Bruce Dessau
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 223
Spoof poster claims small comic is big arena star
Comedian Nathan Cassidy has come up with one of the best publicity stunts so far at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 10th August 2016Rarely asked questions - Ayesha Hazarika
Ayesha Hazarika spent eight years as political adviser to Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband, but before that she had been a stand-up comedian. For reasons which or may not be obvious she is now doing stand-up again more regularly. In her new show Hazarika draws on her experiences around Westminster to ask where did it all go wrong for Labour, where are the women and how on earth did a hard-core feminist end up touring the country in a pink bus?
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 10th August 2016Rarely asked questions - Steve Bugeja
Steve Bugeja won the BBC New Comedy Award in 2013 with a strikingly nerdy high energy set. Despite his ongoing success he is as neurotic as ever, which is handy as it is one of the many things that makes him so funny. In his new show Unpronounceable Bugeja airs his various angsty concerns and in particlar his frustration that people tend to pronounce his surname wrong. Steve, I feel your pain. But don't worry, when you are a household name people will know how to say it.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 9th August 2016Nica Burns appeals for more support for new comedy
Edinburgh Comedy Awards director Nica Burns has appealed to broadcasters and newspapers to support new comedy.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 8th August 2016Rarely asked questions - Kiri Pritchard-McLean
This is Kiri Pritchard-McLean's debut hour, but she is no Fringe newbie. She is a non-performing writer/director for acclaimed sketch group Geins' Family Giftshop and knows comedy inside out. In Hysterical Woman the Chortle Award-nominated comedian tackles genetics, gender, race and being a comedian who happens to be a woman. She is a smart cookie with a warped streak and plenty of opinions. And a very funny smart cookie too.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 8th August 2016Darren Walsh cancels gig after bike incident
Rising star of the one-liner scene Darren Walsh had to cancel his latest show S'Pun at the Pleasance Courtyard on Monday night due to injuring his arm by falling off his bike.
Bruce Dessau, Chortle, 8th August 2016Rarely asked questions - Elliot Steel
Am I getting older or are the comedians getting younger? Probably both I guess. When I was first impressed by Elliot Steel a couple of years ago he was doing autobiographical gags about underage drinking. That's how young he is. Since then he has become old enough to vote and become a sharper, more mature comedian while still retaining that mischievous scalliwag streak. It's probably no surprise he is so skilful, his father is seasoned stand-up Mark Steel, so in a way he is going into the family business. Did he inherit the talent or was he taught it? Never mind the nature/nurture bollocks, he's funny and that's what matters.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 7th August 2016Interview: Rarely Asked Questions - Elliot Steel
t's probably no surprise he is so skillful, his father is seasoned stand-up Mark Steel, so in a way he is going into the family business. Did he inherit the talent, did he learn it or was he taught it?
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 7th August 2016Rarely asked questions - Brennan Reece
Brennan Reece is definitely going places. He won the English Comedian of the Year award in 2015 beating stand-ups old enough to be his parents and since then has performed in Australia and supported Joe Lycett on tour. He is a veritable livewire onstage, chatting about his family, his life, football and finding the funny side everywhere. Everglow is his debut hour at the Edinburgh Fringe and you will be hearing more from him.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 6th August 2016Content Provider by Stewart Lee - book review
You have to have a thick skin to be a columnist. I went off the idea of blogging regularly when I published a think-piece about an offhand remark Josie Long made onstage and Jason Manford responded by saying that I didn't have to turn every thought into a column. Stewart Lee must have the hide of an elephant as he has managed to turn out enough Observer, Shortlist & New Statesman columns (plus a press release for the band Wolf People who I assume really exist) in five years to fill this book.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 6th August 2016