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 abridgementwill 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 Companyis 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 Endthan Andrew Lloyd Webber. Some of them were funnier too…

The company were last seen on a four month t+our of the UKand Irelandwith 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 UKand 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: Pete Firman at Witham Hall in Barnard Castle

UK’S LEADING MAGICIAN LANDS IN TEESDALE

Pete Firman

Middlesbrough magician Pete Firman has a few tricks up his sleeves on his return to Teesdale this summer.

Widely regarded as the UK’s leading comedy magician (Time Out), Firman is back in the region to conjure up his brand new show, Trickster, ahead of its month-long run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

He will be performing at the recently-refurbished Witham Hall in Barnard Castle on Saturday 21 June for Funny Way To Be Comedy Club.
Peter Dixon, of Funny Way To Be, said: “I first met Pete Firman many years ago when I was in his audience and was brought on stage to have six eggs and a pint of milk poured into my shoe. 
“When the footwear was returned bone dry, many laughs later, I was first amazed and then realised this was a man with a fantastic talent.
“Pete has since gone on to appear on all the major comedy TV shows and is now seen as the best comedy magician we have in the UK.”
As one of the stars of BBC1’s The Magicians, the illusionist and comedian has also written and appeared on shows including Derren Brown’s 3D Magic Spectacular, Dirty Tricks and The Sarah Millican Television Programme.

Pete travels to Teesdale as part of a star-studded summer programme of comedy in Barnard Castle featuring the likes of Hebburn creator Jason Cook, Phoenix Nights star Justin Moorhouse, Jo Caulfield, Patrick Monahan and 2012 BBCNew Comedy Award winner Lucy Beaumont.

Support comes from Steve Shanyaski, who you might have seen on Jason Manford’s Comedy Rocksand The Comedy Store Presents… on Comedy Central.
Tickets for the show, priced £10, are on sale now via funnywaytobe.com.

Tickets for all Funny Way To Be shows are on general sale now from funnywaytobe.com.

The Important Info On Upcoming Shows

Shows and ticket prices

·         Imran Yusuf & Kai Humphries @ The Jersey Farm Hotel(Wednesday 11 June – £5/£8 on the door)

·         PeteFirman w/ Steve Shanyaski (Saturday 21 June - £10/£12 on the door)

·         Jason Cook: Broken& Justin Moorhouse (Tuesday 1 July - £6/£8 on the door)

·         JoCaulfield: Celebration of Anger(Saturday 19 July - £8/£10 on the door)

·         Lucy Beaumont & Patrick Monahan Edinburgh previews (Saturday 26 July - £8/£10 on the door)

·         Lee Nelson: Work-In-Progress (Wednesday 29 October, 7.30pm - £17.50)