Next show planned for Sunday, 7th and Monday, 8th March 2010.

Acts to be confirmed. Newsletter will be sent out 2 to 3 weeks ahead.

******  H a p p y   5th   B i r t h d a y ******  

**DON’t MISS - LAST SHOW in 2009**

Sunday, 1 November 09: SPECIAL GUEST Tom Rhodes, US and Tom Allen, UK

Substanz Live Club & Bar — Ruppertstr. 28 (U3,U6 Poccistraße) — 80337 München

Door: 7:00 pm - Show: 8:00 pm - Tickets 18€

In a raucous stand up career spanning 25 years and 7 continents, Tom Rhodes has been on HBO, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and filmed two half hour specials for Comedy Central “Comedy Central presents…Tom Rhodes”. Tom was also the host of his own late night talk show in Amsterdam for Dutch television. It is Tom Rhodes biological function to make people laugh and forget about their problems. It started when he was a boy, when his parents argued ferociously he would act silly or say absurd things and there would be peace in their house for a brief period. It has been his dream to be a stand-up comedian since he was 12 and with a fake ID he started when he was 17 and have done no other job since. His hands are as soft as a baby’s bottom for lack of hard labor in his life. He thinks nothing is more powerful than the written word and monumental ideas for world solutions expressed through comedy. He believes that all we have in this world is the art we leave behind after we are dead and that no other measurement can sum up a life’s worth. He believe it’s also possible to change someone’s life for the better by just showing them a drop of kindness. His goal in life is to make people piss their pants with laughter. Enjoy! More info: http://tomrhodes.net/home.aspx

In 2005 Tom Allen won the coveted SO YOU THINK YOU’RE FUNNY? competition in Edinburgh and went on to win the BBC NEW COMEDY AWARD later that year. Since then he has performed at the international JUST FOR LAUGHS FESTIVAL in Montreal, at Manchester’s QUEER UP NORTH and has had his own highly acclaimed show at the Edinburgh Festival for the past two years. Continuing his long term partnership with writer/director John Hoggarth this year sees a second series of their celebrated THE CORRESPONDENT for BBC Radio 4. In addition, Tom plays Pip in the ongoing radio saga BLEAK EXPECTATIONS with Celia Imrie and Richard Johnson and recorded THE WOODEN OVERCOAT with Julia Davies and David Tennant at the end of last year. For television he has appeard in Channel 4’s THE LAW OF THE PLAYGROUND, BBC’s SENSITIVE SKIN, FEAR OF FANNY, and the FRANKIE HOWARD BIOPIC, RATHER YOU THAN ME. Recent film includes COLOUR ME KUBRICK with John Malkovich and STARTER FOR TEN with James McEvoy and Mark Gatiss. He did his first Stand Up gig at Bethnal Green Working Man’s Club when he was 21. He responds well to deadlines and strong women. More info: http://www.tomindeed.com/

Quality instead of quantity has always been the strategy of The English Comedy Club. Munich had the pleasure of welcoming around 100 of the best comedians over the past 5 years. To continue the high standard, the promoter has decided to run the club on an irregular basis in 2010. Once a new show is scheduled the club will run the show in the previously very successful two days format. (Sunday and Monday)

The English Comedy Club proudly presents:

**LAST SHOW BEFORE SUMMER BREAK**

Sunday, 7 June 09: Owen O’Neill (Ireland) Carl Donnelly (UK) Hosted by Paddy Lennox (Ireland)

Substanz Live Club & Bar — Ruppertstr. 28 (U3,U6 Poccistraße) — 80337 München

Door: 7:00 pm - Show:  8:00 pm - Tickets 18€

An award-winning playwright, poet and subscriber to the theory that redheads are genetic “mutants” (having conducted the required research for a BBC documentary), OWEN O’NEILL was one of the first Irishman to perform in the UK stand-up circuit and almost certainly the first to do so inadvertently. ‘Between about ‘84 and ‘89 there was only really myself, Ian Macpherson, Kevin McAleer and Michael Redmond, ‘ the County Tyrone-borne O’Neill recalls. I’d been performing poetry at a vegetarian restaurant in north London, the Earth Exchange, very PC where you used to speak from behind an open fire. Once, I left my notes on the tube, so I just went on and talked about losing them. The audience were laughing and I remember thinking this is great. Gradually the poetry became less and less and the chatting inbetween more and more. Nowadays, in intimate venues like the Stand, O’Neill mixes stand-up and verse with passages from his intensely personal one-man plays, loosely and variously based on him ‘being an alcoholic, having an obsession with Mick Jagger, wanting to go to LA and my son being a footballer.’ His recollections of his rambunctious father have caused friction with his family, yet O’Neill cites Richard Pryor’s autobiographical inclination and Alan Bleasdale’s blending of the comic and tragic as precedents. WC Fields is another inspiration and, perhaps most surprisingly for such a verbal performer, so is Buster Keaton. 

‘O’Neill is first and foremost a brilliant raconteur - combining expert, intimate yarn-spnning with affectionate characterisations of people we will never meet but instantly recognise’ LONDON METRO

CARL DONNELLY started performing stand-up regularly in early 2005 and quickly established himself as one of the most exciting new comics currently climbing the comedy ladder. Despite being a relative newcomer, htis confident, conversational style and silly sense of humour has seen him win a host of awards and bekome a regular act and MC at clubs all over the country.

‘The reason why Donnelly is one of the highest-rated emerging stars on the UK circuit is his incredible ability to turn the seemingly mundane existence of the 21st-century slacker into gripping, unmissable stand-up. In Donnelly’s hands, something as simple as getting out of bed can be the springobard to a hilarious anecdote’ THE GUARDIAN

 Irish comedian and actor PADDY LENNOX first burst on to stage as a Stand-Up in 2001 only to be interrupted with a couple of comedies at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre and filming in far off lands, before returning to his new found passion. An engaging and instantly likeable comic, Paddy combines topical material with observational routines. Paddy’s had a great start in 2008, he’s been working the corporate scene including gigs for the BBC, ITV and Jysk (the new Ikea) and he’s also featured on Sky Poker and Talksport Radio. But the big one for him this year was the Edinburgh Festival as part of the Bound & Gagged AAA Show along side Maff Brown and Tom Craine at the Pleasance Courtyard. He’s also and excellent voice-over artist and has voiced numerous commerical in the UK and Ireland.

“…simply a scream.” THE TELEGRAPH
“comedy the way it should be: a laugh-a-minute which leaves the audience whising the show was just a little bit longer…gently Irish lilt belies a mischievous sense of humour” THE FEST

The English Comedy Club proudly presents:

Monday, 4 May 2009 : Brian Dempsey (UK), Kevin Bridges (Scotland)
Hosted by Mike Manera (UK) 

Substanz Live Club & Bar — Ruppertstr. 28 (U3,U6 Poccistraße) — 80337 München

Door: 7:00 pm - Show:  8:00 pm - Tickets 18€

Since first taking to the stage 1991, Brendan Dempsey has performed stand-up to audiences all over Ireland and Britain, in Europe as well as Canada, the USA, Asia, Africa and across Australia. The only continents he has not played are Antarctica and South America. Cold, inhospitable - uninhabited in parts and suffering terrible economic downturns in others. Coincidence? Perhaps, but do you really want to take that  chance? The audience saw Brendan in Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York, though he’s still most widely recognised for his role as Jim Kelly - the Lottery rep in Waking Ned (Devine). For TV, he’s been in the Father Ted Christmas special, Couched, Podge & Rodge and The End for RTE. Brendan’s just finished recording and co-editing the second series of The Comedy Improv Radio Show. A member since 1994, The Comedy Improv have played to thrilled audiences at festivals in Edinburgh, Melbourne, & Adelaide. This year, they shall once again be festival favourites for their eighth successive Kilkenny Cat Laughs festival, where in the past they have performed with famous people of the telly like some of the cast from The Simpsons, Cheers, Whose Line is it Anyway? and Saturday Night Live.

“6 out of 6″ - The Evening Herald
“The improvisation is spot on, imaginative and hilarious” - The Independent
“Dempsey stamped his authority on the scene” - The Scotsman
“Never anything less than hilarious” - BBC Online

1st Act for the evening, Kevin Bridges started stand up shortly after his 17th birthday, since his first gig he has shot through the ranks of the Scottish comedy scene. He reguarly works all over Scotland, most notable at the Stand up comedy clubs in Glasgow and Edinburgh, where he is a regular headliner, support and resident compere of his own monthly show. Kevin has achived a great deal in his short career and 2005 has seen him perform over 150 gigs and begin to venture outwith Scotland, performing in London at many of the top clubs including Saturday nights at the Kings Head and the world famous Comedy Store. Kevin also had a highly successful Edinburgh festival debut where he featured in “The best of Scottish comedy” and was a finalist in Channel 5 “So you think your funny? 2005 competition.  

“The guy was brilliant, an exceptional young comedian. A superstar in the making” - One4review.com
“His confidence is astonishing. His patter is crude, natural, truthful and hilarious” - Sunday Herald
“Young comedy sensation with precoucious talent, see him before he becomes the next Billy Connolly” IC Newcastle
“Already flashes of inventive, incisive stuff - astute observations, social awarness and sharp lines” - Chortle

Mike Manera has been performing comedy in firetraps full of Guardian readers for over three years. He is the resident MC and Host at Upstairs at the Queens Head and has performed all over the country including the Edinburgh Festival, the Brighton Comedy Festival and the St. Albans “Laugh a Minute” festival. Not to mention numerous universities, corporate functions and jazz clubs. Always impeccable attired, punctual and funny he boasts a very full head of hair, his own teeth and own material.

“As funny as he is clever. And he is very clever. - The Guardian
“At over six foot five, and dresses like a renaissance gangster, you can’t really miss him” - London Metro
“A comedy force” - Time Out

The English Comedy Club proudly presents:

Sunday, 5 April 2009 : Nick Revell (UK), Kerry Godliman (UK)
Hosted by Richard Brophy (Australia) 

Substanz Live Club & Bar — Ruppertstr. 28 (U3,U6 Poccistraße) — 80337 München

Door: 7:00 pm - Show:  8:00 pm - Tickets 18€

Nick Revell is a stand up and writer of great repute - his material is a mixture of topical, observational and stories. Nick started performing stand-up in 1980, and was a regular at the Comedy Store from 1982, performed at Joungleurs from the day it opened, and was nominated for the Perrier. He recorded six series of the Million Pound Radio Show with Andy Hamilton, which was named best radio comedy at the British Comedy Swards, and he also had his own radio sitcom.  But in 1992 he quit the circuit to concentrate on writing - only to return in 2002, making his Edinburgh comeback with the show Bare Bones the following year. During his haitus he wrote and performed two solo stage shows: The Ghost of John Belushi Flushed by Toilet 1993 and Liberal Psychotic in 1995. His TV writing credits include Drop the Donkey, Not the nine o’clock news as well as stand-up routines for Dave Allen, Jasper Carrot and Bob Monkhouse.

“Satirically brilliant. Tavel miles to see him” THE GUARDIAN
“…one of the most creative and incisive comics on the circuit” THE GUARDIAN
“A master craftsman back at work” TIME OUT 
“Scalpel-sharp satirist” LONDON EVENING STANDARD

Actress and stand-up comedian, Kerry Godliman, trained at the Rose Bruford College and has since been in numerous TV and Theatre productions while still managing to perform regularly on the UK comedy circuit. In 2003 she made quite on impact in The Babycham Funny Woman Stand-up competition, for which she received a special mention. She also won second place in The Hackney Empire New Act Final in 2004 and was subsequently asked to be part of Bling Blush & Bonk with fellow stand-ups, Ava Vidal and Roisin Conaty at The Edinburgh Festival where she was described by Chortle as “the one to watch”.

“This cocky Londoner, and up-and-coming actress, knows how to hold an audience attention, with well-honed delivery that ensures her material always get the best response” CHORTLE 

Host for the evening, Richard Brophy is a charming stand-up comedian and compere from Perth, Western Australia. His friendly presence and unique style of dry, surreal humour has seen him rise quickly up the ranks of the UK comedy circuit. Brophy’s been a strong contender in several nation comedy competitions and a presenter and panellist of topical comedy shows “This week on Earth”. Brophy also formed one third of  “International Stand-Up”, a sell-out show at the Edinburgh Fringe 2007. Drawing on his experiences from a dusty childhood, a reckless adolescence and world travels, Brophy finds an original strand of insight and humour that seldom fails to amuse and entertain.

The English Comedy Club proudly presents:

Monday, 2 March 2009 : Al Pitcher, Charlie Baker - Hosted by Colin Owens

Substanz Live Club & Bar — Ruppertstr. 28 (U3,U6 Poccistraße) — 80337 München

Door:19:00 - Show: 20:00 - Tickets 18€

New Zealander Al Pitcher started comedy in 1999, reaching the finals of the “So You Think You’re Funny?” competition. He then decided to capitalise on his growing reputation - by becoming a vegetable picker in Naas, Ireland. A couple of year later he returned to stand up, making the final of Daily Telepraph Open Mic awards. Since then he has become a regular fixture at the UK’s top clubs. In 2004 he made his solo Edinburgh fringe debut, and now has four full-length shows to his name. He was invited to appear at the Montreal’s prestigious Just for Laughs Festival in 2007 and has performed at both the Melbourne and New Zealand comedy festivals. Pichter was also the voice of the Forsters Lager commercials, has written for BBC Radio 1 and is an experienced TV warm-up.

” Pitcher sits firlmy in the improvising, rambling, freewheeling comedy camp inhabited by the likes of Ross Noble and Eddie Izzard. However, unlike both of them, Pitcher is one of the best-kept secrects on the comedy scene. He is a diamon as yet not hewn from the circuit rock. But it’s only a matter of time - TIME OUT, 2008
“Can reduce an audience to tears of laughter” The Scotsman
“Catch him while he is cheap!” Evening Standard

An inextinguishable on stage charm allows Charlie Baker to be an outstanding compere and lovable act. His enthusiasm and love of laughter are obvious to the audience. Charlie is unique on the circuit and is rising fast. He is a versatile talent, not only a much in demand stand-up comedian but also an accomplished, highly acclaimed Jazz singer and musician. (solo, and with The Charlie Baker Band) He has been a finalist in the prestigious C4 “So You Think You’re Funny?” comedy competition and in the “You Must be Joking” competition 2006 and was a “BBC New Act” semi-finalist in 2005. In 2008 he compered the prestigious “Big Value Comedy Show” at The Edinburgh Festival

“Devons answer to Frank Sinatra, Baker’s combination of stand-up and song makes up a superior modern take on the traditional showman. The Guardian

Colin Owens, Host for the evening has been described as laconic and charming. He talks about his failings, inadequacies, mistakes and general stupitidy all tinged with an air of paranoia and insecurity but delivered with a supreme confidence and sexual edginess. It’s a proper mish-mash!

“Genuinely Brilliant” Jimmy Carr
“Impossible not to like” Russell Brand
“Brilliant Performer” Frank Skinner

The English Comedy Club proudly presents:

Sunday, 1 February 2009

JJ Whitehead - Steve Gribbin - Hosted by Jimmy McGhie

Substanz Live Club & Bar
Ruppertstr. 28 (U3,U6 Poccistraße)
80337 München

Door:19:00 - Show: 20:00 - Tickets 18€

Expext intricately woven anecdotes and sharply crafted gags with an edge from this award winning stand up comedian. J J Whitehead hails from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia originally and for the last nine years has made England his home base for spreading his humour worldwide including China, Australia, France and Holland. In the past he has made appearance at the Melbourne festival filmed a pilot for Channel 4 in Britain and finished his third solo run in four years at the prestigious Edinburgh festival. Delivers world class comedy fire works.

“Observational comedy is a dying art. In JJ Whitehead, however, inpretentious stand-up may have met it’s unlikely saviour” FEST
“a sharp mind with a definite knack for timing and pacing a story” THE SCOTSMAN
“his complete onstage ease is impressive to behold” METRO
“sharp observations, and moves at an impressive speed” THE INDEPENDENT

Steve Gribbin is a mild-mannered, guitar-wielding Liverpudlian satirist whose scarbrous songs and off-the-wall observations have soldered him to the comedy circuit. Steve slams razor-sharp lyrics into tunes that are catchier than the bird flu in a Brixton meat market. However, let us be clear: these are not the witty ditties of posh gobs and public radio. This is no tuxedo-clad plinky piano plucker that we’re talking about here. This is no punch-pulled rock-and roll, man. Well, maybe just rock, or post-rock. But the point is that Gribbin is that rare bird whose comedy songs are actually funny.

“you can count the number of truly imaginative comic singers currently on the circuit on the fingers of one hand. One of this select band is Steve Gribbin. TIME OUT
“satirical songs are hard to pull off successfully, but if anyone can do it, Steve Gribbin can. In fact, he pulls it off with real aplomb.” THE INDEPENDENT
“a highly refreshing and original comic with a gift for sharp observations and up-to-the-minutes political asides.” THE SCOTSMAN

Jimmy is one of the fastest rising young comics on the circuit. He reached the final of the prestigious “So you think you’re funny” competition at the Edinburgh Festival, then the semi finals of the BBC New Talent competition and the final of the Amused Moose Star search 2005. He now plays weekends at the Comedy Store and Joungleurs in London and gigs all over the country. Jimmy studied Drama at Kent University and his meteoric rise in the world of stand up looks like it is to be matched in the world of acting, with some exciting TV acting roles in the pipline.

The English Comedy Club proudly presents:

Monday, 5 January 2009

Henning Wehn - Nick Wilty - Hosted by Rich Wilson

Substanz Live Club & Bar
Ruppertstr. 28 (U3,U6 Poccistraße)
80337 München

Door:19:00 - Show: 20:00 - Tickets 18€

Henning is The German Comedy Ambassador in The United Kingdom. This is not the easiest of jobs because the Germans allegedly do not have a sense of humour. Henning does not find that funny. He took office in October 2003 after watching an open mic night that left him convinced that he would do better. Since then he has won serveral new act competitions such as the Hackney Empire 2005, Bracknell Comedy Festival 2004 and the York Comedy Festival 2004. He has supported comedians as diverse as Jo Brand and Jerry Sadowitz.

Nick is known as the “Globetrotting Comedian” for good reason. He has performed on every continent except Antarctica (although he did a show in Tierra Del Fuego!), and has done shows in all major Festivals. Nick has won several awards, including the Polo Mint Comedy Award, voted by fellow comedians and club owners in England, and Best International Act in San Francisco.

“Unmissable” - Time Out
“Wilty is cack funny, his routine is a fluffy kitten that bites like a lion”. Beat, Melbourne
“The hit of the Festival” DB MAG, Adelaide
“This is possibly one of the best shows you’ll see as part of this year’s Comedy Festival” & “Warped observations with an edge”. Inpress, Melbourne
“One of the top five acts currently wowing them in New York.” The New Yorker

Rich Wilson began his comedy career in 2004 after Rob Rouse told him ”You’d make a great comic. Go out there and experience the fear for yourself.” He was given his first spot by Silky at Kill For A Seat comedy club at The Bullingdon in Oxford. Since then he has gone from strength to strength. He was resident compere at Up The Creek Croydon and is a regular at The Comedy Cafe, Lee Hursts Backyard and many of the major comedy clubs up and down the country. With his warm, likeable manner and his ability to win over the rowdiest of audiences, with Rich Wilson you are guaranteed an evening of exceptoinal entertainment.
In the words of Frank Skinner,”He’s a very funny man.”