Bruce Dessau
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 93
Interview: Rarely Asked Questions - Helen Bauer
I can actually say I saw Helen Bauer do a show in flesh in the last year, which is something I can't say about many stand-ups. She appeared at an open air comedy gig at Lauderdale House in Highgate, North London between lockdowns. Not a drive-in, but a lovely, socially distanced gig where fans sat in designated squares on a lawn. It wasn't quite the future of comedy - it wasn't sweaty enough for a start - but it certainly worked.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 19th March 2021Interview: Rarely Asked Questions - Michael Odewale
2019 was a great year for Michael Odewale. His debut full length show, #BlackBearsMatter, was nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer prize and won Best New Show at the Leicester Comedy Festival. 2020 wasn't so great and we all know why.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 18th March 2021Interview: Rarely Asked Questions - Sophie Duker
Sophie Duker's career got a kick start in the summer of 2019 when she was nominated for the Dave Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer prize for her sharp, funny show Venus. Duker is witty, clever and not afraid to express her opinions on all sorts of hot potato issues. Just before the pandemic caused comedy clubs to shut down exactly a year ago, she was running and compering her successful Wacky Racists night.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 16th March 2021Interview: Rarely Asked Questions - Catherine Cohen
This week marks a year on from when Covid hit comedy. There had been talk of the virus meaning that gigs might not happen but suddenly it became a reality. On March 11, 2020, I went to see Dave's Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer 2019, New York-based Catherine Cohen, at Bush Hall in West London - the first night of a sell-out run - and filed a review for the Evening Standard which you can read here. The review starts by saying that Cohen leaves you wanting more. She certainly did. The next day I received an email saying that the run had been postponed. Due to the possibilty of flights to America stopping Cohen had taken the difficult decision to return to New York. A week later it was shutdown UK.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 14th March 2021Online comedy festival explores mental health
On 23rd March 2021, the anniversary of the first lockdown, Angel Comedy and Objectively Funny will launch The Best Medicine Festival: A week of events exploring comedy and mental health sponsored by UKTV's award-winning entertainment channel Dave. This momentous programme of events, exploring the relationship between comedy and mental health, will include online workshops, panels and performances.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 11th March 2021Nick Helm's Phoenix From The Flames to get screening
Fresh from coaching Baroness Sayeeda Warsi to victory in Channel 4's Stand Up And Deliver (Stand Up To Cancer), Nick Helm will be streaming his critically acclaimed show Phoenix From The Flames, for one night only. And it's also available for download!
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 11th March 2021NextUp's Sarah Henley awarded Women In Innovation Prize
Sarah Henley, co-founder of comedy streaming platform NextUp Comedy, has been awarded the prestigious 'Women In Innovation' award as part of the Women In Innovation Programme.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 8th March 2021Spinal Tap star and Footlights member Tony Hendra dies
Tony Hendra, who was best known to many film fans as Spinal Tap manager Ian Faith, has died. He was 79. Hendra had a much more extensive comedy career however. He was a member of the Cambridge Footlights and had worked with John Cleese and Graham Chapman. He was also involved in Spitting Image in the early days.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 6th March 2021TV review: Stand Up And Deliver, Part Two, C4
It was always going to be tough to top last week's hilarious, compelling opening episode in which five comics mentored five non-comics to prep them for a stand up gig, but this second show in which we see those gigs does a pretty good job. Stand by for more moments that you can only watch through your fingers.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 4th March 2021Jeremy Hardy tribute gig rescheduled
The night of comedy to commemorate the genius of Jeremy Hardy has been moced to Wednesday, 26th Jan 2022 at the Eventim Apollo.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 2nd March 2021