Following the announcement of its (now sold-out) online Theatre Masterclasses, Soho Theatre announce the first of a series of online Comedy Masterclasses and Comedy Taster Workshops, alongside the announcement of six Ross Noble shows heading to Soho Theatre On Demand.
Highlights:
- Comedy masterclasses – top comedians JESSIE CAVE, JEN BRISTER, JORDAN BROOKES and SHAPPI KHORSANDI allow a sneak peek into the secrets of their page to stage creative process
- Comedy taster workshops for the complete beginner, led by Soho Theatre’s Comedy Associate LEE GRIFFITHS, taking place over four sessions, Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th June
- A series of six films from ROSS NOBLE’s Brain Dump Tour (filmed in UK and Australia) join Soho Theatre On Demand from Friday 5 June for a limited four week run.
Steve Lock, Soho Theatre’s Head of Comedy, said: ‘We’re so excited to bring six distinct shows from the ever brilliant master randomist – and one of the first comics to play at Soho Theatre - Ross Noble to Soho Theatre On Demand, as well as our first series of online comedy masterclasses with incredible artists giving us a unique insight into their work and their process, alongside the opportunity to learn the basics of comedy in our taster course.’
Soho Theatre’s digital service, Soho Theatre On Demand, is currently broadening the range of work available so that audiences can continue to see great theatre, comedy and cabaret, and provide an international platform for independent artists, theatre companies and practitioners at this time when venues are closed to performances.
Next week’s releases features six shows from everyone’s favourite randomist, ROSS NOBLE. Starting in comedy almost 30 years ago at the age of 15, Ross quickly built his reputation as one of the world’s best live stand-ups. Ross’ history with Soho Theatre goes back nigh on 20 years when, in the earliest days of the Soho Theatre Comedy programme, Ross performed a sell-out Christmas run in 2000/01 with his acclaimed show Slackers Playtime. Famed for his super quick freewheeling style and highly imaginative flights of fancy, this series of six comedy films, recorded during his Brain Dump UK and Australian Tour (2016/17), sees Ross dump all the stuff that’s in his head into a theatrical context with infinite possibilities.
The six films will be available to rent for 48 hours at £4 each on Soho Theatre On Demand from 9am Friday 5 June (UK time) for a limited four week run. Ross Noble will donate 50% of his proceeds to UK charity Acting for Others, an organisation that provides financial and emotional support to theatre workers in times of need.
EPISODE 1
Ross unwittingly stumbles into a food and drink jamboree of chaos.
EPISODE 2
There is a Classic car meeting in town - but everyone is going green and riding Pogo Donkeys.
EPISODE 3
A man in the audience is dressed as a mouse - and talk soon turns to voodoo.
EPISODE 4
Audience members are falling from the balcony and there is a filthy Heimlich enthusiast on the loose.
EPISODE 5
With a giant spider on stage and an arachnophobe in the front row - a rubber scorpion is the only way out.
EPISODE 6
A Kabuki malfunction leads to plaster erotica and a fun new game show - Harpsichord or not Harpsichord.
Have you ever wondered how your favourite performers take their shows from a blank page in a notebook to a packed room in stitches? Soho Theatre is excited to announce a programme of masterclasses offering a close look at a professional comedian’s process. Each Thursday, a performer will be looking back at one of their previous shows available on the Soho Theatre On Demand player and taking you step by step through its creation. From developing the idea, to performing on the opening night and beyond, they will be letting you in on the secrets of their creative process. The performers include Jessie Cave, a Soho Six alumna and Soho Theatre regular since 2013 with her debut Bookworm, Jen Brister, another Soho staple who has performed five of her shows at the theatre since 2013, Shappi Khorsandi, a regular Soho performer and Jordan Brookes, who’s performed his last four shows at Soho Theatre since 2017.
Thursday 11th June JESSIE CAVE
An acclaimed actor, writer and illustrator, Jessie Cave’s last solo stand up show Sunrise had multiple sell out runs at Soho Theatre and around the UK. Always confessional and never afraid to go to places others might find uncomfortable, Jessie has built a strong following with her honesty, unique charm and tight writing.
In I Loved Her, Jessie’s first solo stand up show, she opens up her DIY heart and explains in definitely too much detail her insecurities, jealousies, fantasies and her exact current relationship status via shadow puppetry, masks and her little book of confessions.
Thursday 18th June JORDAN BROOKES
Jordan Brookes has long boasted of being the riskiest comedian in the business and, with his Edinburgh 2019 show, those risks paid off with him winning the coveted Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show. As a performer, each show has been different, whether it be the improvisational method to his award winning show I’ve Got Nothing or his technical masterpiece Bleed in which the audience were made to wear headphones to get an idea of what was happening inside Jordan’s head. Always unique, always entertaining and never predictable, just like good comedy should be.
In Bleed, the show that won Jordan Brookes critical acclaim, a year before winning the Edinburgh Comedy Award, the audience experience more of Jordan's trademark subversive psychological gameplaying, boundary-pushing audience interaction, and performance.
Thursday 25th June JEN BRISTER
Jen Brister is a critically acclaimed stand-up comedian and writer who has been seen on BBC’s Live at the Apollo, Frankie Boyle’s New World Order and more recently on Hypothetical and Sara Pascoe’s Comedy Lectures on Dave. A regular performer on the UK and international comedy circuits, Jen has written and performed on BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, The Now Show and presented for BBC 6 Music. Her book, The Other Mother has just been published by Square Peg and is due out in paperback in September. Jen supported Romesh Ranganathan on tour at the end of 2019 before embarking on her own tour in 2020 with her brand new show, Under Privilege.
In Meaningless, Jen uses her hilarious ranting to rail against period poverty, the perimenopause and why her Mum needs to get out of her bloody house now.
Thursday 2nd July SHAPPI KHORSANDI
Shappi Khorsandi is a stalwart of the UK comedy circuit. Over her 20-year career, she has performed sell-out shows all over the UK and internationally, been nominated for the prestigious British Comedy Award and appeared on every comedy panel show known to man from Mock The Week to Have I got News For You as well as appearances on Live at the Apollo and I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
In Live In Soho, Shappi talks about what it means to be addicted to stand-up, to have a father who is more controversial than her and to bring a pudding to a red-carpet event...
Places on the masterclasses cost £50, including digital download of the performers show. Places are strictly limited to allow participants the opportunity to ask questions and really get the most out of this unique opportunity. https://sohotheatre.com/shows/comedy-masterclasses/
Soho Theatre has also announced a four session Comedy Taster Course held over two days, Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th June, to support budding comedians develop their craft from home. Taking place on Zoom, the first three sessions will see Soho Theatre Comedy Associate LEE GRIFFITHS (Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated and Chortle Award winning comedian from sketch group Late Night Gimp Fight) take attendees through exercises designed to help them look at how to generate material, stage persona and performing style alongside building confidence. In the final session a guest comedian will give the lowdown on just what it’s like to become a working stand-up comedian. The series culminates when Soho Theatre is reopened once more, with a one-off show featuring all participants performing some of the material they’ve developed on the course.
The Comedy Taster course costs £40 with limited places to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to ask questions and learn as much as possible in a more intimate online setting. https://sohotheatre.com/shows/stand-up-taster-sessions/
Finally, with the building still closed to the public, from Saturday 13th June our Soho Labs Stand Up Course will be move online. Places are already fully booked.
More details on everything mentioned above can be found by clicking on links below...
Soho Theatre On Demand - https://www.sohotheatreondemand.com/
Comedy Masterclasses - https://sohotheatre.com/shows/comedy-masterclasses/
Comedy Taster Workshop - https://sohotheatre.com/shows/stand-up-taster-sessions/
