Show 3: 2 April 2012

See other shows:  /6 Feb /5 March /7 May /4 June

 

The third night of tragedy is now over.

The evening was an engaging mix of acts, with lots of music, laughs and a few chunks of sadness. The hour flowed really well. The audience was oddly non existent which was a surprise given that our first two nights were virtually sold out. It’s hard to predict or understand these things. As the great Kurt Vonnegut would have said: So it goes…

The absent audience missed out on some great times though.

The performers took this situation on the collective chin. I was really pleased and heartened to find all the acts to be both gracious and enthusiastic about the almost empty room. The few audience members that we did have had a really great time and were actually a really vocal and responsive audience audience. There was a sort of blitz spirit to the whole thing. It was a really great night.

Don’t believe me? Here’s the proof provided by Katy Darby from Liars’ League:

(Katy kindly filmed all the videos from the night.)

After my swift introduction we launched into the first of  three songs from the wonderful Alex Holmes. Alex is a young singer-songwriter with bags of talent. She performed three subtle and powerful songs in the rich tradition of Kate Bush and Tori Amos. She was the first of our acts to use the wonderful electronic piano that the venue provides and she played it very beautifully.

This is an example of one of her recorded songs:

Next up we had Bec Hill. You can see her set in the video posted above. She performed a lively set about disliking children and being mugged. Everyone really enjoyed it. She started by joking that she was worried she’d be the wrong kind of tragicomic but she was exactly the kind of comedy that was needed, edgy, relatable and most importantly FUNNY!

Then we segued back to sadness with Alex’s second song.

Then it was the compère’s turn to be tragic as I performed a true story about my Grandparents. It involved a wooden elephant, a very loud bell and the image of a plastic flower. You can see me perform it  in the above video. You can read it here.

Then Alex sang her final song:

Next we had Sam Carter’ Black Holes, White Dwarfs performed by Elizabeth Bower, who stood in at the last minute, but gave a wonderful performance. She was reading a tragic story about the death of a romance at the edge of the universe. A sci fi story about a package holiday in outer space that can’t put the spark back into a relationship. The story was funny, poignant and well observed. It was sourced from Liars’ League where writers write, actors act and everyone wins. You can read the story here.

Then in our second piano performance of the evening Rachel Parris wowed the room with her hilarious musical comedy. Dark, twisted and sweet, her songs and overall performance were my personal highlight of the night, although in a night of such strong and diverse performances it feels wrong to single anyone out.

Then we welcomed MJ Hibbett to the stage who sang three touching songs. One about a love song that never was. Another about a nostalgic time of Chips and Cheese and a Pint of Wine. He finished up with the wonderful It Only Works Because You’re Here

MJ Hibbett is a GRATE blogger and records his creative life very regularly. He wrote up his THORTS in this blog.

Then we ended the night with the now traditional sing along led by The Reactionaries.

We release extracts from the night as a free weekly podcast via iTunes, SoundCloud and the Stitcher Smart Radio app.

And now, like the song says, it’s time to go.

Dave Pickering

Host of Stand Up Tragedy

 

 

 

 

Rachel Parris

Rachel has been selected by London is Funny as one of the Top 10 Comics to Watch in 2012.  In 2010 Rachel was awarded runner-up in the Funny Women Awards and was a finalist in the both the prestigious Hackney Empire New Act Of The Year Award 2011 and Leicester Square New Comedian of The Year 2011.

rachelparris.com

Her Stage and TV appearances include Looser Women (Seabright Productions) Flashprank (MTV) and Britain in Bed (BBC3).
“venomously witty” – Evening Standard
“a natural charm and a keen eye for observation” – Chortle
“like a Glee Club chick gone wrong” – The Stage
“Tim Minchin in a frock” The Londonist

MJ Hibbert

MJ Hibbett has performed live on Radio One, had a Record Of The Year in Rolling Stone, an Album Of The Day on 6Music, released one of the first ever viral videos, toured up and down the UK, featured in several Edinburgh Fringe Festival shows, appeared in Judge Dredd, and released a science fiction rock opera concept album about space Dinosaurs. He is old school indie, belligerently optimistic, and will have a pint.

Bec Hill

Bec Hill is a young Australian, London-based comedian who has gained an international cult following with her quirky and refreshing approach to comedy.

Her Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, “Bec Hill Didn’t Want to Play Your Stupid Game Anyway,” managed to receive 4 and 5 star reviews (most notably from comedy heavy-weight, Chortle) while simultaneously containing one of Edinburgh Fringe’s Top 10 “Worst Jokes” according to TV channel, Dave.

 

Liars’ League

 Actors read new fiction by up-and-coming writers.

Black Holes, White Dwarfs by Sam Carter was originally read by Paul Clarke at our Black & White event.

Elizabeth Bower writes and performs character comedy. She is an official storyteller for the 2012 Olympics and regularly narrates for The Liar’s League new writing projects. This is her online CV.

Sam Carter has lived all round the world and writes stories – very occasionally science fiction, if feeling brave – when not working for a living. Sam has had various stories read by Liars’ League in both London and Leeds and is very pleased that Stand Up Tragedy is featuring one too.

Find out more at: www.liarsleague.com

 

Alex Holmes

Alex’s sound has been likened to Kate Bush and Tori Amos. She uses soulful lows to haunting highs along with edgy vocal harmonies.

Alex arranges and produces all her songs, playing with the use of classical instrumentation alongside her catchy songwriting style.

She has performed across London at venues including Proud Galleries and The Troubadour.

She is currently studying her final year of BMus Pop Music degree at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Check out her website to hear her music at www.alexholmesmusic.com

See other shows:  /6 Feb /5 March /7 May /4 June