Bruce Dessau
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 277
Nick Helm, Soho Theatre - comedy review
Nick Helm's stand-up persona is the tragic loser, taking it out on his crowd by bellowing in their faces or getting them up onstage.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 17th December 2014Review: BBC New Comedy Award Final 2014
One thing I can't help mentioning upfront is that if my social media pages are any guide Lost Voice Guy, alias Lee Ridley, must be the ante-post favourite (this bit is being posted before the competition starts). It may just be my timeline, but I've seen more appeals for people to vote for him on Twitter and Facebook than I've seen for any of the others. It may not affect the result but then maybe if it does that's appropriate - Ridley has cerebral palsy and cannot talk. He delivers his jokes via a text-to-speech app on his iPad so he certainly harnesses new technology in his act more than any of the others...
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 17th December 2014Opinion: Russell Brand on Question Time
Well he looked like a revolutionary, albeit a well-scrubbed up revolutionary. But he didn't sound much like one. I've been trying to work out what went wrong with Russell Brand's appearance on Question Time last night.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 12th December 2014Opinion: Comedians who don't want press coverage
James Acaster was on Radio 5, and while he was there ostensibly to plug his extended Soho Theatre run, you could almost hear the cogs in his brain whirring as he suddenly realised that with the DJ bigging him up so much he might be attracting gangs of Doreen-from-accounts-in-deely-boppers drunken Christmas office parties to his show.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 12th December 2014Birthday Girls, Soho Theatre - comedy review
The emphasis is on pure, uncomplicated laughs and this trio certainly has comic talent.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 11th December 2014Joshua Ross wins Jewish Comedian of the Year
Joshua Ross was crowned Jewish Comedian of the Year last night.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 7th December 2014Unheard Chris Morris Sketch Still Unheard
The planned Chris Morris broadcast is no longer happening.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 7th December 2014Review: A Show For Christmas by Daniel Kitson
Comedy - and theatre - fans will already know how good Kitson is and this is up there with his best work. There is his usual compassion, his usual humanity and his usual comedy. Nothing too fussy, just a uber-Jackanory narrative for grown-ups. The venue was extremely cold at the start, but the Kitson magic warmed everybody up. Sorry. I guess I could have saved your time and written one word. Lovely.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 5th December 2014DVD review: Lee Mack - Hit The Road Mack
Lee Mack's brand of comedy feels so old school at times I'm surprised he has brought out a DVD. His demographic would probably prefer it to be on VHS. That's a good joke but maybe a little unfair.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 4th December 2014Ross Noble review
The only real fault was that there was too much of a good thing. His set had already overrun when a Q&A had fans fretting about last trains.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 4th December 2014