24 | August 15, 2013 | cambridge-news.co.uk | Cambridge News

THE barbecue may still bewatching you, sending hopefulsubliminal messages like

“hotdogs for tea” and “bring me aburger” or even “please marinade thatchicken in the fridge”, as you stumblepast each morning, but let’s face it,this summer and the few sweaty daysit entailed, is almost over.Have a brief cry over your barelyused sunblock and move on – in fact,move on to the arts: Cambridge’s artsvenues are well and truly planning outautumn for you.

Justin CurrieFOUNDING member of Scottishrockers Del Amtri, Currie isn’teveryone’s ideal night out, althoughthe What’s On editor is convinced he’sone of Britain’s greatest songwriters(and I’m right – Ed). The Guardiansaid of his first solo album: “Currie’searnest, hirsute rock, garnished withfolk and country touches and theodd orchestral flourish, is doggedlydownbeat stuff” – but he’s got ahardcore following, so who are we toargue? You can read our interviewwith him in a couple ofweeks. . .n CambridgeJunction, Sunday,September 8.Contact (01223)511511 / www.junction.co.uk

LauraMarlingARMED withher acousticguitar andan etherealvoice, singer-song writerand elfin folksterLaura Marling israther good. Sinceher wonderful 2007 debut,the winsome Alas, I Cannot Swim(haunting and beautiful, it’s a shamethe too-cool Laura tends to steer clearof performing her earliest tracks livethese days), the 23-year-old is nowon her fourth album, Once I was anEagle. I Speak Because I Can and ACreature I Don’t Know make up theintervening albums, which helpedpropel her to two Mercury Music PrizeNominations and a Brit Award for BestFemale Artist in 2011. Tempting, no?n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Friday,September 27. Contact (01223) 357851 /www.cornex.co.uk

BastilleBASTILLE, an alt-rock four-some ledby scruffy haired singer-songwriterDan Smith, has had a pretty hecticyear involving a debut Number 1album and a summer of festivals.“‘Whirlwind’ is a funny word that we

get thrown at usquite a lot,” Dantold What’s Onearlier this year.

“I guess it’s quitehard to articulate

what this year’s beenlike because it’s – this

sounds like a reallyboring way of describing

it – but we’ve just been so busy.It’s quite weird to acknowledge.” Thegig’s sold out but it’s probably worthhanging around outside the CornExchange just for a dance.n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Saturday,October 12. Contact (01223) 357851 /www.cornex.co.uk

Tom OdellSO, NME gave floppy haired singer-songwriter Tom a big fat zero out of 10for his debut album Long Way Down.And then his dad rang up the office tohave a go at them – it was just brilliant.Not to mention a perfect publicitystorm too; the album tumbled into theNumber One spot, simultaneouslyensuring Odell lived up to his billingas the BRIT’s Critic’s Choice. He mightbe a bit Marmite-esque (his stuff ison the extreme end of introspectionand slightly maudlin), but he plays thepiano quite sweetly.

n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Sunday,October 13. Contact (01223) 357851 /www.cornex.co.uk

Local NativesLA psych-folksters (that is apparentlya thing now) Local Natives are TaylorRice, Kelcey Ayer, Ryan Hahn andMatt Frazier – a collaborative group oflads, writing, playing and choosing theband’s direction together. Frequentlycompared to Fleet Foxes, ArcadeFire and Vampire Weekend, they likebeards, moustaches and are prettylaid back about life (we recentlycaught up with Matt for a chat andhe was so relaxed he was barelyconscious – in a good way). We’dhave said two years ago they wereones to watch, but perhaps they’remore of a slow burn.n Cambridge Junction, Tuesday,October 15. Contact (01223) 511511 /www.junction.co.uk

Alison MoyetYOU’VE been warned, don’t call AlisonMoyet an 80s throwback. She’s gota difficult to pin down but entirelyrecognisable voices and first foundfame with Alf, one of the biggestselling albums of the 80s. Now she’son her eighth album The Minutes(first single, When I Was Your Girl, is

categorically epic), with no sign ofslowing down anytime soon. She’salready been hinting at the nextrecord.n Cambridge Corn Exchange,Wednesday, October 16. Contact(01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk

BabyshamblesLIBERTINES fans might find theBabyshambles racket all a bit ofa disappointment (speaking fromexperience, they were a literalshambles when I saw them play inBrixton in 2006, the highlight beingPete warbling a version of ‘10 greenbottles’), but The Libertines are sadlyno more, so we must make do withDoherty in this slightly less dynamicform. They shot to fame with firstalbum Down in Albion (helped and/orheeded by Pete’s arrest on the nightof their first gig), before Shotter’sNation came out in 2007. Let’s find outif they still have an edge.n Cambridge Junction, Thursday,October 17. Contact (01223) 511511 /www.junction.co.uk

Jamie CullumMUCH loved jazz/pop star Cullum(dad of two and husband to beautifulfoodie, Sophie Dahl), released hissixth studio album, Momentum,

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Cambridge News | cambridge-news.co.uk | August 15, 2013 | 25

earlier this year and it’s alreadybeing touted as his best yet. He

stormed the UK jazz scene in 2003after successfully engaging Sonyand Universal in a bidding war forhis music, swooping up praise forPointless Nostalgic, Twentysomething,Catching Tales and The Pursuit. Butnow, after several years presentinghis weekly jazz show on BBC Radio

2, the singer, beatboxer and merrypianist is back. Thank goodness.

Cambridge Corn Exchange, Friday,October 25. Contact (01223) 357851/ www.cornex.co.uk

AlunaGeorgeSASSY and electric,AlunaGeorge (the stunning,gangly Aluna Francis on vocalsand George Reid in charge ofproduction), pump out a mixof 90s R’n’B vibes, tinged byinspiration taken from thelikes of Radiohead, Aaliyah,PJ Harvey and FrankOcean. The pair releasedtheir debut album, BodyMusic, in July to fairly hugefanfare and are tippedto be massive. They’vealready collaborated withDisclosure on White Noise

(it made it to Number 2 inthe charts), and Alunafound herself leapingabout on stage withDizzy Rascal at thisyear’s Glastonbury.They are pretty cool.

Cambridge Junction,Friday, October 25. Contact(01223) 511511 / www.junction.co.uk

DaughterMADE up of Elena Tonra(vocals), Igor Haefeli(guitar) and Remi Aguilella

(drums), Daughter are a Londonindie folk trio that make your skinshiver and your bottom lip wobble.From the heartbreaking Youth (“Myeyes are damp from the words youleft/Ringing in my head, when youbroke my chest,”), to the aching,

(“Biting words like a wolfhowling/Hate is spitting out each

other’s mouths,”), and even theirGet Lucky Daft Punk cover.

Basically, they aren’t a good idea ifyou’re heartbroken, unless you want agood old sob.n Cambridge Junction, Saturday,October 26. Contact (01223) 511511 /www.junction.co.uk

Jools HollandIT’S tough to escape the reachof Jools Holland. A dab hand atpresenting, playing and composing,the guy is widely considered a radioand TV legend – and then there’sthe matter of his Rhythm and BluesOrchestra who will be joining himat his upcoming Cambridge gig.This time around Melanie C will beperforming with them too (yes! Abonafide Spice Girl!). Go sing-a-long.n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Saturday,November 2. Contact (01223) 357851 /www.cornex.co.uk

The FeelingWHAT ever happened to The Feeling?They had to reschedule their tourearlier this year to link up with newalbum, Boy Cried Wolf, but, sincetheir rush of hits in 2006-2007 theyhave been a bit absent. That might be

Chiefs – they had a whole song aboutrosé wine to be fair), has fallen outof favour. But still, they know how towrite a catchy chorus.n Cambridge Junction, Saturday,November 2. Contact (01223) 511511 /www.junction.co.uk

BlueSO, the Blue boys are officially back.The R’n’B/pop foursome – AntonyCosta, Duncan James, Lee Ryanand Simon Webbe – shot to famein the early noughties with catchysaccharine tracks like One Love,Sorry Seems to be the HardestWord (with Elton John!) and Signed,Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours. Hittingrocky times in 2005, they split beforereforming in 2011 for Eurovision. . .Somehow it wasn’t as disastrous asyou might expect. Now – on the backof ITV2’s The Big Reunion show – thelads are apparently better than ever.Find out if the rumours are true.n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Sunday,November 3. Contact (01223) 357851 /www.cornex.co.uk

KT Tunstall

shot to fame with her debut album Eyeto the Telescope in 2004 (rememberBlack Horse and a Cherry Tree?), andis currently touring with her fourthstudio album, Invisible Empire //Crescent Moon. Striking and soulfulthe 37-year-old has a trio of Brit Awardnominations to her name, plus a win,and she just headlined the CambridgeFolk Festival (it was said to beamazing). How can you not be a fan?n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Friday,November 8. Contact (01223) 357851 /www.cornex.co.uk

Public ServiceBroadcastingOH, these guys are cool. Dapper,suited and prepared to the max withelectronic samples from quirky publicinformation films, black and whitearchive footage and propagandamaterial, overlaid with live music(banjos, piano and guitar get a lookin). Live, they are electric, punchingbuttons and looking like well-to-docollege kids. You will love them, if youhave any sense at all.n Cambridge Junction, Monday,

November 18. Contact

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November 18. Contact(01223) 511511 /www.junction.co.uk

DUO: AlunaGeorge’sAluna Francis andGeorge Reid

REUNION:Blue

EMPIREBUILDING:KT Tunstall

SOLO: Tom Odell

continues over >>

Measure for MeasureTECHNICALLY a comedy,Shakespeare’s Measure forMeasure is more of a problem playthan a laugh out loud funny piece.Still, this production, by CambridgeAmerican Stage Tour (CAST),slickly takes the citizens of Vienna– overrun by shadiness and thesex trade – and gives it a moderngloss. The law is being ignored,the spiteful Angelo brutally takescontrol (fear and oppressions histools), but falls for the enchantingIsabella – sister of

imprisoned Claudio – and suddenlyit seems the rules no longer applyto everyone. . .n ADC, Wednesday, September 4 –Saturday, October 12. Contact (01223)300085 / www.adctheatre.com

The ProducersALL singing, all dancing, all greedy– that’s The Producers for you.It’s won 12 Tony Awards and nailshysterical slapstick. Performedby Cambridge Stagehands: thepremise? Broadway producer MaxBialystock and his accountant LeoBloom are set to make a fortune byraising funds for a Broadway showso terrible it will flop on openingnight, leaving them to run off withthe investors’ cash. You can imagineit won’t quite go to plan.n ADC, Thursday, September 12 –Saturday, September 14. Contact(01223) 300085 / www.adctheatre.com

The MousetrapIT opened in 1952 and has beenwhirring towards becoming thelongest running show in theworld of theatre ever since. Nowcelebrating its 60th anniversary,Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrapis the ultimate murder mystery. Ifyou haven’t seen it before (wherehave you been?), it involves amurder, a country house and a hostof suspicious guests – as all goodmurder mysteries do. There’s areason it’s been running for so long– prepare to be thrilled, and look outfor the twist!n Cambridge Corn Exchange,Monday, September 16 - Saturday,September 21. Contact (01223)357851 / www.cornex.co.uk

Henry VI: Parts I – IIIA SAVAGE world is the oneShakespeare devised for his Henry

VI. The Globe Theatre on Tour ispresenting all three parts of theBard’s historical creation: Harry theSixth, Houses of York and Lancasterand The True Tragedy of the Dukeof York, and don’t fret, you can seeall three shows for the price of two(visit the Arts Theatre website fordetails). Expect death, bewitchment,rebellion and power strugglesgalore. If anyone knows how to doShakespeare justice, it’s the Globe.n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Tuesday,September 17 – Saturday, September21. Contact (01223) 503333 /cambridgeartstheatre.purchase-tickets-online.co.uk

Fallen AngelsA CHAMPAGNE fuelled romp is anapt description of Noël Coward’squick-fire comedy Fallen Angels.Starring Jenny Seagrove andSara Crowe as best friends Juliaand Jane, it’s catty, drunken andmarvellously foolish. With theirrather tame husbands off on a golftrip and the promise of a visit froma long lost lover, the women tumbleinto a bubbly-driven fluster asjealousies and claws lash out. Andthen their husbands arrive homeearly. Uh-oh. Witty and rapid, you’relikely to fall head over heels for it.n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Monday,September 23 – Saturday, September28. Contact (01223) 503333 /cambridgeartstheatre.purchase-tickets-online.co.uk

North, North, NorthSEAL meat, frostbite and aterrible, hopeful adventure, this isthe latest show from Cambridgetheatre company New InternationalEncounter (NIE). Set in 1897, ittells the tale of three Swedishadventurers who set out for theNorth Pole in a hydrogen filledballoon in search of vast newsnowscapes. They plan to plantthe Swedish flag at the pole butdisappear, floating away into theunknown. There will be music,storytelling and a mix of projectionand physical theatre. Brrrr.n Cambridge Junction, Tuesday,October 1. Contact (01223) 511511 /www.junction.co.uk

The History BoysYOU’VE probably seen the film, butnow Alan Bennett’s award-winningcomic masterpiece will be onstage at the ADC for the first time.Put together by the CambridgeUniversity Amateur Dramatic Club(CUADC), they say it’s: “Performedby people on the other side of theOxbridge application game, TheHistory Boys prompts us to questionwhether it was worth it after all.”Eight students are whipped intoOxbridge shape by supply teacherIrwin, but their general studiesteacher has bigger plans than that.Definitely a chance to reminisce

about your school days.n ADC, Tuesday, October 15 –Saturday, October, 19. Contact(01223) 300085 / www.adctheatre.com

Prometheus andThe FrogsEVERY three years CambridgeUniversity performs a playin Greek, and this yearit’s a double billof comedy andtragedy withPrometheusand The Frogs– fortunatelythere will besubtitles. In2010, TheCambridgeGreekPlay wasAgamemnon,and thetradition hasseen the likesof Rupert Brookeand Ralph VaughanWilliams taking part.A newly commissionedorchestral score by composer,Alex Silverman will run alongsidePrometheus as he tries to savemankind, and some dancing,singing frogs.n Cambridge Arts Theatre,Wednesday, October 16 – Saturday,October 19. Contact (01223) 503333/ cambridgeartstheatre.purchase-tickets-online.co.uk

The Private Ear andThe Public EyeINDULGE in two one-act plays byPeter Shaffer. The Private Ear is setin a grungy London bedsit wherereclusive Bob, usually occupiedwith his record collection, enlists thehelp of his uber-confident friend Tedto treat his date, Doreen, to a decentmeal. While The Public Eye revolvesaround a slick London accountancyoffice, where uptight Charles dealswith quirky private detective Julianover the matter of his wife’s possibleadultery. Both rather take our fancy.n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Monday,October 21 – Saturday, October26. Contact (01223) 503333 /cambridgeartstheatre.purchase-tickets-online.co.uk

Poets vs RappersLOCAL gal Hollie McNish –spoken word poet extraordinaire– will be one of the actsperforming during a night whenpoets and rappers are pittedtogether. Three of each get 15minutes to showcase theirwords, rhythms and rhymes,with no music to back themup, and the audience getsto decide who verbally slamstheir way to being the most lyrical.Other than Hollie, regular battler

Mark Grist and Birmingham poetlaureate Stephen Morrison Burkewill fight for the poets, with Skuff(hip hop), Jimmy Danger (drum nbass) and Deanna Rodger (grime)representing the rappers.n Cambridge Junction, Thursday,October 24. Contact (01223) 511511 /www.junction.co.uk

LikeableSuperstar

RoleModelCREDIBLELikeableSuperstarRole Modelis the titleof Bryony’snew show,in part

devisedby herself,

but largelydictated by

the whims andsartorial tastes of her

9-year-old niece Taylor.Basically, Taylor came up

with “a dinosaur-loving, bike-riding,tuna pasta eating alternativepopstar called CatherineBennett” who Bryonypromised to play – doingeverything Taylor told herto in the process, includingbecome famous. There willalso be heavy weaponryand matching Laura Ashleyoutfits we’re told. Fancyseeing the results? Us too.n Cambridge Junction,Wednesday, October 30.Contact (01223) 511511 / www.junction.co.uk

Save the Last DanceFor MeIF you liked Dreamboats &Petticoats earlier this year, you willadore Save The Last Dance ForMe, which is said to blur the linebetween Dreamboats and DirtyDancing (swoon). A rock ‘n’ rollmusical saturated by tunes fromthe sixties, it’s written by LaurenceMarks and Maurice Gran andpromises nostalgia, weepy eyesand a whole lot of dancing in yourseat.n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Monday,November 4 – Saturday, November9. Contact (01223) 503333 /cambridgeartstheatre.purchase-tickets-online.co.uk

Frost/NixonDRAWING on the film of the samename from 2008, this is a showbound up in political and journalistictension, as well as a battle of wits.The Dryden Society troupe explorethe clash between Richard Nixonwho received a full pardon fromGerald Ford over his involvement inthe Watergate scandal, and British

talk-show host DavidFrost (who aspires

to make him fall

26 | August 15, 2013 | cambridge-news.co.uk | Cambridge News

The critical list: more hot tickets WORDS: Ella Walker

Theatre

unmissableautumn shows50

POLITICS: BenMiller in TheDuck House

Cambridge News | cambridge-news.co.uk | August 15, 2013 | 27

GET THE LATEST WHAT’S ON NEWS at cambridge-news.co.uk/whatson

Family and films

@CamWhatsOn

FILMS

HawkingGet the popcorn in – the 33rd CambridgeFilm Festival has confirmed its openingfilm will be Hawking, a new documentarydirected by BAFTA-nominated StephenFinnigan. Plus, Professor Stephen Hawkingwill be attending too and answeringquestions during a Q&A after the screening.The man himself narrates the film, trackinghis life from hazy student days, to hisongoing fight with amyotrophic lateralsclerosis, and his career as a writer andcosmologist.n Cambridge Arts Picturehouse, CambridgeFilm Festival, September 19 – 29. Contact(01223) 500082 / www.cambridgefilmfestival.org.uk

Blue Jasmine UK premiereWOODY Allen’s latest film, Blue Jasmine(starring Cate Blanchett, Sally Hawkinsand Alec Baldwin), will be unveiled for thefirst time in the UK at the Cambridge FilmFestival. Yet another gem in the directorscache (which of course includes AnnieHall, Manhattan and Midnight in Paris), it’sa tempestuous family drama in which thehighly-strung socialite Jasmine (Blanchett)moves in with her sister (Hawkins) after adisastrous divorce from the wretched Hal(Baldwin). It’s being tipped as one of Allen’sbest movies in years.n Cambridge Arts Picturehouse, CambridgeFilm Festival, September 19 – 29. Contact(01223) 500082 / www.cambridgefilmfestival.org.uk

FAMILY

The ButterflyLionMICHAEL Morpurgohas done more thancreate War Horsedon’t you know. Theauthor and formerchildren’s laureate’slatest story to betransformed into anenchanting theatrepiece for littleones is his 1996tale, The ButterflyLion. It won theSmarties bookprize the sameyear and tracks the life ofBertie, a young boy who befriends a whitelion, only to be sent to boarding school andhave his lion sold to the circus. Will theyever be reunited?n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Monday,September 30 – Saturday, October 5. Contact(01223) 503333 / cambridgeartstheatre.purchase-tickets-online.co.uk

Aliens Love UnderpantsBASED on the book by Claire Freedmanand Ben Cort, you will, predictably, “laughyour pants off” – so says the productionteam. A bit zany, a bit silly and packed withmusic, laughs and audience interaction, it’sthe kind of show that will entertain big andlittle kids for an hour or two. Pure escapism.n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Monday,October 28 – Tuesday, October 29. Contact(01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk

James and the Giant PeachONE of the greatest Roald Dahl – hell, one

of the greatest children’s stories –ever written, James and the Giant Peach is atale about just that: James Trotter lives withhis two beastly aunts but is one day handeda bag of magic that he drops by an old andwithered peach tree. And then somethingfunny happens. . . he sets off on a crazyadventure, complete with outsized insects,seagulls galore, men who live in the cloudsand a trip to New York. Can the BirminghamStage Company do it justice?n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Tuesday, October29 – Saturday, November 2. Contact (01223)503333 / cambridgeartstheatre.purchase-tickets-online.co.uk

Robin HoodWE know, we know, it’s a tad too early to bethinking about Christmas, but it’s got to bedone. Those thighs won’t slap themselves,will they? (“Oh yes they will! Oh no theywon’t!” etc.) This year Jack can put his

Beanstalk away, it’s the turn of Robin Hoodand his merry men. Sheriff Nottinghamwill be causing mischief, the arrows will beflying and there’ll be tonnes of audienceinteraction to get stuck into.n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Thursday,December 5 – Sunday, January 12. Contact(01223) 503333 / cambridgeartstheatre.purchase-tickets-online.co.uk

Thumbelina’s Great BigAdventureHANS Christian Andersen’s classic tale getsa colourful twist as the Junction’s Christmasshow this year. There will be animals andadventures and a journey to the big city witha diminutive Thumbelina who has somehuge dreams and ideas. Hopefully there’llbe a sprinkling of snow by then too.n Cambridge Junction, Saturday, December14 – Saturday, January 4. Contact (01223)511511 / www.junction.co.uk

ENCHANTING: Thumbelina’s Great Big Adventure, above,and The Butterfly Lion, inset

HENRY VI: The True Tragedy of theDuke of York

to pieces). Twelve interviews, noscripts, and no prior knowledgeof the question – who knows whatmight happen.n ADC, Tuesday, November 5 –Saturday, November 9. Contact(01223) 300085 / www.adctheatre.com

English Touring Oper

THE English Touring Opera is backwith three new shows: Cavalli’sJason – loosely based on Jasonand the Golden Fleece, it involvesa treacherous journey and lots offamily drama. Monteverdi’s TheCoronation of Poppea – the beautifulPoppea attempts to seduce theinfatuated Nero and make himdivorce his wife Ottavia, to becomethe new queen and empress ofRome. In Handel’s Agrippina – analmost prequel to The Coronation ofPoppea – Nero’s mother schemesfor him to take the throne.n Cambridge Arts Theatre,Wednesday, November 13 – Saturday,November 16. Contact (01223)503333 / cambridgeartstheatre.purchase-tickets-online.co.uk

The Duck House

GORDON Brown’s government isfalling apart, a general election islooming and Labour backbencherRobert Houston will go to anylengths to save his skin, sorry,seat. Especially when the expensesscandal breaks. . . receipt strickenRobert is in a bit of a situation.A brand new comedy from DanPatterson, Ben Miller (of TheArmstrong and Miller Show) stars.Let’s see if it will have you rolling inthe aisles.n Cambridge Arts Theatre, Monday,November 18 – Saturday, November23. Contact (01223) 503333 /cambridgeartstheatre.purchase-tickets-online.co.uk

Thriller Live

DON’T be coy, you totally know thedance! Regardless, this is the kind ofshow that will have you flailing yourlimbs, jumping up and down andpractising your moon walk (shufflingattempts welcomed). Two hoursdedicated to Michael Jackson’sgreatest hits, (we’re mainly lookingforward to renditions of Dirty Diana,Beat It and Billie Jean – obviously),there’ll be pop, rock, soul and discoto dance and sing-a-long to. Now,where’s that leather jacket?n Cambridge Corn Exchange, Friday,November 29 – Saturday, November30. Contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk

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continues on p30 >>

30 | August 15, 2013 | cambridge-news.co.uk | Cambridge News

Comedy

The critical list: more hot tickets

Felix DennisTHE man who happily admits to spending£100m on crack cocaine, women anda whole lot of wine, is fast becoming anational treasure – for his poetry. FelixDennis just cannot stop winning at life.The magazine publisher, millionaire andentrepreneur extraordinaire caught theworld’s attention with the Oz obscenitytrials in the 60s. Now he’s touring withhis spoken word show and counts SirPaul McCartney and Stephen Fry amonghis fans. Oh, and the show’s called DidI Mention the Free Wine for a reason.Bottoms up.n Cambridge Junction, Monday, September 9.

Contact (01223) 511511 / www.junction.co.uk

Jason ManfordYOU might have grown tired of the8 Out of 10 Cats format, but JasonManford does his best, don’t youthink? The Mancunian team captaingot into comedy after working ina pub and being inspired by thelikes of Peter Kay and Eddie Izzard.The rest, as they say, is a careerspanning voiceover work (thoseannoying Churchill ads included),presenting gigs (The One Show,despite a hazy, sexting-related endto it), and stand-up, of course.Prepare for some belly laughs.n Cambridge Corn Exchange,Monday, September 9 – Tuesday,September 10. Contact (01223)357851 / www.cornex.co.uk

Alex HorneWHO knows if it’s true but Alex

@CamWhatsOn

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unmissableautumn showsHorne is: “the inventor of the

word ‘fffhp’, an onomatopoeicdescription of the sound createdwhen a snowflake lands on abubble.” The things you canlearn from Google. When notinventing new literary morsels,Horne is bringing laughter to BBCRadio 4, garnering Perrier Awardnominations and hanging out withfellow comic (and Cambridgenative), Tim Key. What can he beup to now…n Cambridge Junction, Friday,September 20. Contact (01223)511511 / www.junction.co.uk

Henning WhenNEVER heard of him? Us neither.However, this gig has already soldout (sob). Self-proclaimed GermanComedy Ambassador to GreatBritain, Henning is a BBC Radio 5Live Fighting Talk regular and haspopped up on 8 Out of 10 Catsand QI (clearly we haven’t beenpaying attention). Now, who canwe nab a ticket off?n Cambridge Junction, Friday,October 18. Contact (01223)511511 / www.junction.co.uk

Jimmy CarrHE just can’t keep away, can he?Jimmy Carr is returning to the CornExchange once again (that’ll bethe fifth time this year and the 25thtime ever), but who can blamehim. The show, Gagging Order,will be another encounter withthe stand-up’s unlimited ability toshock, offend and entertain withsnappy, witty one-liners. Go havefun. Again.n Cambridge Corn Exchange,Sunday, October 20. Contact(01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk

Bill BaileyBILL Bailey’s qualms about theuniverse and everything in it havespilled into a whole, suitablyhilarious show. The Black Booksstar is all set to muddle his waythrough a bout of philosophisingwith a host of instruments andsome religious dubstep (yep, that’sa real thing). And apparently thereis an owl involved. Don’t you justlove him?n Cambridge Corn Exchange,Monday, October 21 – Tuesday,October 22. Contact (01223)357851 / www.cornex.co.uk

Russell BrandTHE ridiculously intelligent, crazyhaired, skinny belted lothario isback doing what he does best:stand-up, with his MessiahComplex world tour (alsofeaturing Jesus Christ, CheGuevara, Ghandi, MalcolmX and Hitler, don’t youknow). It takes a look atthe mental disorder which

causes sufferers to believe theyare the messiah – so, umm, didJesus have it? This is the questionBrand tackles, with all his usualwit, flair and rampant chat. If you’reeasily offended, perhaps give it amiss, but if you love Brand in all hisguises, get to the box office.n Cambridge Corn Exchange,Saturday, October 26. Contact(01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk

Reginald D HunterTHE Georgia born comedianstarted out in theatre beforerealising he could make moremoney in stand-up. Promptlyswitching to telling jokes for aliving, controversial ones at that,his gigs tend to involve the ‘n’word quite a bit. His website callshim: “Unassuming. Provocative.Raw. Fresh. And funny. Don’tforget funny.” And you won’t. Orhow uncomfortable he can makeyou feel either, even if you’resimultaneously cackling away. Hisstuff tends to run along the linesof hard hitting, over sharing and(almost) too close to home, it’s likea slap in the face in a good way.n Cambridge Corn Exchange,Sunday, November 10. Contact(01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk

Paul FootTHE first thing to note aboutPaul Foot is the mullet. It’s reallyquite striking – but then so is hiscomedy. Mates with Russell Brandand Noel Fielding (Brand’s actuallybeen accused of copying him), theOxford graduate specialises in thesurreal and has been describedas “a rare exotic bird” by the DailyExpress. He wears odd socks,rambles politely (he’s very funnyon the topic of food allergies), andwrithes about on stage. Definitelyworth a look.n Cambridge Junction,Thursday, November 14. Contact(01223) 511511 / www.junction.co.uk

Greg DaviesHE’S ridiculously tall Greg Davies(6ft 8in if you were wondering:“In Bangkok I am a genuine,fairy tale giant,”), and is probablybest known for his role as thebluntly scathing Mr Gilbert in TheInbetweeners. Then there’s beenstints in BBC3’s Cuckoo and WeAre Klang, but it’s stand-up thathas his giant heart, hence thesuccess of his first tour FiringCheeseballs At A Dog. Now he’sback with new show The Back ofMy Mum’s Head; better not skiveoff.n Cambridge Corn Exchange,Thursday, November 14. Contact(01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk

Stephen K AmosSTEPHEN K Amos is all aboutfinding the funny. A staple at theEdinburgh Fringe (this will be his10th visit), and prolific when itcomes to bringing out new shows(at least one a year), his stand-upis packed with honesty, tales fromhis rambunctious childhood and awhole lot of feel-good hoots. TheJunction has pulled off a bit of acoup nabbing him – don’t missout.n Cambridge Junction, Friday,November 15. Contact (01223)511511 / www.junction.co.uk

Ed ByrneCAMBRIDGE regular Ed has(just about) put those CarphoneWarehouse adverts behind him,fortunately. Spectacle clad withflowing locks, he’s smart, funnyand best mates with Dara O Briain(we’re so jealous), plus, he’sappeared on Blind Date – thanksfor that Wikipedia. There have beenPerrier award nominations alongthe way, punctuated by hillwalkingcolumns and dogged touring. Theman is a class act.n Cambridge Corn Exchange,Friday, November 15. Contact(01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk

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