Events
Bright Club, where researchers and lecturers try stand-up comedy for the first time, started here at UCL and has spread across the country. Tonight eight of the funniest brainboxes from UCL and across the UK will try and prove to you that comedy is way better once you escape the smog and smugness of the capital. They'll be joined by professional comedians including Angela Barnes (Winner BBC new comedy award 2011) and Paul Sinha (from ITV's The Chase) and cabaret musicians to bring you a night of laughter and learning. Contains plenty of swearing.
Hilarious show of world-class stand-up as Irish/Australian super-star Jimeoin, internationally hailed as one of live comedy’s masters and multi-award winner, presents his stunning new tour ‘Lovely’ across the UK in 2012. No gimmicks, purely and simply just great craic.
22nd May only standing and single seats available. Call 020 7388 8822 to book these. Stand-up mathematician Matt Parker, geek songstress Helen Arney, and Blue Peter's resident science expert Steve Mould bring you "Festival of the Spoken Nerd" – a comedy night for the insatiably sci-curious. "Riotously funny show about science... brimming with unashamed geekery" Three Weeks
Eight talented comedians have joined forces with International Alert – to put the spotlight on peace! Come celebrate peace and enjoy a fabulously funny line-up of comedians all in aid of International Alert. On the bill we have Sean Hughes, Zoe Lyons, Richard Herring, Patrick Monahan, Tom Price, Will Andrews, Tiernan Douieb with Alistair Barrie compering the night. Special time limited offer. Call us on 020 7388 8822 and quote '3 for 2' to get 3 tickets for the price of 2.
Matthew Crosby (Compere) "Compact, controlling" The Times. Joe Wilkinson "A natural gagsmith who looks so comfortable behind a mic stand you'd be forgiven for thinking he'd been doing stand up for a decade" The Guardian. Tony Law "You feel as if you've been to a masterclass" The Stage. Abandoman "Killer punchlines, perfect, lyrically mind-blowing hip-hop improv. Genius!" – The Stage. Elis James "Getting the sort of word-of-mouth recommendations that much more experienced comics would kill their mothers for" The Scotsman. Deborah Francis-White "Hysterical, you will fall in love her. She’s fab." Time Out. Josh Widdicombe "This is one of the most individual, accomplished, hilarious and unforgettable hours I have had this year" The Scotsman. In aid of The John Hartson foundation.
Extra dates have just been announced following the huge success of his spring 2011 tour. Craig's unique ability to find humour in the mundane, coupled with his own natural eccentricity makes for truly inventive storytelling. An internationally acclaimed act, Craig's whimsical travel anecdotes never fail to surprise.
Millennium Performing Art's yearly showcase performance, featuring top class choreographers and directors creating their work for our young professionals.
Amateur Transplants frontman Adam Kay sits at a grand piano and sings smutty songs. With sell-out tours and Edinburgh Fringe seasons, his cutting-edge, darkly humourous re-imaginings of pop and rock classics have gained him a cult following across the UK. His songs have over 20 million hits on YouTube (including the iconic London Underground Song) and have been in the iTunes comedy top ten consistently since 2008. This show is probably not suitable for your elderly maiden aunt. NB Unlike the majority of musical comedy, this is actually funny.
2008 Edinburgh Comedy Award winner, 2010 Hot Press Irish Comedian of the Year, 1990 East Leinster under 14 triple jump bronze medalist, founder member of Destiny's Child, inventor of the iPad, star of 2Fast 2Furious, and until recently he always mispronounced the word 'hyperbole'. The number one ranked person called 'David O'Doherty' on Google returns to The Bloomsbury with small keyboards/talking.
The prolific and widely loved Welsh author, whose 1984 novel, Money, was adapted to a stellar two-part BBC drama in 2010, takes some time out to talk to us about his brand new novel, Lionel Asbo: State of England, about a violent young criminal who wins the lottery from within the confines of his prison cell. You can expect it to be as raw as previous material, as he deconstructs the fickle role of capitalism in western society. Presented by Time Out Live in association with Foyles. This evening will be followed by signing with Martin Amis.
Additional date on the 13th June due to popular demand. With a voice that can caress or confront, embrace or exhort, Gregory Porter exhibits such an incredible degree of vocal mastery, that no less a jazz luminary than Wynton Marsalis has gone on record to call him “a fantastic young singer.” Born in Los Angeles, raised in Bakersfield, residing presently in Bedstuy, Brooklyn, Gregory performs around the UK, Europe, Russia and USA. A frequent guest performer with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Gregory also maintains a long-standing residency at Smoke Jazz Club in New York.
West London School of Dance presents Spring into Summer. The tiniest stars from WLSD in their biannual variety show celebrating Spring into Summer. Tickets £12, standing £8 (call 020 7388 8822 to book) Maximum of 4 tickets per performance.
The world is full of problems, but it's also full of brilliant people, chipping away at those problems with their ideas and expertise. Focus on the Positive is your chance to choose how to improve the world. Meet some of UCL’s inspiring researchers, who’ll tell you exactly how they want to tackle the big issues. With the help of our host, comedian James Acaster, you get to decide which one to fund. The winning idea, as voted for by you the audience, wins £5000 to fix the world!
Charity performance with Paul Tonkinson, Pajama Men, Paul Foot, Terry Alderton, Robin Ince, Alex Horne and Jen Brister. In aid of Crisis.
Following stellar performances on BBC One's Live At The Apollo and Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow and Ch4's Stand-Up For The Week, don't miss hugely talented Canadian émigré Tom Stade on an extended leg of his nationwide tour. His magnetic stage presence, irrepressible charm and first-class story-telling have established him as one of the finest stand-ups around. Join his inimitable, offbeat world for a truly unforgettable night of comedy.
Stars of BBC1's The Magicians and winners of the World Magic Awards: Best Comedy Illusionists, twisted warlocks Barry & Stuart will be stunning audiences with their amazing new show, Show & Tell. In the first half of the show, expect their trademark innovative tricks and devious illusions, then in the second half, be prepared to have your minds blown as they exclusively reveal all the secrets behind the magic, in showing you, for the first time ever, exactly how those tricks were done!
Masters Performing Arts College, one of the leading Performing Arts Colleges in the country brings you an entertaining explosion of Musical Theatre and Dance. The captivating content will cater for all tastes whilst also showcasing for you The Stars of Tomorrow. Tickets £25, concessions £20 (Friday and Saturday matinee)
Ballet Central's 2012 tour features new works from Mikaela Polley (Rambert Dance Company), Sharon Watson (Phoenix Dance Theatre) and Sara Matthews, as well as revivals by Matthew Hart, the late David Fielding, and Ballet Central's founder, the late Christopher Gable. This exciting programme of ballet, contemporary, jazz and narrative dance will also feature live accompaniment by Musical Director Philip Feeney. Don’t miss this opportunity to see some of the world’s most talented young dancers.
The Dare2Dance competition is back! Now into it’s 4th year, London's next generation of women in hip hop have been training hard since February and will hit the Bloomsbury Theatre stage, battling it out to be crowned D2D Winners 2012!
And that’s not all...
The UK's first and only festival for women in hip hop - b.supreme will be teaming up with D2D to showcase a special evening of women in hip hop following the competition.
Featuring Funkamental, Stylinquents and Project G, this is set to be a full on celebration of women in hip hop!
Check out b.supreme & Dare2Dance on twitter for updates - @bsupremeUK / @Dare2DanceUK
Tickets £12, £8 concessions
English National Ballet School is delighted to present its Summer Performance 2012. A fantastic opportunity to see exceptionally talented young dancers perform a wide repertoire of inspiring, technically demanding and moving work including excerpts from Sir Frederick Ashton’s Les Rendezvous, Don Quixote and two original pieces specially commissioned this year for the students.
Tickets on sale Tuesday 1st May 10am. Kaleidoscope: A continually changing pattern of shapes and colours. Experience the 1st and 2nd year students from Urdang Academy as they intertwine through a kaleidoscope of colour and present a celebration of musical theatre and dance.
Straight from BBC 1's documentary We Won't Drop The Baby, Laurence is the only stand-up comedian commissioned by the London 2012 festival. Whenever Laurence gets told he's inspirational for doing very ordinary things, he feels like he's being told he's exceeded people's low expectations of him. A wife? A job? And two gorgeous sons? In his own imitable style that's brought him twenty-five four and five star reviews, Laurence Clark brings you what he does best – a comedy show... not a series of very ordinary achievements. If you're sceptical when told to climb every mountain, reach for the skies and follow your dreams then this is definitely the show for you!
Star of Comedy Central's Comedy Blue, MTV's Kojo's Comedy Funhouse, BBC Radio 4 Extra's Comedy On The Boat, and host of Supreme FM’s Breakfast Show, the award-winning Quincy, brings his sellout show to The Bloomsbury. A unique night of stand-up and sketches from the 'big man' and 'Cockney Prince' with special guests with a house band, this show is for one night only!
Jo Brand hosts the winning acts and a top selection of finalists from New Variety’s New Act of the Year 2012 showcase: Patrick Cahill, Mark Stephenson, Adams & Rea, Bobby Mair, Mark Simmons, Mae Martin and The Fabulous Russella.
We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead! So it's time to prepare yourselves for Horrible Histories live on stage! Using actors and ground-breaking 3D special effects, these two astounding shows – The Terrible Tudors and The Vile Victorians – are guaranteed to thrill you and your children. Historical figures and events will come alive on stage and hover at your fingertips.
Wanderlust is the brand new show from one of the world's most popular and travelled comedians. Fresh from sell-out tours across the world, Danny Bhoy returns this Autumn to selected theatres throughout the UK. This is a show guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face and wanderlust in your heart.
Prepare to enlist as international mega-myth Nick Helm takes you on a blood-spattered tour of duty through the carnage filled battlefields of his love-life with the most epic and romantic show ever attempted. Romance has a new name. Ladies, bring a cagoule to sit on and get ready to leave pregnant.
Scoundrels Comedy Club with Tom Price, Isy Suttie, Doc Brown and Gareth Richards.
Stunning new show from Scotland's award-winning comedian and internationally acclaimed half-man-half-Xbox, Daniel Sloss. Having starred on TV shows such as Michael Mcintyre's Comedy Roadshow, 8/10 Cats, Mock The Week, and more, plus his own BBC show The Adventures Of Daniel, Daniel started gigging aged just 16. In October 2009, aged 19, his debut in London's Soho Theatre made him the youngest stand-up ever to perform a solo season in the West End. Now 21, he has toured internationally, sold out 4 Edinburgh Fringe seasons and to top it all off, he's recently left home. So, now the gloves are really off! (although the dirty socks are still on the floor...)
Award winning comic Andi Osho (Live At The Apollo - BBC1, Mock the Week - BBC2, Stand Up For The Week - Channel 4) is back on tour with her second stand-up show. Andi presents a brutally honest dissection of the perils and pitfalls of dating reporting her findings to the audience in this hilarious and heart-warming show.
Welcome to Jenny Eclair's new stand-up show. After thirty years in the business she should vaguely know what she's doing? Professional Grumpy Old Woman, writer and panto star; Eclair has been round the block that many times she's lost count. You may recognise her from Loose Women where she is happy to be one of 'The Coven'. She is also a Pilates Ninja and a disgrace in her own kitchen.
Mark Little dances his way through the upheavals of the modern #wikileaks #twitter #murdoch #arabspring #nuclear #doomsday epoch with his own unique comedy take on 'EARTH 2012' and its unnerving popularisms with a funny little dog in this black and white, silent comedy romp. More MIND BENDING than Schwarzenegger in 'Total Recall'. More POWERFUL than Stallone in 'Rocky 4' and '5'. Mark Little is THEbullshitARTIST.
Is it possible to travel back in time? Tom has always believed it cannot be done, but when the grandfather clock in the hallway chimes thirteen times, Tom is transported to a secret garden from the past. Here he meets Hatty and together these two new friends enjoy fantastic adventures in a magical wonderland. But with each new journey through time, strange things begin to happen – and Tom must solve the mystery of the midnight garden! "Family entertainment doesn't come any better than this" Birmingham Post
Is it possible to travel back in time? Tom has always believed it cannot be done, but when the grandfather clock in the hallway chimes thirteen times, Tom is transported to a secret garden from the past. Here he meets Hatty and together these two new friends enjoy fantastic adventures in a magical wonderland. But with each new journey through time, strange things begin to happen – and Tom must solve the mystery of the midnight garden! "Family entertainment doesn't come any better than this" Birmingham Post
Is it possible to travel back in time? Tom has always believed it cannot be done, but when the grandfather clock in the hallway chimes thirteen times, Tom is transported to a secret garden from the past. Here he meets Hatty and together these two new friends enjoy fantastic adventures in a magical wonderland. But with each new journey through time, strange things begin to happen – and Tom must solve the mystery of the midnight garden! "Family entertainment doesn't come any better than this" Birmingham Post
After sellout success in 2012, Festival of the Spoken Nerd are back at the Bloomsbury Theatre with a brand new show. In a comedy night for the insatiably sci-curious, stand-up mathematician Matt Parker, geek songstress Helen Arney and experiments guy Steve Mould are looking at Life, Oh Life. They're asking: Who are we? Where do we come from? And... are we nearly there yet?
