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Scotsman
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Fringe comedy reviews: Daisy Doris May: Big Night Out Phil Ellis: Soppy Stern Fountain Lakes In Lockdown: A Drag Parody Play Nick Hornedo: Watch This When You Ge
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... COMEDY Daisy Doris May: Big Night Out ★★★★ Assembly George Square (Venue 8) until 24 August It takes an outsize personality, reckless ambition and exceptional talent to launch a breakout comedy enterprise with the same name as Vic Reeves' legendary show. Yet drag king Daisy Doris May has just announced Big Night Out as her debut UK tour midway through her Fringe return, with considerable production backing. And it's not hard to foresee this character comedy showcase, a deliriously fun and absurdly queer evening, burning up venues across the land. Daisy Doris May | Contributed Kicking off proceedings with Teutonic directness and irrepressible nightcrawler energy comes the luminous fashionista Häns Off, imploring all his 'bishes' to back him up as he preens, vogues and strikes poses in order to try and get into an exclusive VIP club. Häns' silver-moustachioed look might be Berghain bondage PVC meets lollipop man. Yet he's the kind of egotistical bluffer anyone can instantly relate to, obsessed with maintaining face and status and with an overwhelming FOMO. Recruiting models and designers from the crowd for an impromptu DIY fashion spectacle, distracting the bouncer, Häns has all the expressive subtlety and outrageous campery of a confetti cannon. However, borne on May's spotlight-sharing generosity, several audience members are given latitude to contribute to the night too, which the willing seize with alacrity. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Häns eventually gives way to new agey Antipodean spiritual guru The Divine Karen Moonstone, a chakra evoking menace unable to stop herself poking her nose into other people's auras, either in person or in the ridiculously harsh reviews she posts of businesses online. Although the weakest creation of the trio featured, something of a palate cleanser between two male characters, she does serve a role in setting up a romantic plot for Steve Porters, iPod DJ and enthusiastic stag-do best man. Puppishly loveable in his chain-sporting earnestness and adolescent devotion to his bros, he's nevertheless the old maid of his crew, beginning to get concerned as his friends are pairing off without him. No matter however, as the show's feelgood conclusion brings infatuation and keeps the party pumping. JAY RICHARDSON COMEDY Phil Ellis: Soppy Stern ★★★★★ Monkey Barrel 4 at Monkey Barrel Comedy (Venue 515) until 24 August There may or there may not be plants in Phil Ellis's show. I could not possibly comment. What there certainly is, is a new jacket, a hat, and an hour of laughter that just rolls across his audience in perpetual motion, which is an extraordinary thing to be part of. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ellis has an almost alchemic effect on material. There are points in the show that slightly dip and he does one of my least favourite things: telling us about another gig he had. But he somehow makes all of that irresistibly hilarious. The greatest fun comes, not so much in the chunks of material, but in the spaces in between. When something goes awry, when he randomly riffs, when the unexpected happens, that is where the Ellis genius comes out to play. In his asides. They are comedy gold and they make him laugh too – which cannot be a bad thing. In addition to all these off piste, unexpectable laughs, when the comedy Gods were giving out gifts in the Manchester area, Phil was given the gift of self-deprecation. In his hands it is a beautiful thing. The show itself takes us highbrow, with a title – Soppy Stern – taken from a poem by that grumpiest of wordsmiths, Philip Larkin. It is about his family (Phil's not Larkin's), primarily his Mum and Dad, but of course, along the way Phil ('20 years on the circuit!') shares memories of being lubed out of a rubbish bin by his headmaster, his favourite fight (he lost), Saturday Night Palsy, burying his Nana, and the terrible slow death of a young Golden Retriever. Yes, there is edgy humour (he says) and mention of 'sexy times'. It is an hour-long marvellous mishmash that only he could make wonderful, which he does in just so many ways. Did I mention plants? KATE COPSTICK COMEDY Fountain Lakes In Lockdown: A Drag Parody Play ★★★★ Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower (Venue 140) until 24 August Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad We're going back in time. It's lockdown, so it's 2020. But it's also an episode of Kath and Kim, so it's the noughties. For those not in the know, Kath and Kim was a cult television series set in a suburb of Melbourne, with a lot of scenes in the fictional shopping centre of Fountain Lakes. It's the perfect subject for a drag parody mash up – featuring Kath, the boomer housewife with terrible fashion sense and a bubble perm and Kim, her huge entitled nightmare of a daughter. There's also Sharon, Kim's second-best friend, a sweet befuddled girl perpetually injured from her latest hobby. All the catchphrases are here – and there's also lip synching, Irish dance offs and a running commentary on the politics of lockdown. The jeopardy comes when Kath suspects Kel (her husband) might be an anti-vaxxer. There's also a farcical mix up when a basket of sex toys gets delivered – and no one knows who and what they are for. There's a lot of material about the Melbourne lockdowns, which were the most severe in the world, but skilfully added context explains all the Australian references to a British audience. 'Anyway… if you don't understand it that's just racist,' Kim snarls. She's a scary vegetable. Ozzie drag queens Art Simone as Kath, Leasa Mann as Kim and Maxi Shield as the hapless Sharon have all the mannerisms, the body language and the verbal tics perfectly while Scott Brennan – formerly of Neighbours – does an excellent turn as husbands Brett and Kel. It's an over-the-top homage which is just as funny and ridiculous as the original. There are idiotic double entendres galore and even an appearance from Prue and Trude, the snooty shop assistants whose surprise appearance is greeted by the Kath and Kim devotees in the audience with whoops of glee. CLAIRE SMITH COMEDY Ria Lina: Riabellion ★★★ CabVol at Monkey Barrel Comedy (Venue 338) until 24 August Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A mother of three with the same number of degrees, Rina Lina's pin sharp show is concerned with change – from the precarious state of the modern world to her own body as it goes through perimenopause (interestingly one of the most popular subjects in Edinburgh this August). She's a comedian who doesn't take sides, equally happy skewering the prejudice of wealthy right wing boomers with one breath and the moral certainty of Greta Thunberg with the next. The Swedish climate activist acts as the perfect segue to Lina's own childhood, the daughter of a stereotypically ambitious Asian mother who held a macabre 'funeral for her future' when grades were slipping, spurring her daughter onto academic success. What came next was anything but traditional, as Lina married a man twice her age. It's a decision she illustrates beautifully – and hilariously – by looking at the interplay of oestrogen, testosterone and progesterone. As her hormone levels plummet two decades later, just as her children's are soaring, the 'second childhood' of perimenopause leads her to reevaluate her life and make a big decision. Superfluous crowdwork means the show takes a while to build momentum, but in full flow Lina is a force to be reckoned with – vocally dextrous and impassioned, ending with a call to arms for women to enjoy their 'cougar puberty'. DAVID HEPBURN COMEDY Nick Hornedo: Watch This When You Get Home ★★ Underbelly, Bristo Square (Venue 302) until 24 August Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There's a disclaimer at the start of this show warning that it treads the fine line between comedy and storytelling. In truth it feels more like an idea for the sort of film beloved by sensitive American men obsessed with Richard Linklater. It's the story of a series of crushes, including the high school sweetheart Hornedo broke up with via a breathtakingly pretentious video. He meets up with her 10 years later to revisit their relationship and its impact on their lives. Hornedo is clearly a talented writer and performer but the level of self-absorption here is alarming, while the story isn't interesting or funny enough to hold the attention. DAVID HEPBURN
Glasgow Times
10-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Comedian Daisy Doris May bringing debut tour to Glasgow
Daisy Doris May will perform at The Stand on November 2 as part of her Big Night Out tour, which follows a run at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe. Daisy, who is taking the three characters on tour for the first time, said: "Could not be more excited for my first ever UK tour. Daisy Doris May (Image: Supplied) "Karen Moonstone will bring her sage (and secret supply of biltong). "Häns Off will be bringing ze aloe vera to microdose and his separate tour bus to play ze TechNo / TechYes, and Steve Porters will just be bringing his mum Rozza, for emotional support. Read more: 'We just have to keep working' - Brendan Rodgers issues Celtic transfer update "Edinburgh Fringe has been wild so far and putting all three alter egos in one hour has been a very fun ride." For tickets and more information, go here. Her characters include Steve Porters, a misguided "ladies' man" from Guildford; Karen Moonstone, a self-appointed guru and meditation master; and Häns Off, a Berlin club kid. (Image: Supplied) Daisy has previously toured as Steve Porters and supported Hannah Gadsby at the London Palladium. She has also performed internationally at the Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne Comedy Festival. As Häns Off, she won MAN UP in 2022, Europe's largest drag king competition, and became the first drag king artist featured in MAC Cosmetics' Viva Glam campaign. Her other screen credits include appearances in Sex Education (Netflix), Professor T (ITV), Downton Abbey (ITV), Genius (National Geographic), and The Last Kingdom (Netflix). She is also the voice of Channel 4's First Dates. May has also been nominated for Best Comedy at the 2025 Adelaide Fringe and was a finalist at the 2025 Bristol Comedy Festival.
South Wales Argus
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Gemma Collins beats Katie Price for ultimate night out girlie
The huns want The GC, 44, with the former Towie star proving popular with Gen Z, taking 27% of the vote, quickly followed by Katie Price (25%), and Alison Hammond (22%). Speaking about her own experiences with nights out and reflecting on the good times, Collins, said: 'Listen, the best part of the night is the build-up. It's the getting glam, the playlist, the group chat chaos, and those deep, hilarious, 'why did we even start talking about this?' moments on the journey to the venue. SlayStation is all about bringing the glam – a bit of hair, a bit of makeup, and a whole lot of fabulous. If you're stepping out, step out ready to slay.' The new research of 2,000 adults by leading train ticketing app Trainline reveals how vital glam is to a Big Night Out, adding to the fun and drama of the night as you get ready with friends, put the tunes on, and enjoy a drink or two, with three-quarters of 18-34 year olds (75%), saying the night out begins well before they get to their destination. Combining a get ready with me moment with 'out out' glam, Trainline is launching SlayStation at King's Cross in London on 7th June, so those heading to Beyonce's Cowboy Carter tour or those passing through the city can book in whether they want a last-minute touch-up, a photo-ready refresh, or a bit of glam, professional hair stylists and makeup artists will be there to get you selfie-ready for free - You may even see the GC herself. The new data also showed that one in five (20%) of 18–24-year-olds have revealed that they are prepared to travel a staggering 50 miles to get to their main event. The journey itself is no longer just a way to get from A to B – it's a vital part of the night, with 80% of Brits saying it's one of the most important elements, and over half (60%) using it for glam time on the go. With three-quarters saying getting ready is one of the most important parts of the night, one in five Brits now plan their outfit and 'look' up to one month in advance of their night out – perfecting it right until the last moment, with 70% of Brits using time on the train to perfect their look. Head to Trainline presents SlayStation to find out more and book your slot to glam up totally free of charge! Or simply turn up during the day as some walk ins will be available. Get your 'Big Night Out' off to a great start. Plan and book your train travel on the Trainline app . Sarah Helppi, UK Country Director at Trainline, said: 'At Trainline, we know that great nights out start long before you reach the venue – they start with the journey. "Whether it's touching up your look up on the train, sharing music playlists, or those conversations that only happen en route, travel has become an essential part of the night. That's why we launched SlayStation – to celebrate the journey and make it as iconic as the destination.' The research has also found Millennials are top spenders when it comes to getting ready for a night out, with 38% spending £60+ on their look, and over half (55%) being prepared to spend a further £100 on the rest of the night out. Closely followed by just under half (49%) of the Gen X generation willing to spend £100 on a night out, Gen Z then buck the trend with just two in five (40%) willing to spend £100 during the night out itself.
Daily Mirror
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Vic Reeves reveals he's quit TV for good as he shares major career change
Vic Reeves - real name Jim Moir - has revealed in an exclusive chat with The Mirror that he's given up TV for good and plans to spend his time dedicated to a different passion Vic Reeves was a comedy sensation when he burst on to our TV screens in the 1990s. Alongside his equally funny sidekick, Bob Mortimer, his surrealist humour had the nation howling. But after a career spanning nearly 30 years, he has quit showbiz to devote his life to countryside walks and painting. It may seem like a dramatic career move, but Vic, 66 – who now uses his real name, Jim Moir – says stage show Vic Reeves Big Night Out was intended to be a work of art. He says: 'I stopped doing comedy years ago now. Me and Bob don't have to go on TV to enjoy that chemistry together. When I started doing Big Night Out, I considered it an art project really, not a comedy. It ended up being that. 'All the work that goes around the production, being famous. I just never really liked being on TV that much. 'The last Vic and Bob was 2017, so that was the last time we did a comedy show.' But despite turning his back on celebrity, he is never idle. Jim, who lives in Kent with his wife Nancy, 50, says: 'I get up every morning very early, go into the studio, paint, and go out for a walk in the afternoon. I like that a lot better.' He credits his early childhood experiences in Hurworth, near Darlington, Co Durham, for inspiring his love of nature. And his fascination with the countryside bleeds into his artwork, which often features paintings of birds. Speaking ahead of his latest exhibition, called Knot Twister Prologue, he recalls: 'There were no laptops when I was a kid. I was outdoors, out in nature all the time.' 'When I was out walking with Nancy 20 years ago, I kept saying 'there is that bird', and I would describe it in detail, and so she wanted to learn about it. 'It gives you a reason to go out, but it is more random than train spotting because you do not know what you are going to see. It is a great excuse to be out there in nature. I never get sick of it. I love it. Knot Twister Prologue launches on May 16 at the Biscuit Factory as part of The Late Shows, Newcastle and Gateshead's celebration of after-hours culture, with special evening access from 6pm to 10.30pm. All works are for sale. It runs until July 16.
Times
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Jim Moir: ‘I stopped wanting to play Vic Reeves'
Moir, 66, was born in Leeds and grew up in Darlington. After a mechanical engineering apprenticeship and an art foundation course, he joined the comedy circuit under the stage name Vic Reeves. With Bob Mortimer he created TV shows including Big Night Out, The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer and Shooting Stars. An accomplished artist, he has a son and daughter from his previous marriage and 18-year-old twin daughters with his wife, Nancy Sorrell. The couple live in Kent. I like to get four hours' painting in by 10am, so I'm in my studio at the bottom of our garden at 6. Halfway through I'll have breakfast: blueberries and yoghurt, occasionally a hard-boiled egg. I grew up on muesli — my mum reckoned
