Ginger DJ Rob

Last night I saw possibly one of the most imaginitive and original puppetry in ages. No wonder their Edinburgh show sold out. Titled 'The Table', it was described as: "Moses the puppet invites you to his home, the Table, where he experiences real and surreal visions in Blind Summit Theatre 's imaginative show combining puppetry and dark humour." The first act involved their main character animated by three puppeteers who bascially introduced himself, his imaginery landscape on the table and his failing persistance to reinact Moses' last 12 hours according to the Bible. The humour was subtle but mature and dark in places but at times had everyone in stitches especially as it seemed there was an improvisation moment when the puppets hand fell off. Here's a YouTube clip showing the Moses puppet: The second act was a clever use of a wall with portrait frames which the puppeteers animated with masks. Again, a very clever scene and chan...

I'm a bit late finding this out but my Twitter spies led me to find this very old pilot for The Blackadder . I'm a huge fan of the first series where Rowan Atkinson 's character was completely different to the Ben Elton influenced creation. Controversial for some I know but it just worked better for me. Its this more confident character that gets a practice within this pilot episode. It's based on the second episode of the first series, ' Born to be King ' where Edmund plots revenge on the Scottish Supreme Commander, McAngus. I've added both videos below so you can compare the two versions where they use alomost the same jokes and script around Edmund having to book the entertainment for the coming feast (i.e. Morris dancers, Eunurchs etc.). Its amazing that only Edmund, the Queen and Lord Percy were the only characters to be played by the same actors. Can't imagine Blackadder not having Brian Blessed and Tony Robinson, plus Prince Harry in the pi...

We've been seriously busy over the past week with practically every night out at a different Brighton Fringe show or Great Escape gig. More on that when I invent that time-machine. But first, a pair of sweaty fellas I've been looking forward to seeing (no, I don't mean the contents of my pants after a cycle ride). Tonight Matthew, Max and Iván were going to be 'The world’s greatest detective' tackling 'Chicago’s murky underworld'. It was going to be 'A prohibition-era tale of revenge, whiskey and javelins.' In case you're still confused I'm referring to the latest show from a pair of talented comedy actors who are a regular feature at the Brighton Fringe. Their previous shows used their own style of comedy sketch with their 2009 Televisionaires show (their Mario & Luigi meets Martin Scorsese was hilarious) then their 2010 show, simply titled Max and Iván (loved their bad stand-up comedian character with inner monologue). Unlike La...

Atters is a Brighton Chap legend who models himself on English scoundrel, Terry Thomas . His show is almost a PowerPoint presentation on his paranormal investigations then has special, sexy guests filling in with saucy acts. A kind of Carry on X-Files . Catchphrases involved 'swabs' and 'probes' etc. I loved his persona and caddish approach but you couldn't quite help thinking it was a bit unreheresed. The cabaret element was a little borderline at times especially the pant-wearing pervy female strippers giving the audience an eye-full more than expected. Perhaps the show would have been better on a Friday night at about 10pm. Since writing the above I've since discovered this video which is dated three years ago and is the same material. No wonder some of the audience were a little quiet, perhaps expecting some new jokes?

Location: Three and Ten Pub, Upstairs Theatre One of our favourite's from last year's Fringe returned with 99% new comedy sketch material. These five guys pack in some great laughs and seemed to have invested in some in-between videos as the next gag gets set up. The humour is low-brow, silly and childish in places but that's typically perfect for my level that's guaranteed to shock you into laughter. Highlights for me were the CCTV of one of the Gimp's mum and her bedroom plus the opening and closing musical numbers were brilliant. When will these guys get a TV break?! See the Late Night Gimp Fight website Related articles Fringe Review website - Late Night Gimp Fight Ginger DJ Rob: Late Night Gimp Fight 2010 review

Tickets have been booked to see Greg Davies this Saturday at the Brighton Dome . Some people will know him from The Inbetweeners but I'll associate him more with We Are Klang (introduce yourselves to this episode clip on YouTube). Looking forward to this and thought I'd add a preview video. Sadly, for anyone wanting to go, his stand-up, 'Firing Cheeseballs at a Dog' has sold out.  Related articles Greg Davies | Edinburgh comedy review (guardian.co.uk) Greg Davies: Firing Cheeseballs at a Dog, Pleasance Courtyard (independent.co.uk)

Last year's Brighton Fringe highlight was Max and Iván's Televisionaries so their return to the Malborough Little Theatre was an instant purchase for us. Their classic Mario and Luigi sketch from the Televisionaries show started off the night and will probably go down as their own ' dead parrot ' in future. Although it was still very funny I was worried we'd see their material only remixed and relabelled for 2010. My worries soon went away as new sketches and characters appeared with the quality ranging from warm giggles to some red-hot hilarity. Although the whole show was excellent there were three highlights that really stretched the laughing muscles. The 'truth-jock' (bit like a shock-jock but went on about conspiracy theories ) who picked on Kerry or who should now be called 'Peace Gazelle' and says  neigh; the really bad comedian which we could hear his inner monologue (another question for Kerry or renamed as Julie to be embarrassed ...

If Brighton had its own Lonely Planet guidebook, Bom-Banes would be in it. Located in George Street in Kemp Town , its a shoebox of a cafe/restaurant/theatre/music venue that has the typical Brightonian personality being quirky, charming, hand-painted and talented. They have a regular 'musical' event which customers can dine on Belgian beers and food then be entertained by the hosts of Jane Bom-Bane and Nick Pynn who have a rich Fringe past. Expect a review for this at some point. For May's Fringe, Bom-Banes had secured some intimate gigs in their basement including one of our favourite festival comedians, Simon Munnery . I say intimate as there is literally only room for about 16 people where dining chairs have been rearranged, a sofa used in an alcove and a dining table/bench put against the opposite wall with cushions. ESSENTIAL TIP: go for the normal chairs otherwise you'll be very uncomfortable. If you sat in the front row, you would have to watch your feet if...

This was a bargain at just a fiver and one of the most memorable events of the Brighton Fringe. First, we got to avoid the normal £12.50 admission fee to the Sealife Centre to see some cool fishy goings on (loved the jellyfish under UV light); and two for possibly the geekiest comedy night we've ever been to. After a slightly confusing but very scenic route to the main auditorium we sat down in front of the main fish tank where sharks and turtles mingled. Apart from the cabaret band just in front of the pool, the main 'stage' was actually a floating pontoon so geeky excitment levels were high. This was Bright Club , described as 'the thinking person's variety night, making waves in London with a new mix of comedy, funny intellectuals and music. As part of the Brighton Festival Fringe they presented the subject of Sea with host, Rufus Hound , songstresses Strawberry & Cream, and a cast of scientists, archaeologists and funny people. An end-of-the-...

Our Brighton Fringe marathon continues and so far its going well but nothing to really to shout to world about until now. It was no surprise that with an act name to include the word 'gimp' it would attract a lot of attention and it was a sell-out crowd of mainly excitable students at our favourite upstairs small theatre above a pub venue, the Three and Ten on Steine Street . Late Night Gimp Fight 's entrance was so original (not giving that away) and their opening song introduced all the performers' characters and mischievous humour so very well especially the wheel-chaired guy. All their sketches were well-paced, timed to perfection and almost always surprised the audience either with their originality or their close to the knuckle subjects. It just goes to show that you don't need over-the-top costumes and expensive props to guarantee a shed load of laughs. I really hope these guys get picked up for a TV show as their talent deserves bigger recognition. For...

I'd only seen Andrew Maxwell a couple of times on TV (including his stint on the Secret Policeman's Ball ) in very short doses but what I did see was very funny. As part of the Fringe, he was appearing upstairs in Komedia , Brighton. It wasn't exactly packed though perhaps people were either voting or queuing up to vote Green (apart from our ward). We were half expecting a warm-up comedian but the little Irish fellow built up his entrance and really needed too as the crowd just seemed non-plussed as if they were expecting a political debate. Once on stage he did his best to charm us by some shouting, swearing and asking where people came from to prompt any stories or opinions he had to say. Again, the crowd really weren't helping with the best heckle in answer to a question was a polite 'Pardon?' and the energy levels didn't get any higher than that. Maxwell admitted he forgot to book a warm-up guy and took on the whole show himself delivering almost two ...

Freerange is the domed arena at the back of St. Peter's church that provided some of the more quality Fringe netertainment. It doesn't quite match the heady days of the Udderbelly (the Fringe isn't really the same without it) but does capture a little of the alternative festival magic the Fringe so desperately lacks. Outside is a cosy forecourt with double-decker cafe, some organic food and drink stalls and a decent sized bar. Inside the Freerange dome was a table and seating arrangment for a large carbaret in front of the stage where the bingo machine and prize table (see photo) was waiting for the main act, Ida Barr . She's described as an ex- music hall star turned OAP rapper that is known for her unique brand of Artificial Hip Hop as well as her skill in bingo calling. Chatting to those sat next to us, we discover that Ida Barr is in fact played by the entertainer, Chris Green who also plays Tina C , the leggy Southern belle country singer. Ida Barr he...

With last night's zombie related improv a disappointment, I wasn't expecting too much from Off the Cuff's Cuff TV . The self-proclaimed 'Brighton's Best Improv Comedy' performed Upstairs at the Three and Ten pub and certainly had its good moments. A good format of different scenarios and there were two or three key performers that had the imagination and humour to entertain. At best I'd summarise it as your funniest mates having a laugh on stage. The video below shows them off quite well. Related articles by Zemanta How to survive a zombie apocalypse at Komedia, Brighton (gingerdjrob.com)

Ok, so the show title is a winner. It got us to buy the tickets and Brighton Fringe events can uncover some hidden gems every now and then. Unfortunately, ' How to survive a zombie apocalypse ' at Komedia wasn't one of them. It was a low budget affair (not like their website) with not much thought or expense into their costumes. The four person cast didn't really achieve that much stage presence. The general concept was a seminar with a professor leading his 3 colleagues to explain how to survive and improvising suggestion made by the audience. To be honest we were expecting a lecture format with some funny PowerPoint slides but the improv style had become a bit stale for us as there's a lot more funnier performances out there. The funniest bit for me was how to recognise the sounds made between a zombie and live human climaxing in a, well funny climax if you know what I mean. Otherwise, it achieved only a few giggles. If you're a fan of zombie related fil...

We'd bought tickets way back in September last year on probably the very day it was announced yet we were still the second row. Are people psychic or something? Still we had an excellent view and if Charles Ross had eaten garlic we would have smelt it. The support comedian did a good job diverting the audience's attention for 30 minutes and had some very bizarre views on life. The main attraction didn't disappoint either with all three books/films played out. The first film was perfectly executed with accents and mannerisms picked up. Between the first and un at second, Chrales Ross whilst drinking water to recover asked the audience how many had seen the movies or had read the books. Amazingly, some had seen neither! The 'gay' comradeship between the two Hobbits was picked up in the performance as well as some gentle poking of fun at Legolas . Probably the best moment for me was the Pippin singing whilst Denethor ate tomatoes scene re-enacted so well - a hila...

No idea why Sean Lock didn't play Brighton but it was good to visit somewhere different even if it was Bexhill. His latest tour, Lockipedia was playing at the De La Warr Pavilion which looked very impressive. A pre-show dinner was ordered from Cafe Belge which had the smell of an old people's home and the food was average though was probably down to the lack of staff coping with the Sean Lock punters. I couldn't argue with its 'best burger in town' as I hadn't had any other burger in Bexhill but knew I'll never order a burger in Bexhill for the rest of my life. Apart from the food, it was the beer that made up for the visit. The beer cocktail that I instantly fell in love with as soon as I tasted it was the Tropical consisting of Floris Mango and Mongozo Coconut beer. It was a pina colada in a pint and even Kerry couldn't help herself trying to steal it. Luckily our quick ordering before a previous big group allowed us to escape in time for the 8pm ...

With the Brighton Festival being launched this week I've tried picking out some Fringe events that might be worth their ticket price. Their printed brochure won't be published and on the streets until 17th March so we'll have to put up with their clunky website. Since I know a little about CMS run websites I couldn't help myself to email the Fringe people and moan about it as its so slow and takes forever to go through ever event. Here's some interesting comedy events I've found so far: How To Survive a Zombie Apocalypse 1, 2, 4 and 5 May at Komedia, £8 In 2010 the Sell-Out Cult Hit of the 2009 Edfringe is destroying brains across the UK! Join Dr. Dale and his team as they teach you inventively insane ways to survive the inevitable rise of the undead in this 'Brilliantly Bizarre' (Broadway Baby) & 'Wonderfully Weird' (ThreeWeeks) life saving seminar. Four stars from British Theatre Guide, Broadway Baby and Zombiecommand.com Phi...

Before battling the wind and rain for the cross-dressing comedian that is Eddie Izzard , we had a quick tapas meal at La Bodega on Church Street. I didn't enjoy it too much personally as we've been spoilt by Hove 's Latino through the range of choice but everyone else liked it. If you've been to Pompoko you'll understand the minimum décor to expect as well which made shuffling around tapas plates and multiple bottles around the table challenging for four people. The evening's tickets were bought way back in February for Kerry's birthday (April). The seats themselves were the last row in the highest balcony next to the disabled section. At least we had the row to ourselves and had a great view of the stalls and impressive stage. Its possibly the biggest comedy event we've been to with a set looking like an ancient pyramid and an animated cell window showing the sun passing then an eye peering in changing into what felt like travelling through space. ...

Our Friday night cocktail evening based on Spaced went well, I think. Thanks to Kerry, we had a late inspiration to base it on Simon Pegg and co. and designed the cocktail menu accordingly with every character receiving their own drink. Thankfully the ice-crusher bought on ebay arrived just in time though typically only got used twice. There was a frantic 3 hours of shaking, mixing and washing then it seemed everyone realised how drunk they were and calmed down taking it easier preferring to extend their stay. Personal favourites were the Bubblegum shooter made of Creme de Banana, Blue Curacao and Baileys Irish Cream which actually tasted like Hubba Bubba. Saturday teatime/evening was another comedy festival event. I'd never heard of the theatre group Spymonkey but they were presenting their version of Moby Dick at the Brighton Corn Exchange. With our front row tickets we got slightly more than we expected from the performance. The stage props and scenery looked quite basic ...

After our complete bender of a 1920's night out, dragging ourselves out again was a huge challenge (I really wish my mind could switch off and let me rest). We'd promised ourselves a Wagamamas for an evening treat and invited Paul and Sarah along for the nosh. The spicy katsu chicken went down just but its destination didn't quite appreciate or expect it. With our stomachs full we headed over to the Brighton Dome for the Simon Amstell show without any expectations. The settling-in music was like a repeat of the night before with 1920's swing music pumping from the speakers literally next to our seats so no snoozing for us. The warm-up act was slightly forgettable but didn't draw away from the main show, titled 'Do Nothing'. Instead of the fast paced, witiness of Never Mind the Buzzcocks (of which I can say he's sorely missed from the current series), it was a slow-burn of a performance like the feeling of our day. He dealt with an over-friendly heck...