Tony G

New Variety Lives is managed by Tony Goodrick, Claire and Roland Muldoon and Frank Sweeney. We make new variety-comedy shows and have worked together on the NVL project for some time, along the way, building strong working relations with numerous artists, particularly those who prefer a live audience. We work across the comedy spectrum, staging shows and programming 'Bills' with the most enjoyable, exceptionally talented, entertainers.

The Birth of New Variety
The sea change in popular entertainment dates from the early 1980s, at the time when Roland and Claire, of the 'underground theatre group' CAST (Cartoon Archetypical Slogan Theatre), joined in with the Alternative Comedy movement and sought to distance themselves from the bland world of entertainment, featuring, at that time, mainly on-the-box and a few old school venues; where Mother-in-Law jokes, along with general ignorance and bigotry, were the main menu. New Variety followed on in the British tradition of Variety but replaced the old and repetitious routines with progressive, up to date material that challenged the old taboos of what could and couldn't be talked about.

In 1982 CAST, with the help of the then Greater London Council, set up eight, one night New Variety venues in as many London Boroughs. CAST New Variety auditioned and introduced a whole new generation of comedy stand-ups, poets, musicians, and a brand new range of speciality acts. This process gave birth to the most important showcase, The NATYS: New Acts of the Year Showcase, from which countless acts have taken their first steps to professional recognition. CAST New Variety, confident of the support of these acts, took over the dilapidated Hackney Empire Theatre in 1986 and, over the following twenty years, helped change the face of Britain's live entertainment.

Since its departure in 2010 from the Hackney Empire, the legendary NATYS launch pad has kept the the stage door open to emerging talent. It is an independent, not-for-profit, producer and has forged three excellent partnerships: the Audition Heats take place at Rich Mix Arts Centre and the Final Showcase at the Bloomsbury Theatre, and this year we have a new partnership with the Comedy School, who have joined forces to provide a springboard for emerging talent who are serious about their craft and have the ambition to breakthrough onto the live entertainment scene.