The Albion Basement

Hello childers everywhen.

Back in May a few friends and I decided to write and perform a little audio sketch show. And so we did. It was phenomenal fuin, and went down better than we expected...or, I suspect, it had any right to. We'll be putting a handful of live recordings of said sketches onto YouTube between now and Christmas, before chucking the whole 60 minutes onto Soundcloud for the headstrong to wade through.

Anyway, here's the first one, say whatever comes into your heads about it, if you wish, I'd be very interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBB7zKL94sg

there's also a Facebook page for those of you who like that sort of thing, www.facebook.com/AlbionBasement, so go and look at that if you want. Although, I shoudl warn you, at the moment it tells you two things a) the page exists, and b) we've put this sketch on YouTube. Which makes it somewhat redundant at this juncture.

So, there you go. I shall put the next ones up here regardless of whether anyone likes it, hates it, or even listens to it at all, so be warned.

I wasn't sure whether to put this here or in Showcase - decided on here because I'm acutely aware of the myriad faults in terms of performance and recording, but if it's not considered the right place, someone important can feel free to move it.

Thanks

I liked it. Assured delivery, good tone, funny script. I guessed where it was going almost immediately, but that didn't matter because you kept up the pace all the way through (you lost me only briefly towards the end). Nice.

What a shocker that's really rather good, funny, doesn't ramble interesting, professional and lots of variety.

And I usually I hate audio podcasts

But this I didn't hate, because its good.

You should have put this in Showcase, because I am not going to presume to criticise.

The best thing on here in a while.

I'd also like to praise the OP for a nice, modest intro to some very good work.

A model of politely drumming up interest and getting feedback.

A breath of fresh air in criitque.

Quote: Tursiops @ 1st December 2013, 6:58 PM GMT

You should have put this in Showcase, because I am not going to presume to criticise.

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Criticise away - that's ultimately why I put it here, because people are (necessarily) quite polite in Showcase, whereas I like good honest opinions and stuff to get tyour teeth into. And I assume the positive words so far are honest, judging by who wrote them, so cheers very much.

(BTW, in case you're trying to work out which one is me, I'm not on this one. Well, I am: I play the kazoo outro )

Quote: sootyj @ 1st December 2013, 5:32 PM GMT

What a shocker that's really rather good...lots of variety.

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It's intriguing that you say that, because at least 10% of it consists of growling the word "Turner"

I doubt this sketch would have read half as funny on the page, but the repetition of Turner gives the performers something to work with. You are writing for performance rather than for the page and that is excellent.

Quote: Tursiops @ 7th December 2013, 12:03 PM GMT

You are writing for performance rather than for the page

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That's very astute of you, Tursiops, that's precisely what happened. We realised that our first ever performance might show soem serious limitations, so we worked out that repeptition was a low-effort comedy technique.

This weeke's sketch, however, was written for a Skit Comp, before the show was mooted, I think, so Mr Monkhouse deserves a percentage of the priase/blame/ambivalence. Hear it here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLf-p1g0Nn0

Cheers

I always enjoy reading your sketches on here, I know when I see you have posted something it is going to be well presented and well thought out, so it was good to hear one of them performed. I liked it.

Cheers, Carlos. I admit, when I started reading that, I thought you were softening me up for a slamming, so the end of the paragraph was a nice surprise.

I have to say, I think this 2nd skecth is better than the 1st, a bit more interesting and nicely performed (again, I can say that because I'm not in it )

Here's week 3's offering, feel free to let me know what you think: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRzdwev0kso

Cheers.

I enjoyed both Art Class and Escape, but with both the timing, or perhaps the emphasis, seems off. Partly this is down to performance, but also I wonder if there are too many gagless lines and the performances are overcompensating to stop the sketches flagging? The energy seems to be dissipated rather than focussed on nailing the funny, if that makes any sense...

I just listened to both Art Class and Escape and I thoroughly enjoyed them. I did wonder if 6+ minutes was going to be too long for Escape, but no, it was all good. I thought the performances were excellent.

Looking forward to more.

Quote: Tursiops @ 17th December 2013, 7:29 PM GMT

I enjoyed both Art Class and Escape, but with both the timing, or perhaps the emphasis, seems off. Partly this is down to performance, but also I wonder if there are too many gagless lines and the performances are overcompensating to stop the sketches flagging? The energy seems to be dissipated rather than focussed on nailing the funny, if that makes any sense...

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Thanks, Tursiops, sage words as usual. I think I know what you mean about Escape, it has a couple of detours that probabloy shouldn't be there: they might be feasible ideas, but they almost become comedy oxbow lakes, cut off from the direction of the sketch. I also agree that, although we did alright with the energy levels on the night, the forward motion does get lost in the timing between lines: it's the biggest cliche of the lot, but it really is true that timing is the hardest part.

However, I'm really happy with the rhythm and delivery of Art Class. Some people were mystified though, not really knowing enough about Magritte to grasp the point.

Quote: stonked @ 17th December 2013, 8:01 PM GMT

I just listened to both Art Class and Escape and I thoroughly enjoyed them. I did wonder if 6+ minutes was going to be too long for Escape, but no, it was all good. I thought the performances were excellent.

Looking forward to more.

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Cheers, Stonked. Yes, I think it flirts with being too long, but just about survivies. Other sketches in the show might not have been so lucky.