I have recently written a number of pieces for advanced manufacturing publication Metalworking Production:
When it was announced that Lenny Henry would be taking on the role of Antipholus of Syracuse in the National Theatre’s production of The Comedy of Errors, you could be forgiven for expecting the comedian to steal the show. Thankfully, this was far from the case.
The play is the story of two twins in search of their brothers – after whom they were renamed – and mother, who had been lost at sea. They arrive in the town of Ephesus, where the missing twin (Chris Jarman) has become a well-respected citizen. Inevitably it is not long before the master and servant are mistaken for their other halves and chaos ensues.
The farcical plot with its fantastic Shakespearean insults (a reason to see the play in themselves!) gave way to a genuinely moving and heart-warming ending.
The National Theatre’s production saw Ephesus transformed into a seedy, modern town, complete with transvestites, snooker bars and knife shops. Scene changes were made an entertainment in themselves by a small band of buskers playing Greek versions of a range of modern songs.
Lenny Henry’s volatile Antipholus was more than matched for laughs by Lucian Msamati’s wisecracking Dromio of Syracuse. Claudie Blakley’s reinvention of Adriana (wife of Antipholus of Ephesus) as an Essex trophy wife was passionate and convincing, and the audience couldn’t help but sympathise with Joseph Mydell’s desperately pleading Aegeon – the father of the twins, who has one day in which to find the money to pay a fine and prevent his own execution.
If you miss out on seeing the production at the National Theatre itself, then it will be beamed to cinemas around the country as part of NT Live on 1 March 2012. The Lighthouse in Poole, the Harbour Lights Picturehouse in Southampton, Vue in Portsmouth and the Everyman in Winchester will all be showing the live production.
Bill Bailey’s ‘Dandelion Mind’ was based around the theme of doubt – or was it?
The show was everything that Bailey’s fans have come to expect from him – surreal, high energy and peppered with musical gems such as a West Country version of Lady Gaga’s Poker Face, Jeff Buckley’s Hallelujah in the style of Kraftwerk and a French techno reworking of Gary Numan’s Cars.
However, unlike previous shows, Dandelion Mind kicked off with a satirical rant about the state of modern Britain. Bailey’s comments about politicians – in particular, his portrayal of Nick Clegg as Skippy – earned him cheers from the audience.
Spectators were then pulled into the heat of the comedic action as Bailey invited them to join in with a ‘warm-up’ rendition of California Dreaming, and chastised them for their initial reluctance – “I think you’re missing the point here.”
The performance shone a whole new light on why Akon is wrong, why you should never look into supermarket self-service machines, and revealed the shocking truth about Chas and Dave’s pact with the devil in return for Cockney superpowers.
Despite being rated seventh most intelligent person on television – one place behind cartoon character Lisa Simpson, as Bailey was keen to point out – by readers of the Radio Times, the comedian never spoke down to the audience, even when explaining a joke made by a CERN particle physicist. Instead he showed the funny side of science and pointed out the absurdities in historic artwork. Most of us will never look at ‘The Hay Wain’ in the same way again.
Bill Bailey’s Dandelion Mind was the work of a comic genius – if you have a chance to catch him, do so.
Showcasing the best of local talent, Bournemouth’s newest comedy night combines live music with laughter to provide a vibrant night of entertainment.
Gigglebox Comedy will be setting up shop in Bournemouth’s historic pier on Friday 8 July for their launch show, which aims to bring some of the country’s best up-and-coming comedians together, alongside a local band.
The event is the brainchild of Ross Goode and Ryan Nolan – two men with a keen eye for talent who wanted to bring the best of contemporary comedy, in a modern environment, to people at a price they could afford.
The launch night will feature four comedy acts from around the UK; Paul Ricketts won the 2008 Comedy Cafe New Act award for his musings on multicultural Britain; Reading’s Russ Powell had 300 people in stitches at the Wytchwood Festival with his tales of childhood shenanigans; Matt Price’s gift for interactive storytelling means that no two shows will ever be the same, and the interestingly named Jonny Awsum talks about everything from Jon Bon Jovi to the perils of climbing scaffolding after eight hours in the pub.
Music will be provided by Bournemouth Indie/Rock five-piece Constellation, whose track ‘Flower Song’ is being sold to raise funds for Scotty’s Little Soldiers – a charity which supports the children of men and women killed in action whilst serving for the British Armed Services.
The Gigglebox Comedy Official Launch Night will take place on Friday 8 July at Key West, located on Bournemouth Pier. Tickets are £15 with food, or £10 without. Doors open at 7pm.
The family-friendly comic talks about life after I’m a Celebrity to Jenny Ross, including jumping out of a aeroplane, running the London Maraton, writing children’s stories and his new stand-up show.
How did you get into show-business?
I did New Faces in the mid ‘80s; the predecessor of Britain’s Got Talent. Before that I was working in a holiday camp in Great Yarmouth, calling Bingo. I won the heat and came second in the grand final and that was it really – I’ve never looked back!
What do you love about performing?
I think it’s just getting up on stage and showing off. There’s got to be something wrong with comedians really, to want to get up on stage and expose yourself like that because it’s quite scary. It’s like being on the best rollercoaster in the world.
What can we expect from your new show?
Basically, it’s stupidity for two hours! There’s no political agenda or religious agenda in there at all; there’s too much of that as it is when you see it on telly. I think that when people come to see a comedy show they shouldn’t get religion or politics shoved down their throat. So it’s a couple of hours of just mucking about – a lot of audience participation, a lot of gags, a bit of magic, a bit of painting, a bit of singing. So it’s a bit of everything.
You won I’m a Celebrity back in 2004, what was it like being in the jungle?
The hardest thing is the boredom of it – he fell over, they had a big row, then he had to eat a rat, then they had a big row, then they fell in the water, then they had a big row. When you watch it on TV you see the highlights of that day, and it’s like anybody’s day; not a lot really happens but if you take those segments out you go ‘wow, what a great time that was’.
So, you wouldn’t do it again?
I didn’t say that! No I would do it again; I quite enjoyed it in a strange masochistic sort of way! I was scared of flying before I went out there and on the first day they threw me out of an aeroplane, then after a week I had to jump out of a helicopter and climb down a rope ladder. And when I got back I thought if I can jump out of planes I should be able to learn to fly. And I took a flying lesson and eight months later I got my pilot’s licence.
What else have you been up to?
I’ve done the London Marathon this year, took up boxing and I’m doing a BSc in Geosciences. It’s a case of a mid-life crisis really. I was thinking ‘I’m getting fat, I’m getting old and do I really want to do something with my life or sit there watching telly and letting life pass me by?’
What’s next for you?
I’m writing a children’s book at the moment on the formation of the moon, because no-one really knows about the moon. I’m doing the illustrations for it myself so it could be another year before it’s finished.
