Bruce Dessau
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 282
Review: Angela Barnes, Soho Theatre
I know awards aren't everything and Barnes is obviously going to be a TV regular anyway, but I really can't see how this missed out. If you like a flutter place your bets now on the panel making amends in 2015.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 8th October 2014Review: Daniel Kitson, Stewart Lee & more
It is hard to believe but there have been mutterings of a Daniel Kitson backlash. His latest theatre piece, Analog.Ue was not greeted by the usual ecstatic reviews. Maybe - though I fully expect he would deny it - that is why he has been getting back to his first love of stand-up recently, compering a number of benefits with a few more in the pipeline. This really is what he does best. As he jokily boasted onstage at the Palace Theatre last night, he is, after all, the finest comedian of his generation.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 7th October 2014Interview: Cassetteboy
f you have a broadband connection you will have surely already seen this clip in which David Cameron's speeches are exquisitely edited to fit into the melody of Eminem's Lose Yourself. Last night it had had a million YouTube hits. I woke up this morning and the number had almost doubled. Cassetteboy - two publicity-shy comedians who want to hide their faces - have totally gone overground with this sample of spot-on satire. Beyond The Joke asked for an interview and while they were not prepared to meet face-to-face, half of the team, "Mike", did answer some questions via email.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 3rd October 2014Jason Byrne offers cash prize for best show title
Each year Jason is asked for the name of his touring show and each year Jason has to think up a title. This year he is handing the power back to the people and is asking his audience to name the show for him. Hence the provisional title of You Name The Show. The best name will win £500. There will be a leader board on stage each night and by the end of the tour the show will have a name.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 3rd October 2014Alan Davies, Indigo at The O2 - comedy review
Alan Davies's latest show, Little Victories, features shameless nostalgia, fart jokes and a moving portrait of British eccentricity.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 3rd October 2014Funny Women Awards winner Jayde Adams interview
'People say you are what you eat but I don't remember eating a goddess,' Jayde Adams, this year's winner of the star-making Funny Women Awards, tells Bruce Dessau.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 2nd October 2014TV preview: The Revolution Will Be Televised, BBC3
So what do you do when you've mercilessly mocked Britain's most famous politicians and their security teams have probably got pictures of you as their smartphone screensavers? Pretty obvious really. You do what Sacha Baron Cohen did when Ali G's pranks made him too recognisable over here and head to the USA.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 30th September 2014TV Review: Frankie Boyle's Referendum Autopsy
Frankie Boyle certainly has a pretty good idea of what people think of him: "There are many people who consider me a cunt." I'd love to see a vote on that to see if this programme changes people's opinions at all. Somehow I doubt it.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 29th September 2014Book review: Only When I Laugh by Paul Merton
The trouble with autobiographies of stand-up comedians is that if you are a big enough fan to shell out for them you are probably going to be familiar with many of the stories in them. This is the case with Paul Merton's eagerly anticipated story. I've followed him from the start, interviewed him a few times and felt a keen sense of deja vu while reading his book.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 29th September 2014John Kearns, Soho Theatre - comedy review
John Kearns sports traditional comic trappings, fake teeth, silly wig but that is where the conventional clowning largely ends.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 29th September 2014