Latest news with #BackToTheFuture
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Alan Davies: Think Ahead review – comedian addresses his childhood abuse in return to stage
It's been 10 years since Alan Davies's last standup show, since when, he says, he has had a third child, and surpassed – by distressing margins – the ages of lance corporal Jones in Dad's Army and 'the mad old git in Back to the Future'. Another significant development was his 2020 book revealing the story of his childhood sexual abuse by his father. In his new show, Think Ahead, Davies addresses that on stage – and demonstrates, with reference to his laboured breathing, that he is experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder while doing so. That can't be anything other than a compelling stage moment, to see a 'people-pleasing comedian' (his words) of 30 years' standing open up – and so rawly – about a difficult subject unaddressed in his comedy until now. Davies does so with honesty and a lightness of touch. He acknowledges that it's an awkward topic for mirth, and makes good choices about when to set the jokes aside and when to find the funny. The funny? This was a dad who made colour copies of his child sexual abuse images on the household printer ('How many trips to Rymans?!') and whose diary, when unearthed by Davies years later, focused exclusively on golf. Davies's abuse is not the main focus of Think Ahead, far from it, and the remainder delivers one big-laughs set-piece after another. There is material about his youngest son, now nine, and some choice ranting in Alf Garnett-alike character as a man apoplectic about Ulez. There's also plenty of blue humour, of a type that couldn't fail to tickle a crowd, but which Davies elevates with his vivid image-making – of the sexual position you should adopt in the event of Viagra-induced heart attack, say, or of his experience delivering a poo sample for cancer screening. How do these very disparate routines fit together? You could argue that the childhood abuse material is dissonant with the broad sex comedy elsewhere. It also underpins it somehow, offsetting with shade the light of Davies's default people-pleasing superficiality, making the laughs wilder because they are harder won. The upshot is a striking new show, a cross-section of the 59-year-old's life now that reveals parts his previous shows couldn't reach. At Orchard at Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh, until 10 August. All our Edinburgh festival reviews. The NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Alan Davies: Think Ahead review – comedian addresses his childhood abuse in return to stage
It's been 10 years since Alan Davies's last standup show, since when, he says, he has had a third child, and surpassed – by distressing margins – the ages of lance corporal Jones in Dad's Army and 'the mad old git in Back to the Future'. Another significant development was his 2020 book revealing the story of his childhood sexual abuse by his father. In his new show, Think Ahead, Davies addresses that on stage – and demonstrates, with reference to his laboured breathing, that he is experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder while doing so. That can't be anything other than a compelling stage moment, to see a 'people-pleasing comedian' (his words) of 30 years' standing open up – and so rawly – about a difficult subject unaddressed in his comedy until now. Davies does so with honesty and a lightness of touch. He acknowledges that it's an awkward topic for mirth, and makes good choices about when to set the jokes aside and when to find the funny. The funny? This was a dad who made colour copies of his child sexual abuse images on the household printer ('How many trips to Rymans?!') and whose diary, when unearthed by Davies years later, focused exclusively on golf. Davies's abuse is not the main focus of Think Ahead, far from it, and the remainder delivers one big-laughs set-piece after another. There is material about his youngest son, now nine, and some choice ranting in Alf Garnett-alike character as a man apoplectic about Ulez. There's also plenty of blue humour, of a type that couldn't fail to tickle a crowd, but which Davies elevates with his vivid image-making – of the sexual position you should adopt in the event of Viagra-induced heart attack, say, or of his experience delivering a poo sample for cancer screening. How do these very disparate routines fit together? You could argue that the childhood abuse material is dissonant with the broad sex comedy elsewhere. It also underpins it somehow, offsetting with shade the light of Davies's default people-pleasing superficiality, making the laughs wilder because they are harder won. The upshot is a striking new show, a cross-section of the 59-year-old's life now that reveals parts his previous shows couldn't reach. At Orchard at Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh, until 10 August. All our Edinburgh festival reviews. The NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331
The Citizen
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
PICTURES: Cosplay feast at Comic Con San Diego
With Comic Con Africa coming up later this month in Johannesburg, we take a look at some of the best costumes at last week's Comic Con San Diego. Comic Con San Diego is considered to be the flagship event of the industry, having been founded in 1970. Over 130 000 attendees stream into the San Diego Convention Centre annually to quell their geeky desires at the comic book, science-fiction and fantasy convention. Cosplay forms a large part of the fair – the act involves dressing up in costumes, often skillfully made by the cosplayers themselves, and being seen at the event. A cosplayer dressed as X-Men's Magik. (Photo by) Back To The Future cosplayers Natalie Nielsen as Doc Brown (L) and Mae Catt as Marty McFly. (Photo by) A cosplayer dressed as Dani from 'Midsommar'. (Photo by) (Photo by) Harley Quinn cosplayer Audrey Church. (Photo by) A cosplayer dressed as Maleficent. (Photo by) Star Wars cosplayers Vic Silva as Boba Fett (L) and Mercedes Anderson as Princess Leia. (Photo by) (L-R) Flintstones cosplayers Lucy Capuchino as Betty, Miguel Capuchino as Barney, Shawn Richter as Bam-Bam, Lisa Lower-Richter as Pebbles, Shelly Grace as Wilma, and Ed Gonzales as Fred. (Photo by) Cosplayers dressed as Ghostface from 'Scream'. (Photo by) Cosplayer dressed as The Scarlet Witch. (Photo by) A cosplayer dressed as The Mad Hatter. (Photo by) A cosplayers dressed as Bender. (Photo by) Star Wars cosplayer Justin Wu. (Photo by) A group of DC cosplayers pose for a group photo. (Photo by) Fantastic Four cosplayer Lisa Lower-Richter as Galactus poses at the Marvel booth. (Photo by) Fallout cosplayer Rebecca Eusey as a Wastelander. (Photo by) A Deadpool cosplayer drives through the Gaslamp District. (Photo by) A group of Star Wars cosplayers pose for photos. (Photo by) PICTURES: Jonathan Roxmouth and Egoli orchestra shine on Broadway favourites
CTV News
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Back to the Future thrills audiences as it's musical version pulls into the Ed Mirvish Theatre
Toronto Watch Back to the Future thrills Toronto audiences as it's musical version pulls into the Ed Mirvish Theatre. CTV's Andria Case reports.
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Back to the Future' fans break costume gathering record in Mexico City
A record-breaking 718 fans dressed as characters from the 'Back to the Future' films gathered at the Churubusco Convention Center in Mexico City on July 27. Footage captured crowds of people dressed as characters from the iconic movie trilogy. Organizers say the event is now under review by Guinness World Records.
