Weirdos Comedy Club

Last updated
Weirdos Comedy Club
NationalityBritish
Years active2010 – present
Genres Comedy

Weirdos Comedy Club is a UK based group of alternative comedians founded by Adam Larter in 2010. [1]

Contents

Origins

Weirdos Comedy Club, commonly referred to as "Weirdos", was formed by Adam Larter as an experimental night and a safe place to try out riskier or more alternative material than usual circuit comedy. Nights generally focussed on anarchic and silly sets deemed too alternative [2] for more streamlined stand-up common on the UK comedy circuit. [3] They have been compared to the 80's alternative comedy group The Comic Strip. [4]

Originally housed in the Lion, Kings Cross it grew from a comedy night into a group and over the years nights and projects became larger. Of these, most notably is their annual alternative Christmas panto.[ citation needed ]

Unlike most comedy groups the line-up constantly shifts. The original Weirdos include Foster Comedy Award Winner John Kearns, Pat Cahill, Leicester Mercury Winner Ben Target, Holly Burn, Matthew Highton, Mark Stephenson, Ali Brice, Karl Schultz, Beth Vyse, Nick Sun, Darren Maskell and Larter himself.

Later Weirdos include Joz Norris, Marny Godden, Gareth Morinan, Joe Davies, Luke McQueen, Hariett Kemlsey, Chris Boyd, Stuart Laws, William Lee, Katia Kvinge, Laurence Owen, Liberty Hodes, Lindsay Sharman, Jon Brittain, Eleanor Morton and Cassie Atkinson.

The early nights of Weirdos were unpredictable; Burn setting herself on fire or crowd surfing, Maskell gunging himself, Highton extending a ten-minute slot for over an hour to outdo another comic, Sun having the audience follow people or Morinan surveying the audience and holding after dinner speeches in a curry house to unsuspecting diners and staff. [5]

Christmas Panto

Since 2012 Weirdos have held an annual alternative Christmas panto in aid of Great Ormond Street hospital. They state that it is in actuality nothing like a real Christmas panto and focus more on silliness and anarchy. [6] [7]

2012 - Hook

The first panto was a re-production of Steven Spielberg’s Hook, recreating the film onstage in its entirety. With John Kearns taking the lead of Peter Pan and Karl Schultz as Hook.

Full Cast - John Kearns (Peter Banning/Peter Pan); Karl Schultz (Captain Hook); Holly Burn (Tinker Bell); Matthew Highton (Rufio); Darren Maskell (Smee/Liza); Ben Target (Narrator); Ali Brice (Jack); Mark Stephenson (Maggie); Beth Vyse (Wendy/Lost Boy); Joe Davies (Thud Butt); Thomas Meek (Moira); Stuart Laws (PC Phil Collins/Pirate); Chris Boyd (Toodles); Joz Norris (Shadow/Lost Boy); Gareth Morinan (Mermaid/Lost Boy); Darren Walsh (Lost Boy); Marc Burrows (Lost Boy); Harry Maclaine (Young Peter Pan); Jack De'Ath (Pirate); Lindsay Sharman (Pirate); Joshua Ross (Pirate); Patrick Turpin (Pirate); William Lee (Crocodile); Pat Cahill (Mr Blobby); Adam Larter (Dancer)

2013 - The Colonel

Co-written and co-directed by Larter and Highton, The Colonel was a ‘war epic about love and chicken, lots of chicken.’ Based on a joke by Highton, the plot focussed on Sanders (played by Ali Brice) and his best friend Chicken Steve (played by Larter) as they grew in a small Kentucky town, eventually joining the army and killing Hitler. It featured in the Independents and Time Outs must sees for Christmas. [8]

Full Cast - Ali Brice (Sanders); Ben Target (Narrator); Beth Vyse (Mrs Sanders); Matthew Highton (Ron McDonald); Pat Cahill (Adolf Hitler/Lemon Boy); Marny Godden (Penny); Adam Larter (Chicken Steve); Mark Stephenson (Devil/Boston/Doc Brown); Gareth Morinan (Drill Sergeant); Joe Davies (Cobbler/Lieutenant Ron); John Kearns (Stanley/Lemon Boy); Stuart Laws (Kowalski/President/Marty McFly); Thomas Meek (Sampson Twin/First Lady/Bill); Jack De'Ath (Sampson Twin/Ted); Mark Dean Quinn (Management Consultant); Chris Boyd (Soldier/Sellotape Face); Liberty Hodes (Crazy Dream Lady); William Lee (Crocodile/Winston Churchill)

2014 - A Christmas Tail

Written by Larter and Directed by Highton, A Christmas Tail was the story of a feminist mermaid (played by Harriet Kemsley) and her hapless friend, or ‘exoskeleton twat', [9] an Australian Lobster (played by Joz Norris). The plot focuses on Kemsley journeying from Atlantis to the human world to stop a John Lewis advert from ruining their home. It once again featured in Time Outs Christmas must sees. [7] [10]

Full Cast - Harriet Kemsley (Maggie the Mermaid); Katia Kvinge (Sharon the Mermaid); Pat Cahill (King of Atlantis); Luke McQueen (Jack); John Kearns (Octopus/Finny Jones the Dolphin); Mark Stephenson (Gary the Eel); Beth Vyse (Moira); Gareth Morinan (Gillian/Whale); Ali Brice (Plaice/TV Salesman); Marny Godden (Sea Captain/Snail); William Lee (Crocodile); Thomas Meek (Grandmother); Chris Boyd (Coral); Laurence Owen (James/Salmon); Lindsay Sharman (Lucy/Jellyfish); Michael Brunström (Dorito Fish); Jack De'Ath (Pike); Penny Matthews (Octopus Tentacles/Stagehand); Joe Davies (DJ Tuna); Liberty Hodes (Stagehand); Charlie Miller (Stagehand); Mario D'Agostino (Stagehand); Ben Target (Floating Head)

2015 - Weirdos For Christmas Number One

Again written by Larter and directed by Highton, 2015's upcoming Weirdos For Christmas Number One sees Larter playing a fictional version of himself who forms the Weirdos into a band and hopes to write a Christmas Number One in order to raise money to pay off the Inland Revenue. The show is again among the critic's choice Christmas comedy events in publications such as TimeOut and Londonist. [11] [12]

Other Nights

Only Fools and Horses and Horses and Horses and Horses and Horses - A comedy-cum-performance art piece loosely inspired by the classic sitcom Only Fools and Horses, this show had a one-off performance at the Museum of Comedy which was a critic's choice event in Londonist. [13] The piece was written by Larter, who also played Del Boy and co-starred Marny Godden as Uncle Albert and Trigger, Gareth Morinan as Boycie, Jon Brittain as Marlene and the Geographical Area of Peckham, Letty Butler as Mickey Pearce, Alwin Solanky as Denzil and Cassandra's Grave, Andy Barr as himself and Christian Brighty as The Nag's Head.

Unofficial Harry Potter Sequels - In 2015, Weirdos Comedy Club co-produced with Laugh Out London a series of live unofficial, spoof Harry Potter sequels, which became some of the best-selling performances the two groups had ever staged and eventually transferred to a sold-out performance in the main space of the Leicester Square Theatre. These shows were again Critic's Choice in publications including TimeOut. [14]

Full Cast - Adam Larter (Harry Potter); Eleanor Morton (Ginny Weasley/Molly Weasley); Matt Tedford (Ron Weasley/Luna Lovegood); Marny Godden (Hermione Granger/Uncle Albert); Jon Brittain (Hagrid); Cassie Atkinson (Professor McGonagall/Moaning Myrtle); Gareth Morinan (Albus Dumbledore/Arthur Weasley); Suzanna Kempner (Taylor Swift/Bellatrix Lestrange/Lucius Malfoy); Jack De'Ath (Dragon/Stagehand); Christian Brighty (Patronus/Stagehand)

Blue Print

Blue Print was a regular night held in the Lion, Stoke Newington throughout 2014. It focussed on more collaborative work, opposed to the original set based night of its origins. [15]

Bowie Fest

Bowie Fest [16] was a spoof version of the V&As Bowie Is that Larter and Highton put on in 2012.

Computer Boy

A play written by Larter about a boy who wanted to be a computer, starring Ali Brice, Beth Vyse and Luke McQueen. [17] Widely regarded as one of the best Weirdo's pieces, Larter often cites it as the benchmark of his work.

The Fawlty Towers Dining Experience, Experience

Another spoof, this time of the famous Fawlty Towers Dining Experience. Weirdos held it in Edinburgh 2013 and reportedly the only audience members were the cast of the Fawlty Towers Dining Experience. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. K. Rowling</span> British author and philanthropist (born 1965)

Joanne Rowling, better known by her pen name J. K. Rowling, is a British author and philanthropist. She wrote Harry Potter, a seven-volume fantasy series published from 1997 to 2007. The series has sold over 600 million copies, been translated into 84 languages, and spawned a global media franchise including films and video games. The Casual Vacancy (2012) was her first novel for adults. She writes Cormoran Strike, an ongoing crime fiction series, under the alias Robert Galbraith.

<i>The Chronicles of Narnia</i> Series of childrens fantasy novels by C. S. Lewis

The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of seven portal fantasy novels by British author C. S. Lewis. Illustrated by Pauline Baynes and originally published between 1950 and 1956, The Chronicles of Narnia has been adapted for radio, television, the stage, film and video games. The series is set in the fictional realm of Narnia, a fantasy world of magic, mythical beasts and talking animals. It narrates the adventures of various children who play central roles in the unfolding history of the Narnian world. Except in The Horse and His Boy, the protagonists are all children from the real world who are magically transported to Narnia, where they are sometimes called upon by the lion Aslan to protect Narnia from evil. The books span the entire history of Narnia, from its creation in The Magician's Nephew to its eventual destruction in The Last Battle.

A British sitcom or a Britcom is a situational comedy programme produced for British television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lord Voldemort</span> Fictional character from Harry Potter

Lord Voldemort is a character and the main antagonist in J. K. Rowling's series of Harry Potter novels. The character first appeared in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which was published in 1997, and returned either in person or in flashbacks in each book and its film adaptation in the series except the third, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, in which he is only mentioned.

This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cloris Leachman</span> American actress (1926–2021)

Cloris Leachman was an American actress and comedian whose career spanned nearly eight decades. She won many accolades, including eight Primetime Emmy Awards from 22 nominations, making her the most nominated and, along with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, most awarded performer in Emmy history. Leachman also won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award.

<i>Harry Enfield & Chums</i> Television comedy series

Harry Enfield & Chums is a British sketch show starring Harry Enfield, Paul Whitehouse and Kathy Burke. It first broadcast on BBC2 in 1990 in the 9 pm slot on Thursday nights, which became the traditional time for alternative comedy on television.

<i>Gavin & Stacey</i> British Barry/Essex comedy television series

Gavin & Stacey is a British sitcom written by James Corden and Ruth Jones about two families: one in Billericay, Essex; one in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Mathew Horne and Joanna Page play the eponymous characters Gavin and Stacey, while Corden and Jones star as Smithy and Nessa. Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb star as Gavin's parents, and Melanie Walters (Gwen) is Stacey's mother and Rob Brydon (Bryn) is Stacey's uncle.

The immense popularity and wide recognition of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter fantasy series has led to its being extensively parodied, in works spanning nearly every medium. The franchise holds the record for the most fan fiction parodies, at over 900,000 Some self-described parodies have been targeted by Rowling and her publishers as plagiarism, while others have sold hundreds of thousands of copies without any threat of legal sanction. Misinterpretations of Harry Potter parodies have sparked at least two urban legends. Many Harry Potter parodies are self-published; others are put out as part of major comic productions, such as Mad, The Simpsons, South Park, Saturday Night Live and Robot Chicken, all of which have parodied Harry Potter several times. Rowling has also been parodied in a number of instances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domhnall Gleeson</span> Irish actor (born 1983)

Domhnall Gleeson is an Irish actor and screenwriter. He is the son of actor Brendan Gleeson, with whom he has appeared in a number of films and theatre projects. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts from Dublin Institute of Technology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Toronto International Film Festival</span> 2010 film festival edition

The 35th annual Toronto International Film Festival, (TIFF) was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between September 9 and September 19, 2010. The opening night gala presented Score: A Hockey Musical, a Canadian comedy-drama musical film. Last Night closed the festival on September 19.

The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society (ACMS) is a British comedy night, where comedians are invited to perform sets that might not work at more mainstream comedy nights. It was founded by John-Luke Roberts and Thom Tuck at the New Red Lion Theatre in Islington, London. For a while it was mainly held at the Soho Theatre, but now the regular London venue is The Phoenix, Cavendish Square. Each year there are Alternative Comedy Memorial Society shows at the Edinburgh Fringe. ACMS has been running since March 2011, usually on Monday evenings. The group's logo is a boulder emblazoned with 'JOKE?' being pushed up a hill, representing the slogan 'Fresh Sysiphean Comedy'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurence Owen (composer)</span> British composer, musician, comedian and actor

Laurence Owen is a British composer, musician, comedian and actor.

White Christmas (<i>Black Mirror</i>) Episode of Black Mirror

"White Christmas" is a 2014 Christmas special of the British science fiction anthology series Black Mirror. It was written by series creator and showrunner Charlie Brooker and directed by Carl Tibbetts, first airing on Channel 4 on 16 December 2014. Agreed as a one-off special after Channel 4 rejected potential series three scripts, the episode was the last to air before the programme moved to the streaming platform Netflix.

Matthew Highton is a British comedian and film-maker from Saddleworth known for his surreal storytelling.

Adam Larter is a British alternative comedian and founder of Weirdos Comedy Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joz Norris</span> British alternative comedian, comic actor and screenwriter

Josiah Norris is a British alternative comedian, comic actor and screenwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Bonnaroo Music Festival</span>

The 2016 Bonnaroo Music Festival was held June 9-12, 2016 in Manchester, Tennessee. This marked the 15th consecutive festival since its inception in 2002. Bonnaroo saw its lowest attendance to date in 2016 with 45,537 tickets sold. A 38 percent decrease from the previous year

References

  1. ↑ "Interview with Adam Larter | Comedy Blogedy". comedyblogedy.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-17.
  2. ↑ "Weirdos Comedy Night | Comedy in London".
  3. ↑ "Finding Funny: The Adam Larter Interview". scribbler.co. Archived from the original on 2015-02-03.
  4. ↑ "Reviews : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide".
  5. 1 2 "Good Night: Weirdos is aptly named | Such Small Portions". suchsmallportions.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-28.
  6. ↑ "A Christmas Tail – Weirdos Alternative Panto | Comedy in London".
  7. 1 2 "Loading..." scribbler.co.
  8. ↑ "The Week in Comedy: The 12 gigs of Christmas". Independent.co.uk . 12 December 2013.
  9. ↑ "Reviews : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide".
  10. ↑ "Christmas comedy shows in London – Christmas party ideas – Time Out London".
  11. ↑ "Weirdos for Christmas Number 1: An Alternative Panto | Comedy in London".
  12. ↑ "From HoHo to Soho: How to Crack-Up This Christmas". 24 November 2015.
  13. ↑ "Only Fools and Horses Gets the Weirdos' Treatment". 9 September 2015.
  14. ↑ "Harry Potter and the In-Appropriate Halloween (An Unofficial Sequel) | Comedy in London".
  15. ↑ "Weirdos Comedy presents… Harry Potter and the House Elves on Strike". Time Out London. April 29, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Bowie Fest".
  17. ↑ "DomainLore: .uk Domain Sales and Auctions".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.