Article Source: Monkey Barrel Comedy
Last Updated: 21 November 2016 15:55
Monkey Barrel Comedy (“One of Edinburgh’s finest showcases” – The Skinny) is opening its doors as the city’s second, week-round comedy venue on Friday 2nd of December.
After five sell out years housed at the famous Beehive Inn on Grassmarket, picking up two Scottish Comedy Awards along the way*, Monkey Barrel Comedy has moved to its very own permanent venue, dead centre of the city, at 9 Blair Street, just off the Royal Mile.
Having bought up the lease of an old Victorian printers shop, the Monkey Barrel team – comedians Ben Verth and Chris Griffin, writer and cartoonist John Millar, and comedy fan David Bleese – have transformed the shell into a two-level theatre, café and bar space, with a 100 capacity main room and an intimate 60 seater basement theatre The Banana Skin.
Monkey Barrel’s week kicks off with The Weekend Starts Here, our no-holds-barred Monday night alternative show. Tuesday it’s our anything goes, work-in-progress comedy lab Monkey Tennis, while on Wednesday it’s our new act competition Top Banana. Thursday is our Presents… night where we welcome guest shows and tours. Friday and Saturday it’s our premier flagship weekend multi-bill Big Show (“This is a great night out” – The Mumble). And on a Sunday we’ve not one show but two - our rising star showcase Progress! in our main room, while downstairs resident improv group To Be Continued take over The Banana Skin.
Monkey Barrel will also be offering a range of comedy courses throughout the year, run by seasoned comedy veteran and one of the most in-demand acts in Scotland, Jojo Sutherland.
Performing at the club’s official opening weekend will be former Scottish Comedian of the Year John Gavin, tour support for Tom Stade and warm up for his live DVD recording Robin Grainger, and circuit favourites Chris Henry and Mickey Sharma, with Monkey Barrel’s resident host Rick Molland (“Molland is the perfect compere” – Three Weeks).
Contact: Ben Verth
Marketing Director
07904 967 845
ben@monkeybarrelcomedy.com
www.monkeybarrelcomedy.com
*Outstanding Contribution to Scottish Comedy 2015 for club founder Ben Verth, and Best Small Club in 2016
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