Sketch Comedy
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Next Level Sketch with Vidya Divakaran, Chris East, Al Nash and Rosalie Minnitt
I took a break from being in the Next Level cast this month, but was still roped in for hosting duties. I happily accepted this: it’s nice to feel wanted. So instead of the usual pre-show rehearsal and running around in a panic, I was able to have a beer downstairs with Paul and King… Read more
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Next Level Sketch with Camilla Borges, Joz Norris, Susan Harrison and Low Effort Sketches
Our first show of the year, and one that went really well, despite a bit of ring rustiness on my part. I was super honoured to see my old Guardian colleague Adam in the audience, along with Jeffrey, the amazing and chaos-element lead singer of their band, Applicants (RIP). I sat behind them and I… Read more
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‘We’re not Ant and Dec!’: an interview with Low Effort Sketches
Another interview! Like yesterday’s, this first appeared in my newsletter, which you can subscribe to here. Hi Low Effort Sketches! What’s the most inaccurate name you’ve ever been welcomed to the stage with? (I once introduced “Shelf” as “Sketch”). “Low Effect Sketches” was brutal, but perhaps just as accurate as our real name! How would… Read more
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Venn Diagram: Best Comedy of 2023
I told you the clowns were coming. Not necessarily red in nose and claw, but trained and brutalised by Phillippe Gaulier in Paris, broken down to their base components, then built back up again, full of vulnerability and wonder. Viggo Venn won Britain’s Got Talent with little more than an unexpected number of high vis… Read more
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Next Level Sketch spooky Halloween Show with Jen Ives, Thick ‘n’ Fast and Bab Comedy
I’m still on a post-show high following last night’s spooky Halloween special of Next Level Sketch, which boasted the frankly ludicrous guest lineup of Jen Ives, Bab and Thick ‘n’ Fast. I hosted again, and was welcomed to the stage by Dian on tech, who checked if the audience were ready to get spooky and… Read more
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Next Level Sketch with special guests The Awkward Silence, Luke Rollason, Mudfish, and Andy Barr
Hello! This was our July show, aka the last show of the summer before our hiatus so people can have a rest and go to Edinburgh or the seaside or whatever it is people do in August. At the time of the show, my mental health wasn’t exceptional, and so I didn’t do my usual… Read more
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Next Level Sketch at Bristol Improv Theatre / Next Level Sketch featuring Katie Pritchard, The Mayor and his Daughter, and Grubby Little Mitts at Hoopla Impro
Two gigs in a week for the Next Level Sketch juggernaut, and so I have decided to cut and shunt them into a single blog post. We last played the Bristol Improv Theatre back in late January 2022, as guests of Up The Antics. It was very kind of them to welcome us back, and… Read more
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Next Level Sketch with Su Mi, Matt & Rosa, Mr Simon Topping and Joz Norris
Next Level Sketch has been going since January 2020, a really sensible time to start a regular live show. We did podcasts during lockdown, and have been gradually building ourselves back as a live concern since then. We are aware that our set-up is unusual. A writers’ collective with a core group of regular performers,… Read more
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Horse Passports at The Dip Comedy in Kentish Town
I really enjoyed this gig. A throwback arts cafe of a venue, an excellent host in Chris East, and a really top quality lineup of improvisers, character comedians and alternative stand-ups. I would happily book any or indeed all of them for one of my own shows. This was only Horse Passports’ fourth ever gig,… Read more
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Next Level Sketch, with special guests The Lovely Boys, Low Effort Sketches and Anne Crowther
Since Wednesday’s show, I have been helping look after my friends’ 17-month-old twins. These ginger siblings are in that grey area between baby and toddler. They laugh at silly noises, good timing, surprises, and repetition. They need a bit of practice understanding language and context, sure. Neither of them will be requesting Simon Munnery tickets… Read more
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