james acaster
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Here is one of the most interesting things that Edinburgh has thrown up this year. A monologue about sex, written by an anonymous woman, read by a comedian who has not seen the script until it is handed to him onstage. Nish Kumar and Marcus Brigstocke have already done it and on the night I was in James Acaster was the plucky stand-up stepping out of his comfort zone.
Are critics reviewing the performance we see or the performance that should be taking place? It’s an issue that has troubled me for a while and came to a head this week when I reviewed James Acaster. I called him a “comic genius” so somebody quite fairly asked me why I had only given him four stars rather than five.
Comedians Nick Helm, James Acaster, Nish Kumar and Marcus Brigstocke are among the performers appearing in a new unrehearsed show about heterosexual female sexuality at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Manwatching is described as "a funny, frank, and occasionally explicit insight into heterosexual female desire, read out loud by a man."
I won’t go into too much detail about James Acaster’s Latitude set because it was clearly an excerpt from his forthcoming Edinburgh show, Represent. I will say for starters though that if you are going to Edinburgh and don't have a ticket yet get one quickly.
Acaster’s show is based on what I presume to be a true story of his time doing jury service. From this simple premise, however, he spins out a colourful yarn, packed full of vivid, instantly recognisable characters.
When it comes to recommending Edinburgh shows James Acaster is pretty much the ultimate no-brainer. In fact I can’t believe that I haven’t recommended the three-times Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee already. My general shorthand for Acaster is to describe him as a wise-cracking geek, but I’m not sure if this is fair any more. He still looks as if he is wearing the M&S range and waiting for a casting call from The Big Bang Theory, but there is something more muscular about Kettering’s favourite son these days.
Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee James Acaster has announced a tour starting on October 1 in Northampton and ending in Bath on December 3. His new show Represent tells the story of Acaster's time doing jury service during a murder trial.
Acaster has recently established himself as one of the most distinctive comedians in the UK. He has notched up a plethora of award nominations. As well as three Edinburgh Comedy Award nominations he won Best International Show Award at the 2014 New Zealand International Comedy Festival.
These are busy times for television-friendly comedians. Even though Live at the Apollo is taking a break there seem to be more mainstream openings than ever for those that fancy a bit of exposure. ITV1 has Sunday Night at the Palladium and now BBC1 has jumped in a day earlier with The John Bishop Show.
Occupy Democracy is holding its first Festival of Democracy, a ten-day event celebrating British democracy and the right to protest, featuring workshops, speakers and entertainment, on the front lawn of the establishment, Parliament Square opposite Westminster.
During the festival they will be presenting three nights of live comedy on May 5, 7 and 9 featuring some of the country’s finest alternative and politically-engaged acts.
It has been a big night for comedy awards. As well as Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival Awards being handed out in Leicester, the Chortle Awards have been handed out in London in a ceremony hosted by Clive Anderson. Among those presenting awards were Nancy Dell'Olio, Richard Herring and Matt Berry. See here for the nominees.
Innovative comedy producers Invisible Dot will be curating a programme of events as part of the Manchester International Festival which runs from July 2 - 19. Among the highlights is the world premiere of The Crocodile, a Dostoyevsky story adapted by Tom Basden, plus a new show from Adam Buxton. Events will take place in the Pavilion Theatre, Festival Square.
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