24 | August 15, 2013 | cambridge-news.co.uk | Cambridge News
Words: Ella Walker
Music
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T
HE barbecue may still be watching you, sending hopeful subliminal messages like “hotdogs for tea” and “bring me a burger” or even “please marinade that chicken in the fridge”, as you stumble past each morning, but let’s face it, this summer and the few sweaty days it entailed, is almost over. Have a brief cry over your barely used sunblock and move on – in fact, move on to the arts: Cambridge’s arts venues are well and truly planning out autumn for you.
unmissable autumn showss
ON SONG: Dan Smith of Bastille and, below left, Laura Marling
Justin Currie FOUNDING member of Scottish rockers Del Amtri, Currie isn’t everyone’s ideal night out, although the What’s On editor is convinced he’s one of Britain’s greatest songwriters (and I’m right – Ed). The Guardian said of his first solo album: “Currie’s earnest, hirsute rock, garnished with folk and country touches and the odd orchestral flourish, is doggedly downbeat stuff” – but he’s got a hardcore following, so who are we to argue? You can read our interview with him in a couple ouple of weeks. . . n Cambridge y, Junction, Sunday, September 8. Contact (01223) 511511 / www. junction.co.uk
Laura Marling ARMED with her acoustic guitar and an ethereal voice, singersong writer and elfin folkster er Laura Marling is s rather good. Since nce her wonderful 2007 007 debut, the winsome Alas, I Cannot Swim (haunting and beautiful, it’s a shame the too-cool Laura tends to steer clear of performing her earliest tracks live these days), the 23-year-old is now on her fourth album, Once I was an Eagle. I Speak Because I Can and A Creature I Don’t Know make up the intervening albums, which helped propel her to two Mercury Music Prize Nominations and a Brit Award for Best Female Artist in 2011. Tempting, no? n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Friday, September 27. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk
Bastille BASTILLE, an alt-rock four-some led by scruffy haired singer-songwriter Dan Smith, has had a pretty hectic year involving a debut Number 1 album and a summer of festivals. “‘Whirlwind’ is a funny word that we
get thrown at us g quite a lot,” Dan q told What’s On to earlier this year. ea guess it’s quite “I g hard to articulate what this year’s been because it’s – this like bec like a really sounds lik of describing boring way o been so busy. it – but we’ve just b It’s quite weird to acknowledge.” The gig’s sold out but it’s probably worth hanging around outside the Corn Exchange just for a dance. n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Saturday, October 12. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk
Tom Odell SO, NME gave floppy haired singersongwriter Tom a big fat zero out of 10 for his debut album Long Way Down. And then his dad rang up the office to have a go at them – it was just brilliant. Not to mention a perfect publicity storm too; the album tumbled into the Number One spot, simultaneously ensuring Odell lived up to his billing as the BRIT’s Critic’s Choice. He might be a bit Marmite-esque (his stuff is on the extreme end of introspection and slightly maudlin), but he plays the piano quite sweetly.
Editor: Paul Kirkley Writer: Ella Walker Email: ella.walker@cambridge-news.co.uk
n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Sunday, October 13. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk
Local Natives LA psych-folksters (that is apparently a thing now) Local Natives are Taylor Rice, Kelcey Ayer, Ryan Hahn and Matt Frazier – a collaborative group of lads, writing, playing and choosing the band’s direction together. Frequently compared to Fleet Foxes, Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend, they like beards, moustaches and are pretty laid back about life (we recently caught up with Matt for a chat and he was so relaxed he was barely conscious – in a good way). We’d have said two years ago they were ones to watch, but perhaps they’re more of a slow burn. n Cambridge Junction, Tuesday, October 15. Contact (01223) 511511 / www.junction.co.uk
Alison Moyet YOU’VE been warned, don’t call Alison Moyet an 80s throwback. She’s got a difficult to pin down but entirely recognisable voices and first found fame with Alf, one of the biggest selling albums of the 80s. Now she’s on her eighth album The Minutes (first single, When I Was Your Girl, is
categorically epic), with no sign of slowing down anytime soon. She’s s already been hinting at the next record. n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Wednesday, October 16. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk
Babyshambles LIBERTINES fans might find the Babyshambles racket all a bit of a disappointment (speaking from experience, they were a literal shambles when I saw them play in Brixton in 2006, the highlight being g Pete warbling a version of ‘10 green en bottles’), but The Libertines are sadly dly no more, so we must make do with h Doherty in this slightly less dynamic ic form. They shot to fame with first album Down in Albion (helped and/or /or heeded by Pete’s arrest on the night ht of their first gig), before Shotter’s Nation came out in 2007. Let’s find d out if they still have an edge. n Cambridge Junction, Thursday, October 17. Contact (01223) 511511 / www.junction.co.uk
Jamie Cullum MUCH loved jazz/pop star Cullum (dad of two and husband to beautiful ful foodie, Sophie Dahl), released his sixth studio album, Momentum,
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DUO: AlunaGeorge’s Aluna Francis and George Reid
SOLO: Tom Odell earlier this year y and it’s already being touted as his best yet. He stormed the UK jazz scene in 2003 success after successfully engaging Sony Universa in a bidding war for and Universal sw his music, swooping up praise for Pointless Nostalgic, Twentysomething, Nos Tales and The Pursuit. But Catching Tal several years presenting now, after se ja show on BBC Radio his weekly jazz sing beatboxer and merry 2, the singer, b pianist is back. Thank goodness. n Cambrid Cambridge Corn Exchange, Friday, October 2 25. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.co www.cornex.co.uk
AlunaGeorge SASSY and electric, AlunaGeorge (the stunning, AlunaG gangly gangl Aluna Francis on vocals G and George Reid in charge of prod production), pump out a mix of 90s 90 R’n’B vibes, tinged by inspiration taken from the insp likes like of Radiohead, Aaliyah, PJ Harvey and Frank Ocean. The pair released Oc their th debut album, Body Music, in July to fairly huge M fanfare and are tipped fa to t be massive. They’ve e already collaborated with a Disclosure on White Noise D oise (it made it to Number 2 in the th charts), and Aluna found herself leaping fo about on stage with ab Dizzy Diz Rascal at this year’s yea Glastonbury. They The are pretty cool. Cambridge Junction, Ca Friday, Frida October 25. Contact (01223) (0122 511511 / www. junction.co.uk junctio
Daughter
EMPIRE BUILDING: KT Tunstall
MADE up of Elena Tonra (vocals), Igor Haefeli (vocals (guitar) and Remi Aguilella (drums), Daughter are a London Da indie folk trio that make your skin shiver and your bottom lip wobble. y e. From the heartbreaking Youth (“My y hea damp from the words you eyes are dam u left/Ringing in my head, when you u chest,”), to the aching, broke my c angry Still (“Biting words like a wolf howling/Hate is spitting out each howling/H ch other’s mouths,”), and even their heir Lucky Daft Punk cover. Get Luc
Basically, they aren’t a good idea if you’re heartbroken, unless you want a good old sob. n Cambridge Junction, Saturday, October 26. Contact (01223) 511511 / www.junction.co.uk
Jools Holland IT’S tough to escape the reach of Jools Holland. A dab hand at presenting, playing and composing, the guy is widely considered a radio and TV legend – and then there’s the matter of his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra who will be joining him at his upcoming Cambridge gig. This time around Melanie C will be performing with them too (yes! A bonafide Spice Girl!). Go sing-a-long. n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Saturday, November 2. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk
The Feeling WHAT ever happened to The Feeling? They had to reschedule their tour earlier this year to link up with new album, Boy Cried Wolf, but, since their rush of hits in 2006-2007 they have been a bit absent. That might be down to the fact their kind of cheesy indie-pop (think a less rock Kaiser
Chiefs – they had a whole song about rosé wine to be fair), has fallen out of favour. But still, they know how to write a catchy chorus. n Cambridge Junction, Saturday, November 2. Contact (01223) 511511 / www.junction.co.uk
Blue SO, the Blue boys are officially back. The R’n’B/pop foursome – Antony Costa, Duncan James, Lee Ryan and Simon Webbe – shot to fame in the early noughties with catchy saccharine tracks like One Love, Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word (with Elton John!) and Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours. Hitting rocky times in 2005, they split before reforming in 2011 for Eurovision. . . Somehow it wasn’t as disastrous as you might expect. Now – on the back of ITV2’s The Big Reunion show – the lads are apparently better than ever. Find out if the rumours are true. n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Sunday, November 3. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk
KT Tunstall FOLKY singer-songwriter KT Tunstall – Scottish songstress and guitarist –
shot to fame with her debut album Eye to the Telescope in 2004 (remember Black Horse and a Cherry Tree?), and is currently touring with her fourth studio album, Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon. Striking and soulful the 37-year-old has a trio of Brit Award nominations to her name, plus a win, and she just headlined the Cambridge Folk Festival (it was said to be amazing). How can you not be a fan? n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Friday, November 8. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk
Public Service Broadcasting OH, these guys are cool. Dapper, suited and prepared to the max with electronic samples from quirky public information films, black and white archive footage and propaganda material, overlaid with live music (banjos, piano and guitar get a look in). Live, they are electric, punching buttons and looking like well-to-do college kids. You will love them, if you have any sense at all. n Cambridge Junction, Monday, November 18. Contact (01223) 511511 / www.junction.co.uk
REUNION: Blue
26 | August 15, 2013 | cambridge-news.co.uk | Cambridge News
The critical list: more hot tickets Theatre Measure for Measure TECHNICALLY a comedy, Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure is more of a problem play than a laugh out loud funny piece. Still, this production, by Cambridge American Stage Tour (CAST), slickly takes the citizens of Vienna – overrun by shadiness and the sex trade – and gives it a modern gloss. The law is being ignored, the spiteful Angelo brutally takes control (fear and oppressions his tools), but falls for the enchanting Isabella – sister of
50 VI. The Globe Theatre on Tour is presenting all three parts of the Bard’s historical creation: Harry the Sixth, Houses of York and Lancaster and The True Tragedy of the Duke of York, and don’t fret, you can see all three shows for the price of two (visit the Arts Theatre website for details). Expect death, bewitchment, rebellion and power struggles galore. If anyone knows how to do Shakespeare justice, it’s the Globe. n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Tuesday, September 17 – Saturday, September 21. Contact (01223) 503333 / cambridgeartstheatre.purchasetickets-online.co.uk
Fallen Angels
imprisoned Claudio – and suddenly it seems the rules no longer apply to everyone. . . n ADC, Wednesday, September 4 – Saturday, October 12. Contact (01223) 300085 / www.adctheatre.com
The Producers ALL singing, all dancing, all greedy – that’s The Producers for you. It’s won 12 Tony Awards and nails hysterical slapstick. Performed by Cambridge Stagehands: the premise? Broadway producer Max Bialystock and his accountant Leo Bloom are set to make a fortune by raising funds for a Broadway show so terrible it will flop on opening night, leaving them to run off with the investors’ cash. You can imagine it won’t quite go to plan. n ADC, Thursday, September 12 – Saturday, September 14. Contact (01223) 300085 / www.adctheatre.com
The Mousetrap IT opened in 1952 and has been whirring towards becoming the longest running show in the world of theatre ever since. Now celebrating its 60th anniversary, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap is the ultimate murder mystery. If you haven’t seen it before (where have you been?), it involves a murder, a country house and a host of suspicious guests – as all good murder mysteries do. There’s a reason it’s been running for so long – prepare to be thrilled, and look out for the twist! n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Monday, September 16 - Saturday, September 21. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk
Henry VI: Parts I – III A SAVAGE world is the one Shakespeare devised for his Henry
A CHAMPAGNE fuelled romp is an apt description of Noël Coward’s quick-fire comedy Fallen Angels. Starring Jenny Seagrove and Sara Crowe as best friends Julia and Jane, it’s catty, drunken and marvellously foolish. With their rather tame husbands off on a golf trip and the promise of a visit from a long lost lover, the women tumble into a bubbly-driven fluster as jealousies and claws lash out. And then their husbands arrive home early. Uh-oh. Witty and rapid, you’re likely to fall head over heels for it. n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Monday, September 23 – Saturday, September 28. Contact (01223) 503333 / cambridgeartstheatre.purchasetickets-online.co.uk
North, North, North SEAL meat, frostbite and a terrible, hopeful adventure, this is the latest show from Cambridge theatre company New International Encounter (NIE). Set in 1897, it tells the tale of three Swedish adventurers who set out for the North Pole in a hydrogen filled balloon in search of vast new snowscapes. They plan to plant the Swedish flag at the pole but disappear, floating away into the unknown. There will be music, storytelling and a mix of projection and physical theatre. Brrrr. n Cambridge Junction, Tuesday, October 1. Contact (01223) 511511 / www.junction.co.uk
The History Boys YOU’VE probably seen the film, but now Alan Bennett’s award-winning comic masterpiece will be on stage at the ADC for the first time. Put together by the Cambridge University Amateur Dramatic Club (CUADC), they say it’s: “Performed by people on the other side of the Oxbridge application game, The History Boys prompts us to question whether it was worth it after all.” Eight students are whipped into Oxbridge shape by supply teacher Irwin, but their general studies teacher has bigger plans than that. Definitely a chance to reminisce
WORDS: Ella Walker
unmissable autumn shows
about your school days. n ADC, Tuesday, October 15 – Saturday, October, 19. Contact (01223) 300085 / www.adctheatre.com
Prometheus and The Frogs EVERY three years Cambridge University performs a play in Greek, and this year it’s a double bill of comedy and tragedy with Prometheus and The Frogs – fortunately there will be subtitles. In 2010, The Cambridge Greek Play was Agamemnon, and the tradition has seen the likes of Rupert Brooke and Ralph Vaughan Williams taking part. A newly commissioned orchestral score by composer, Alex Silverman will run alongside Prometheus as he tries to save mankind, and some dancing, singing frogs. n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Wednesday, October 16 – Saturday, October 19. Contact (01223) 503333 / cambridgeartstheatre.purchasetickets-online.co.uk
The Private Ear and The Public Eye INDULGE in two one-act plays by Peter Shaffer. The Private Ear is set in a grungy London bedsit where reclusive Bob, usually occupied with his record collection, enlists the help of his uber-confident friend Ted to treat his date, Doreen, to a decent meal. While The Public Eye revolves around a slick London accountancy office, where uptight Charles deals with quirky private detective Julian over the matter of his wife’s possible adultery. Both rather take our fancy. n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Monday, October 21 – Saturday, October 26. Contact (01223) 503333 / cambridgeartstheatre.purchasetickets-online.co.uk
Poets vs Rappers LOCAL gal Hollie McNish – spoken word poet extraordinaire – will be one of the acts performing during a night when poets and rappers are pitted together. Three of each get 15 minutes to showcase their words, rhythms and rhymes, with no music to back them up, and the audience gets to decide who verbally slams their way to being the most lyrical. Other than Hollie, regular battler
Mark Grist and Birmingham poet laureate Stephen Morrison Burke will fight for the poets, with Skuff (hip hop), Jimmy Danger (drum n bass) and Deanna Rodger (grime) representing the rappers. n Cambridge Junction, Thursday, October 24. Contact (01223) 511511 / www.junction.co.uk
Likeable Superstar Role Model CREDIBLE Likeable Superstar Role Model is the title of Bryony’s new show, in part devised by herself, but largely dictated by the whims and sartorial tastes of her 9-year-old niece Taylor. Basically, Taylor came up with “a dinosaur-loving, bike-riding, tuna pasta eating alternative popstar called Catherine Bennett” who Bryony promised to play – doing everything Taylor told her to in the process, including become famous. There will also be heavy weaponry and matching Laura Ashley outfits we’re told. Fancy seeing the results? Us too. n Cambridge Junction, Wednesday, October 30. Contact (01223) 511511 / www. junction.co.uk
Save the Last Dance For Me IF you liked Dreamboats & Petticoats earlier this year, you will adore Save The Last Dance For Me, which is said to blur the line between Dreamboats and Dirty Dancing (swoon). A rock ‘n’ roll musical saturated by tunes from the sixties, it’s written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran and promises nostalgia, weepy eyes and a whole lot of dancing in your seat. n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Monday, November 4 – Saturday, November 9. Contact (01223) 503333 / cambridgeartstheatre.purchasetickets-online.co.uk
Frost/Nixon DRAWING on the film of the same name from 2008, this is a show bound up in political and journalistic tension, as well as a battle of wits. The Dryden Society troupe explore the clash between Richard Nixon who received a full pardon from Gerald Ford over his involvement in the Watergate scandal, and British talk-show host David Frost (who aspires to make him fall
POLITICS: Ben Miller in The Duck House
Cambridge News | cambridge-news.co.uk | August 15, 2013 | 27
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Family and films
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FILMS Hawking
HENRY VI: The True Tragedy of the Duke of York to pieces). Twelve interviews, no scripts, and no prior knowledge of the question – who knows what might happen. n ADC, Tuesday, November 5 – Saturday, November 9. Contact (01223) 300085 / www.adctheatre.com
English Touring Oper THE English Touring Opera is back with three new shows: Cavalli’s Jason – loosely based on Jason and the Golden Fleece, it involves a treacherous journey and lots of family drama. Monteverdi’s The Coronation of Poppea – the beautiful Poppea attempts to seduce the infatuated Nero and make him divorce his wife Ottavia, to become the new queen and empress of Rome. In Handel’s Agrippina – an almost prequel to The Coronation of Poppea – Nero’s mother schemes for him to take the throne. n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Wednesday, November 13 – Saturday, November 16. Contact (01223) 503333 / cambridgeartstheatre. purchase-tickets-online.co.uk
The Duck House GORDON Brown’s government is falling apart, a general election is looming and Labour backbencher Robert Houston will go to any lengths to save his skin, sorry, seat. Especially when the expenses scandal breaks. . . receipt stricken Robert is in a bit of a situation. A brand new comedy from Dan Patterson, Ben Miller (of The Armstrong and Miller Show) stars. Let’s see if it will have you rolling in the aisles. n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Monday, November 18 – Saturday, November 23. Contact (01223) 503333 / cambridgeartstheatre.purchasetickets-online.co.uk
Thriller Live DON’T be coy, you totally know the dance! Regardless, this is the kind of show that will have you flailing your limbs, jumping up and down and practising your moon walk (shuffling attempts welcomed). Two hours dedicated to Michael Jackson’s greatest hits, (we’re mainly looking forward to renditions of Dirty Diana, Beat It and Billie Jean – obviously), there’ll be pop, rock, soul and disco to dance and sing-a-long to. Now, where’s that leather jacket? n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Friday, November 29 – Saturday, November 30. Contact (01223) 357851 / www. cornex.co.uk
Get the popcorn in – the 33rd Cambridge Film Festival has confirmed its opening film will be Hawking, a new documentary directed by BAFTA-nominated Stephen Finnigan. Plus, Professor Stephen Hawking will be attending too and answering questions during a Q&A after the screening. The man himself narrates the film, tracking his life from hazy student days, to his ongoing fight with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and his career as a writer and cosmologist. n Cambridge Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge Film Festival, September 19 – 29. Contact (01223) 500082 / www.cambridgefilmfestival. org.uk
Blue Jasmine UK premiere WOODY Allen’s latest film, Blue Jasmine (starring Cate Blanchett, Sally Hawkins and Alec Baldwin), will be unveiled for the first time in the UK at the Cambridge Film Festival. Yet another gem in the directors cache (which of course includes Annie Hall, Manhattan and Midnight in Paris), it’s a tempestuous family drama in which the highly-strung socialite Jasmine (Blanchett) moves in with her sister (Hawkins) after a disastrous divorce from the wretched Hal (Baldwin). It’s being tipped as one of Allen’s best movies in years. n Cambridge Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge Film Festival, September 19 – 29. Contact (01223) 500082 / www.cambridgefilmfestival. org.uk
FAMILY The Butterfly Lion MICHAEL Morpurgo o n has done more than create War Horse don’t you know. The e author and former children’s laureate’ss latest story to be transformed into an enchanting theatre piece for little ones is his 1996 tale, The Butterfly Lion. It won the Smarties book prize the same year and tracks the life of Bertie, a young boy who befriends a white lion, only to be sent to boarding school and have his lion sold to the circus. Will they ever be reunited? n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Monday, September 30 – Saturday, October 5. Contact (01223) 503333 / cambridgeartstheatre. purchase-tickets-online.co.uk
Aliens Love Underpants BASED on the book by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort, you will, predictably, “laugh your pants off” – so says the production team. A bit zany, a bit silly and packed with music, laughs and audience interaction, it’s the kind of show that will entertain big and little kids for an hour or two. Pure escapism. n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Monday, October 28 – Tuesday, October 29. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk
James and the Giant Peach ONE of the greatest Roald Dahl – hell, one
ENCHANTING: Thumbelina’s Great Big Adventure, above, EN and The Butterfly Lion, inset
of the greatest children’s stories – ever written, James and the Giant Peach is a tale about just that: James Trotter lives with his two beastly aunts but is one day handed a bag of magic that he drops by an old and withered peach tree. And then something funny happens. . . he sets off on a crazy adventure, complete with outsized insects, seagulls galore, men who live in the clouds and a trip to New York. Can the Birmingham Stage Company do it justice? n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Tuesday, October 29 – Saturday, November 2. Contact (01223) 503333 / cambridgeartstheatre.purchasetickets-online.co.uk
Robin Hood WE know, we know, it’s a tad too early to be thinking about Christmas, but it’s got to be done. Those thighs won’t slap themselves, will they? (“Oh yes they will! Oh no they won’t!” etc.) This year Jack can put his
Beanstalk away, it’s the turn of Robin Hood and his merry men. Sheriff Nottingham will be causing mischief, the arrows will be flying and there’ll be tonnes of audience interaction to get stuck into. n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Thursday, December 5 – Sunday, January 12. Contact (01223) 503333 / cambridgeartstheatre. purchase-tickets-online.co.uk
Thumbelina’s Great Big Adventure HANS Christian Andersen’s classic tale gets a colourful twist as the Junction’s Christmas show this year. There will be animals and adventures and a journey to the big city with a diminutive Thumbelina who has some huge dreams and ideas. Hopefully there’ll be a sprinkling of snow by then too. n Cambridge Junction, Saturday, December 14 – Saturday, January 4. Contact (01223) 511511 / www.junction.co.uk
30 | August 15, 2013 | cambridge-news.co.uk | Cambridge News
The critical list: more hot tickets
@CamWhatsOn
Comedy Felix Dennis
THE man who happily admits to spending £100m on crack cocaine, women and a whole lot of wine, is fast becoming a national treasure – for his poetry. Felix Dennis just cannot stop winning at life. The magazine publisher, millionaire and entrepreneur extraordinaire caught the world’s attention with the Oz obscenity trials in the 60s. Now he’s touring with his spoken word show and counts Sir Paul McCartney and Stephen Fry among his fans. Oh, and the show’s called Did I Mention the Free Wine for a reason. Bottoms up. n Cambridge g
ne FUNNY MEN: Alex Hor r and and below, Jimmy Car Russell Brand
50 Junction, Monday, September 9. Contact (01223) 511511 / www. Co junction.co.uk ju
Jason Manford J
YO might have grown tired of the YOU 8 Out of 10 Cats format, but Jason M Manford does his best, don’t you th think? The Mancunian team captain g into comedy after working in got a pub and being inspired by the lilikes of Peter Kay and Eddie Izzard. T The rest, as they say, is a career sspanning voiceover work (those a annoying Churchill ads included), presenting gigs (The One Show, d despite a hazy, sexting-related end to it), and stand-up, of course. Prepare for some belly laughs. n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Monday, September 9 – Tuesday, September 10. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk
Alex Horne
WHO knows if it’s true but Alex
unmissable autumn shows Horne is: “the inventor of the word ‘fffhp’, an onomatopoeic description of the sound created when a snowflake lands on a bubble.” The things you can learn from Google. When not inventing new literary morsels, Horne is bringing laughter to BBC Radio 4, garnering Perrier Award nominations and hanging out with fellow comic (and Cambridge native), Tim Key. What can he be up to now… n Cambridge Junction, Friday, September 20. Contact (01223) 511511 / www.junction.co.uk
Henning When
NEVER heard of him? Us neither. However, this gig has already sold out (sob). Self-proclaimed German Comedy Ambassador to Great Britain, Henning is a BBC Radio 5 Live Fighting Talk regular and has popped up on 8 Out of 10 Cats and QI (clearly we haven’t been paying attention). Now, who can we nab a ticket off? n Cambridge Junction, Friday, October 18. Contact (01223) 511511 / www.junction.co.uk
Jimmy Carr
HE just can’t keep away, can he? Jimmy Carr is returning to the Corn Exchange once again (that’ll be the fifth time this year and the 25th time ever), but who can blame him. The show, Gagging Order, will be another encounter with the stand-up’s unlimited ability to shock, offend and entertain with snappy, witty one-liners. Go have fun. Again. n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Sunday, October 20. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex. co.uk
Bill Bailey
BILL Bailey’s qualms about the universe and everything in it have spilled into a whole, suitably hilarious show. The Black Books star is all set to muddle his way through a bout of philosophising with a host of instruments and some religious dubstep (yep, that’s a real thing). And apparently there is an owl involved. Don’t you just love him? n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Monday, October 21 – Tuesday, October 22. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk
Russell Brand
THE ridiculously intelligent, crazy haired, skinny belted lothario is back doing what he does best: stand-up, with his Messiah Complex world tour (also featuring Jesus Christ, Che Guevara, Ghandi, Malcolm X and Hitler, don’t you know). It takes a look at the mental disorder which
causes sufferers to believe they are the messiah – so, umm, did Jesus have it? This is the question Brand tackles, with all his usual wit, flair and rampant chat. If you’re easily offended, perhaps give it a miss, but if you love Brand in all his guises, get to the box office. n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Saturday, October 26. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex. co.uk
Reginald D Hunter
THE Georgia born comedian started out in theatre before realising he could make more money in stand-up. Promptly switching to telling jokes for a living, controversial ones at that, his gigs tend to involve the ‘n’ word quite a bit. His website calls him: “Unassuming. Provocative. Raw. Fresh. And funny. Don’t forget funny.” And you won’t. Or how uncomfortable he can make you feel either, even if you’re simultaneously cackling away. His stuff tends to run along the lines of hard hitting, over sharing and (almost) too close to home, it’s like a slap in the face in a good way. n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Sunday, November 10. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex. co.uk
Paul Foot
THE first thing to note about Paul Foot is the mullet. It’s really quite striking – but then so is his comedy. Mates with Russell Brand and Noel Fielding (Brand’s actually been accused of copying him), the Oxford graduate specialises in the surreal and has been described as “a rare exotic bird” by the Daily Express. He wears odd socks, rambles politely (he’s very funny on the topic of food allergies), and writhes about on stage. Definitely worth a look. n Cambridge Junction, Thursday, November 14. Contact (01223) 511511 / www.junction. co.uk
Greg Davies
HE’S ridiculously tall Greg Davies (6ft 8in if you were wondering: “In Bangkok I am a genuine, fairy tale giant,”), and is probably best known for his role as the bluntly scathing Mr Gilbert in The Inbetweeners. Then there’s been stints in BBC3’s Cuckoo and We Are Klang, but it’s stand-up that has his giant heart, hence the success of his first tour Firing Cheeseballs At A Dog. Now he’s back with new show The Back of My Mum’s Head; better not skive off. n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Thursday, November 14. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex. co.uk
Stephen K Amos
STEPHEN K Amos is all about finding the funny. A staple at the Edinburgh Fringe (this will be his 10th visit), and prolific when it comes to bringing out new shows (at least one a year), his stand-up is packed with honesty, tales from his rambunctious childhood and a whole lot of feel-good hoots. The Junction has pulled off a bit of a coup nabbing him – don’t miss out. n Cambridge Junction, Friday, November 15. Contact (01223) 511511 / www.junction.co.uk
Ed Byrne
CAMBRIDGE regular Ed has (just about) put those Carphone Warehouse adverts behind him, fortunately. Spectacle clad with flowing locks, he’s smart, funny and best mates with Dara O Briain (we’re so jealous), plus, he’s appeared on Blind Date – thanks for that Wikipedia. There have been Perrier award nominations along the way, punctuated by hillwalking columns and dogged touring. The man is a class act. n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Friday, November 15. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex. co.uk