Humour and Rights
an unmissable evening of comedy in support of legal action charity Reprieve at the Comedy Theatre, London

On July 10th 2011 top comedians will stand up in support of Reprieve's vital work on death row and Guantánamo Bay at the West End's Comedy Theatre. CLICK HERE

NO PRESSURE TO BE FUNNY
an evening of satirical comedy and topical debate will be returning in the autumn - to the West End. Full details soon.

LBC's James O'Brien, Alistair Barrie and Nick Revell return with their critically acclaimed panel show featuring special guests, songs and diatribes. This series will be podcast on The British Comedy Guide - follow this link for details: http://www.comedy.co.uk/ podcasts/no_pressure_to_be_funny/

Only £5 - April 6, 13, 20 & May 4, 11, 18 2011 - 8pm @ The Hob, 7 Devonshire Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 3HE - www.edcomedy.com

LAUGHTER/PAIN - JUNE 2010

Tim Minchin! Phill Jupitus! Stewart Lee! Ed Byrne! Shappii Khorsandi! Robin Ince! Me! And loads more, all for Reprieve. 7 June, The Lyceum.

HAPPINESS - AUGUST 2009

I am returning to the Edinburgh Festival in August with my new show 'Happiness'. It's downstairs at 7.40pm in The Tron on Hunter Square, which is genuinely one of the best rooms for stand up in Edinburgh (I've performed there many times, and seen such genii as the lovely Steve Hughes and the really rather special Doug Stanhope play there over the years). All part of the brilliant Five Pound Fringe brainchild of evil conniving comic mastermind JON BRILEY (have you met Jon? I really can't think of a nicer chap for whom the words 'evil conniving mastermind' are less fitting) and his SMERSH like GSOH organisation. Basically, the hook is that all shows are five pounds to get in, a brilliant and fair plan that has been far too long in coming.

I'm rather looking forward to it.

Here is the poster, designed by the brilliant, woefully underappreciated and frantically overworked Sally McLean who's just moved in with her lover and all sorts, don't you know. Stop it Sally, and get on with the tasks I send you, commanded Al, masterfully.

Ta-daa! (I hope. Haven't seen the bloody thing yet.)

Come along. I am rather thinking that it will be brilliant. Although it's a month away and is presently about twenty minutes short. But that's what July is for. Please come to any of the previews listed on the gigs page as that would be a massive help in allowing me to ascertain what's actually funny about the rampant state of misery the world appears to be in. Other people's unhappiness - always funny, I can't lose. Though had to call it 'Happiness' instead of 'Misery' as part of a cunning getting-people-to-come-and-see-it plan I had. That and the fact people might have expected Kathy Bates to hobble me with a sledgehammer two thirds of the way through. Which might still happen.

ORANGAID - JUNE 2009

with Bill Bailey and Tim Minchin (**** Evening Standard) at the Lyceum.

Orang Aid was held at the Lyceum Theatre (proper West End - we were pretending to be The Lion King and everything) in aid of the Sumatran Orangutan Society. Simon Munnery compered Nina Conti, Bollo from the Mighty Boosh, me, Tim Minchin, Jason Manford and Bill Bailey. Don't know if anyone's spotted the theme again there. Had what I thought was a lovely gig, which was reviewed by Bruce Dessau, who's comments rather reflect my status on the bill. Four stars is all well and good Mr D, but what exactly am I supposed to do with "effective satirical snippets?"

OBVIOUSLY - AUGUST 2007

'Obviously' will be my first solo show at the fringe since 2004, and there are lots of new bits from the tour including an appearance from my mum. It's on at the Underbelly from 2-26 Aug at 21.55.

I've spent so much time writing blurb about it elsewhere that I can't be bothered to write anymore here. Google it for God's sake. Or just come along. It will be funny. How's that for the hard sell?

I'm also appearing in two plays. Firstly, 'Breaker Morant' for the Comedians Theatre Company at the Udderbelly alongside Adam Hill and Brendon Burns amongst others. It's already a Hot Ticket in The Edinburgh Evening News which is brilliant considering we haven't even started rehearsals yet. Secondly, 'Coffee' a new play by James Campbell at C venue in which I don't say anything. Which will be a relief. Mostly to those around me.