Preview: Reduced Shakespeare Company: The Complete History Of Comedy (abridged)

Reduced Shakespeare Company

The Complete History Of Comedy (abridged)

Written and Directed by Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor

Spring/Summer UK Tour 2015 including:

Wednesday 4^th February             Durham Gala

Thursday 5^th February                   Hexham Queens Hall Arts

Friday 6th February                       Kendal Brewery Arts Centre

Thursday 12^th February                 Middlesbrough Theatre

“This show proves (the Reduced Shakespeare Company) have not lost their touch - or their remarkable energy.”  The Stage (2014)

Following a hugely successful, critically acclaimed season at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014 the Reduced Shakespeare Company will set out to reduce the UK to tears of laughter in Spring 2015. Yes that’s right, the bad boys of abridgement will finally tackle the subject they were born to reduce. From the high-brow to the low, The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) covers comedy through the ages, from Aristophanes and Shakespeare to Vaudeville and Charlie Chaplin.

The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) is far more affordable than tickets to an amusement park, but you’ll still come away with the same feeling of nausea and motion sickness. From cavemen telling “Rock Rock” jokes to Chris Rock and everything in-between, the Company leave no joke untold as they deconstruct the entire history of comedy in 90 rollicking minutes.

The Reduced Shakespeare Company is a three-man comedy troupe that takes long, serious subjects and reduces them to short, sharp comedies.

Since 1981, ‘The Bad Boys of Abridgement’ have created nine stage shows, two television specials, several failed TV pilots and numerous radio pieces – all of which have been performed, seen, heard and translated into Klingon the world over.

The company’s first three shows, TheComplete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), TheComplete History of America (abridged) and TheBible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) enjoyed a nine-year run at the Criterion Theatre in Piccadilly Circus. Not only were they London’s longest-running comedies, but at one point the Reduced Shakespeare Company had more shows running in the West End than Andrew Lloyd Webber. Some of them were funnier too…

The company were last seen on a four month t+our of the UK and Ireland with The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) at the start of 2014. Before that a whirlwind eight month tour of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) played to packed houses throughout the UK and London’s West End throughout 2013. Prior to this the “other RSC” were wowing the UK with their highly successful Complete World of Sports (abridged), which toured the country before completing a season in London’s West End during the 2012 Olympics.

WARNING! Side-effects may include uncontrollable milking and painful running gags. 

“The trio deliver 70 minutes filled with laughter to a delighted audience.”

British Theatre Guide (2014)

On The Web:

Website:           www.reducedshakespeare.com

Twitter:            https://twitter.com/reduced

Facebook:        www.facebook.com

Tickets:

Wednesday 4^th February Durham Gala Box Office: 0191 332 4041 www.galadurham.co.uk

Thursday 5^th February Hexham Queens Hall Arts Centre Box Office: 01434 652 477 www.queenshall.co.uk

Friday 6th February Kendal The Brewery Arts Centre Box Office:  01539 725 133  www.breweryarts.co.uk  

Thursday 12^th February Middlesbrough Theatre Box Office: 01642 815181  www.middlesbrough.gov.uk

Preview: Josie Long On Tour

Josie Long

Cara Josephine

On Tour including:

Tuesday 24^th February        HULL, Fruit Space

Monday 16^th March            NEWCASTLE, The Stand

Thursday 19^th March           STOCKTON, Arc

Saturday 20^th March           KENDAL, Brewery Arts Centre

RADIO ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE – 2014

BAFTA SCOTLAND NEW TALENT AWARD NOMINEE – 2013

EDINBURGH COMEDY AWARD NOMINEE - 2012

EDINBURGH COMEDY AWARD NOMINEE - 2011

EDINBURGH COMEDY AWARD NOMINEE – 2010

BARRY AWARD – NOMINATION 2008

CHORTLE BEST BREAKTHROUGH ACT 2007

PERRIER BEST NEWCOMER AWARD – 2006

CHORTLE BEST NEWCOMER AWARD – 2005

BBC NEW COMEDY AWARD – 2005

Three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and cult optimist is back on the road  with her most personal show to date about love, family and being as outdoorsy as a bear.

Josie Long

Photo: Giles Smith

In her seventh nationwide tour and with a new niece in the picture, Josie reflects on her own childhood and the resilience of an older sister. She had never really truly known heartbreak until now, and she is using this  experience to change her ways; to be more patient, to work out what she really wants and to become a better person. This is truly her most heartfelt, honest and revealing material, but don’t fret - Nigel Farage and Nick Clegg still get a mention…

In her last Fringe appearance in 2012, Josie received her third Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination, and at this year’s festival she collected more stars than a small solar system and was officially cited the best reviewed comedy show. Throwing aside the whimsical reputation that she had become known for, a new, more politically aware and socially conscious comedian had emerged and captivated the comedy industry in a totally different way.

Josie is renowned for writing about what she cares about and, although there has more recently been a political underlying to her material, she always has the ability to make her shows friendly and silly. As many reviewers point out, you cannot help but come away from her shows hoping to become her best friend.

In addition to her numerous DVD releases, TV appearances, sell-out tours, charity benefits and a co-host slot on BBC Radio 6 Music,  Josie started an ongoing project in 2011 called the Alternative Reality Tour; an anti-cuts, pro-youth, no-profit performance in a bid to fight for social justice and support public art. They even bring blankets in case it’s cold. She runs a monthly club night in London, The Lost Treasures of the Black Heart, which celebrates the world’s unsung heroes and has since been turned into a podcast. She was recently nominated for a Radio Academy Award for her adventurous short documentaries Short Cuts on Radio 4, earned a BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award nomination for her two short feature films, Let’s Go Swimming and Romance and Adventure, and is co-founder of the Arts Emergency Service, a charity which aims to support students from underprivileged backgrounds who wish to study arts degrees. Her showcase for adventurous documentaries, Short Cuts, can currently be heard on Radio 4 on Tuesdays at 3pm.

On The Web:

Website:www.josielong.com / www.showandtelluk.com  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JosieLong

Press On ‘’CARA JOSEPHINE’: Edinburgh 2014

★★★★★ “By turns raucously silly and profoundly moving, Long is a top class performer at the top of her game” EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS

★★★★★ “An absolute gem of a show” ONE4REVIEW.COM

★★★★★ “A sincere, wonderful, hilarious, life-affirming triumph” THREEWEEKS

★★★★★ “She’s the consummate comedian. A wonderful talent” BROADWAYBABY

★★★★★ “Long has crafted a show nothing short of joyous” GIGGLEBEATS

★★★★★ “Josie Long is a truly fantastic comedian, and Cara Josephine is a masterpiece” FRESH AIR

★★★★★ “A one hour master class in storytelling” THE MUMBLE

★★★★ “Authentic, revealing and generous of spirit… this is a lovely show” THE GUARDIAN

★★★★ “Delightful and more widely digestible… brilliantly evocative… original and unflagging” THE TIMES

TOUR DATES

JANUARY                                              VENUE                                                    BOX OFFICE

Mon 19^th – Sat 31^st (not 25^th)    LONDON, Soho Theatre                                 020 7478 0100

FEBRUARY

Weds 4^th                              EXETER, Phoenix Theatre                                 01392 66708

Thurs 5^th                               WINCHESTER, Railway Inn                               01962 867795

Sat 7^th                                  CANTERBURY, Marlowe                                  01227 787787

Tues 10^h                               CARDIFF, Clwb Ifor Bach                                029 2023 2199

Thurs 12^th                             COVENTRY, Tin Angel                                      02476 230 699

Fri 13^th                                  DUBLIN, Workmans Club                                 +353 1 670 6692

Sun 15^th                               BIRMINGHAM, Electric Cinema                      0121 643 7879

Tues 17^th                              LEICESTER, The Y Theatre                                 0116 2557066

Weds 18^th                            WOLVERHAMPTON, The Civic                        0870 320 7000

Thurs 19^th                             BRIGHTON, Dome                                            01273 709709    

Fri 20^th                                  NORWICH, Playhouse                                     01603 598 598

Sun 22^nd                              BRISTOL, Tobacco Factory                              0117 902 0060

Mon 23^rd                             CAMBRIDGE, Junction                                     01223 511 511

Tues 24^th                             HULL, Fruit Space                                              01482 221113

Weds 25^th                           LEEDS, Wardrobe                                              0113 383 8800

Thurs 26^th                            SHEFFIELD, Crucible                                          0114 249 6000

Fri 27^th                                 YORK, Duchess                                                  01904 641413

Sat 28^th                               DERBY, Deda                                                     01332 370911

MARCH

Mon 2^nd                              LIVERPOOL, Unity Theatre                               0844 873 2888

Tues 3^rd                               FOLKESTONE, Quarterhouse                            01303 858500

Weds 4^th                             NOTTINGHAM, Arts Theatre                             0115 947 5925

Thurs 5^th                              NORTHAMPTON, NN Café                               01604 638944

Fri 6^th                                   READING, South Street                                     0118 960 6060

Sat 7^th                                 MANCHESTER, Gorilla                                       0161 407 0301

Sun 8^th                                COVENTRY, Warwick Arts Centre                    024 7652 4524

Weds 11^th                           OXFORD, The North Wall                                  01865 319450

Fri 13^th                                 MULL, Comar                                                     01688  302211   

Sat 14^th                               SKYE, Aros Centre                                              01478 613649

Mon 16^th                             NEWCASTLE, The Stand                                     0844 693 3336

Tues 17^th                             EDINBURGH, The Stand                                     0131 558 7272

Weds 18^th                           GLASGOW, The Stand                                      0844 335 8879

Thurs 19^th                            STOCKTON, Arc                                                 01642 525199

Sat 20^th                               KENDAL, Brewery Arts                                       01539 725 133

Fri 27^th                                 BELFAST, MAC                                                    028 9023 5053

Sat 28^th                               LONDON, Battersea Arts Centre                     020 7223 2223