Comedy October 2021.qxp_Layout 1 17/09/2021 13:39 Page 1
Comedy
Desi Central Comedy Show Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Sat 9 October
“We’re still in a country where white men dominate many industries,” says BBC Asian Network’s Noreen Khan, who is one of four comedians billed for this show, “so it’s very important to have visible, diverse rolemodels to help inspire others and to reflect the world we live in.” Desi Central certainly does that, providing a showcase not only for Noreen but also for three other hugely talented laughter merchants: Aatif Nawaz (pictured), Anuvab Pal and Kat B. An evening of high-quality comedy is pretty much a guarantee.
Milton Jones Theatre Severn, Tues 12 October; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Wed 13 October; The Alexandra, Birmingham, Sun 24 October; The Place, Telford, Tues 9 November; Walsall Arena, Fri 18 February; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 20 May
With a style of humour that’s mainly based around puns and one-liners, Milton Jones has established himself as one of Britain’s most in-demand funnymen. “If my comedy’s working well, I put a cartoon in people’s heads that surprises them,” explains Milton. “So you start off and they’re thinking one thing, then you surprise them by changing the ending as
you go along. It’s not political or particularly edgy, it’s just daft.” Gags include: “Militant feminists - I take my hat off to them. They don't like that,” and, “Recently on a flight to America, all the way across, my wife was going, ‘Why don't you get an upgrade, why don't you get an upgrade?’ It took a bit of time, but in the end I got a better wife.”
Simon Amstell
okay in the world. And I suppose all I’ve really wanted all along is the kind of intimacy that I was using stand-up as a way of avoiding.” Simon stops off in the Midlands with touring show Spirit Hole, ‘a blissful, spiritual, sensational exploration of love, sex, shame, mushrooms and more’.
Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Fri 8 October; Birmingham Town Hall, Fri 29 October; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thurs 4 November
From writing and directing films to converting to veganism, and from finding love to taking spiritual medicine in a shamanic ritual, Simon Amstell has been on quite a journey since his Never Mind The Buzzcocks days. He’s even found himself wondering whether he wanted to carry on as a stand-up comedian. “It’s certainly a question I asked myself, because I definitely came to a place where I felt like I didn’t need to have so much attention from people anymore. But what I realised was that I quite enjoyed being funny and making people laugh, so now it comes from a place of real curiosity and joy. While I thought as a child that fame would make me safe, I discovered that it’s actually connecting with people that makes me feel 20 whatsonlive.co.uk
Ross Noble The Place, Telford, Wed 13 October; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Mon 18 & Tues 19 October; William Aston Hall, Wrexham, Sat 23 October; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Thurs 28 October
Geordie comic Ross Noble may not have hit the heights once expected of him, but he’s undoubtedly one of the UK’s most talented funnymen. He also has a nice line in surreal comedy, never gives an audience the same show twice, and boasts an impressive number of followers on Twitter. Heading for the Midlands this month with latest show Humournoid, Ross includes among his jokes, “If the Pope doesn't want to be knocked down, he shouldn't dress up as a skittle”.
