comedy

Next Level Sketch with Will Sebag-Montefiore, Jen Zheng, and The Awkward Silence

I dashed off to Istanbul straight after our show, and so didn’t have time for my usual, far-too-long write-up. But I wanted to write down a few things, as it was another fabulous night at Hoopla Impro, with some of my favourite people. Self-criticism corner first: I probably should have prepared better for hosting. I’m… Read more

June 6, 2024

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jamesofwalsh

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comedy, Diary, London, Next Level Sketch, Sketch Comedy

comedy, Hoopla Impro, Jen Zheng, Just These Please, London, Next Level Sketch, Sketch Comedy, the awkward silence, The Miller
Promoting shows in our collapsing digital realm

I’ve got a show in Brighton next week! It’s being headlined by Jason out of Clearlake, who I interviewed here. I’ve booked some clowns and written some songs about the end of the world, it’s going to be good. Telling people about a thing is tricky nowadays, as far as the internet is concerned. Offline,… Read more

June 5, 2024

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jamesofwalsh

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art, Brighton, comedy, Diary, folk, The Highchurches, This Machine Kills Wasps

Blank Peng, Brighton, Clearlake, comedy, gig, Jason Pegg, Rob Duncan, The Folklore Rooms
All the shows I saw at Brighton Fringe 2024

Over on my newsletter I’ve posted links to all the Fringe, Spiegeltent, and Festival shows I went to this year. I’ve probably forgotten a couple, but this is how posterity shall remember it. I had a lovely time, and enjoyed excellent company throughout. Next year, I think I’ll take a few more risks and see… Read more

May 28, 2024

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jamesofwalsh

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Brighton, Brighton Folk Choir, comedy, Diary, folk, journalism, music, Places, Reviews

Brighton, Brighton Festival, Brighton Fringe, comedy, Spiegeltent
Bin Day: a sketch by Orca Comedy and Next Level Sketch

Thoroughly enjoyed being asked to act in this – you can read all about how the filming went here. And remember! Next Level Sketch return to Hoopla Impro next Wednesday 29th May. Come along? Read more

May 22, 2024

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jamesofwalsh

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Ace Doctor Who Podcast, comedy, Diary

bins, comedy, Hoopla Impro, London, Next Level Sketch, Sketch Comedy
Re-Enactment: The Diggers, Mark Thomas, Victoria Melody and the Brighton Folk Choir

“Your freedom to uphold / seeing Cavaliers of old / to kill you if they could / and rights from you withhold /Stand up now Diggers all!” Was it all just a fever dream? A sunny Saturday lunchtime, and my folk choir is singing a 17th century folk ballad in Whitehawk, encouraging gardeners with pitchforks… Read more

May 14, 2024

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jamesofwalsh

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Brighton, Brighton Folk Choir, comedy, Diary, folk, journalism, Reviews

Brighton Folk Choir, Mark Thomas, The Diggers, Victoria Melody, Whitehawk
Next Level Sketch with Mark Silcox, Nikola McMurtie and Thick ‘n’ Fast

One of the best shows. I go on far too long in these post-show blog posts, so I’ll just share some personal highlights via that last refuge of the feckless, the bullet point: Read more

April 26, 2024

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jamesofwalsh

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comedy, Diary, Next Level Sketch, Sketch Comedy

alternative comedy, comedy, Hoopla Impro, London, London Bridge, Mark Silcox, Next Level Sketch, Nikola McMurtie, Sketch Comedy, Thick ‘n’ Fast
Larry The Chimp: a sketch by Next Level Sketch

We’ve done a video sketch! It was recorded while I was away with Yorkist cats, written by Jamie, filmed, produced and edited by Alex, and stars Greg, Dan, Jamie and Naomi. I had nothing to do with it whatsoever, but I’m sharing it anyway, because everyone did a brilliant job and – excitingly – we… Read more

April 17, 2024

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jamesofwalsh

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comedy, Diary, Next Level Sketch, Sketch Comedy

Larry The Chimp, Next Level Sketch, Sketch Comedy
The Dip, with Lilla Multipass, Freddie Hayes and Maria Telnikoff

A fun evening in the backstreets of Kentish Town, where myself and some other Next Level Sketch luminaries went to a rival comedy night, The Dip, run by our nemesis Chris East. Chris is a lovely host, and always books an interesting, alternative lineup. The venue is a little gem, an eccentric little cafe with… Read more

April 10, 2024

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jamesofwalsh

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cities, comedy, Diary, London

alternative comedy, comedy, Freddie Hayes, The Dip
Review: Rice, Alvin Liu, The Glitch, Waterloo

Note: this review first appeared in the Morning Star Alvin Liu is from China, where even milquetoast liberals [1] are brutally censored. Still, a thriving standup scene has developed in the past few years in Shanghai and Beijing – though your entire venue might get shut down if someone makes a joke that could even… Read more

April 8, 2024

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jamesofwalsh

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comedy, Diary, journalism, Morning Star columns
Review: Paul Merton and Suki Webster’s Improv Show, Comedy Store

Note – a shorter version of this review is in today’s Morning Star newspaper. The Comedy Store is showing its age. The logo is very eighties, as are much of its regular clientele. Most are here to see Paul Merton, him off the telly, who has been doing improv for longer than your correspondent can… Read more

April 6, 2024

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jamesofwalsh

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comedy, Diary, Improv, London, Morning Star columns, Reviews

comedy store, Improv, London, Paul Merton, Suki Webster