Walker, plus former champion boxer Glazz Campbell and dynamic London performance poet Universe. Hosted by John Simmit. The Drum, 144 Potters Lane, Aston, Bham, £9.50, £7, 7.30pm. Tel: 0121 333 2444 www.upfrontcomedy.co.uk JONGLEURS COMEDY! Jongleurs (see Thur 7 Oct) MANDRAGORA KING OF INDIA The Door (see Thur 7 Oct) FRIDAY NIGHT COMEDY The Glee Club (see Thur 7 Oct) SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER AND MORE SILLY STORIES & RIOTOUS RHYMES Tales of mirth and merriment for the young. All ages welcome. Centre For The Child, Birmingham Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Bham, free, 2pm-3pm. Tel: 0121 303 2421 www.birmingham.gov.uk/centreforthechild BREAD & CIRCUSES 4: PARMESAN? James Cook, Joseph Farrow, Rob Jagger, Jonathan Lee, Andy Newsham, Andy Richardson & Dan Smith return after their sell-out spring run. Birmingham's cult comedy sketch troupe premiere their fourth multi-media extravaganza, leaving no subject as a taboo. mac, Cannon Hill Park, Bham, £5, 7.30pm. Tel: 0121 440 3838 www.macarts.co.uk SATURDAY NIGHT COMEDY The Glee Club (see Thur 7 Oct) SIKHS IN THE CITY The Patrick Centre (see Fri 8 Oct) JONGLEURS COMEDY! Jongleurs (see Thur 7 Oct) MANDRAGORA KING OF INDIA The Door (see Thur 7 Oct) SUNDAY 10 OCTOBER LAUREL & HARDY DAY (U) A celebration of the work of comedy heroes Stan & Ollie, with some of their funniest and rarest films, both silent and sound. Three different programmes feature ten classic comedies including a rarely seen feature compilation The Crazy World of Laurel & Hardy, plus stalls, competitions & more. mac, Cannon Hill Park, Bham, £3.50 (£2.50) each programme or £9 (£6) for all 3 programmes, from 1pm. Tel: 0121 440 3838 www.macarts.co.uk IAN COGNITO For the best part of a decade, comedy insiders have been saying he's one of the most invigorating live stand-ups in the land and unlike many comics, Cognito actually lives the life he talks about! Plus Caroline Jones and resident compare Karen Bayley. Comedy Junction, The Station Pub, Station Street, Sutton Coldfield, £6, 8pm. Tel: 0121 350 4945 www.comedyjunction.co.uk FESTIVAL FOOTNOTES TUESDAY 12 OCTOBER SOL BERNSTEIN & RHOD GILBERT The comic creation of Steve Jameson, Ed' Fringe fave Sol Bernstein is one third Alf Garnett, one third Mel Brookes and one third Jackie Mason. Joining him is multi-award winner Rhod Gilbert, telling ridiculous surreal shaggy dog stories. Cheeky Monkey Comedy Club, The Station Pub, High Street, Kings Heath, Bham, £4, £3, 8pm. Tel: 0121 444 1257 www.cheekycomedy.co.uk WEDNESDAY 13 OCTOBER HILARIOUS! The usual Hilarious fun and frolics with Sweden's funniest man, Henrik Elmer, headlining, supported by local talent, Dave Powner and your host Craig Deeley who will be presenting the Hilarious Gag Competition. Put your laughing trousers on and come and see what the fuss is about! Harry's Bar, 169-171 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Bham, £5, 7.30pm. Tel: 0121 454 5599 www.hilariouscomedy.com | 
