Comic acts to enjoy throughout 2014
Whether you enjoy comedy that’s light-hearted and uplifting or prefer something a little darker/cynical, there’s sure to be something for you throughout 2014. With many popular acts set to unleash their material across the world, it looks set to be a year full of laughs, so which comedians should you look out for? Here are a handful…
Andrew Lawrence
He’s made a name for himself on shows like Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and Live at the Apollo, but now Andrew Lawrence is wowing audiences with his very own stand-up comedy show. In a recent interview he said: “The tour is called There is no Escape and it started off at the Edinburgh Fringe last summer. The idea behind it is that everyone has little things in their life that they want to escape from sometimes, it could be a job or a relationship or a town they live in. Everyone feels a bit trapped. I suppose the show is about that in a loose way but it’s just a stand-up show really.” You can read more about this self-loathing yet highly amusing comic at http://www.wow247.co.uk.
Joe Lycett
You’ve probably already caught a few glimpses of Lycett (pictured, top), or at least heard his voice – as well as appearing on 8 out of 10 Cats, Celebrity Juice and Never Mind the Buzzcocks, he’s been a regular guest on BBC Radio 1 and provided the narrative for ITV2’s The Magaluf Weekender. He’s cut his teeth on the stand-up circuit – debut show Some Lycett Hot was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2012 Edinburgh Comedy Awards – and now 2014 could be his stand-out year. Lycett was announced as the host of Junk, a new comedy show for BBC Three, and has a UK tour through to the end of April.
John Kearns
‘I never saw comedy as a living,’ Kearns told TimeOut earlier this year. And yet Kearns is well on the way to breaking through as one of the UK’s leading funnymen. Having been named Best Newcomer at the 2013 Edinburgh Comedy Awards, he’s certainly no secret to genuine comedy aficionados and a push into the mainstream public consciousness can’t be far away. Fond of false buck teeth, ridiculous wigs and other oddball props, Kearns is visually funny. On his calendar this year are appearances at the Melbourne Comedy Festival and a four-part series on Radio 4. Catch him before he goes truly big time.
Aisling Bea
Irish comedian Aisling Bea became the first female comedian in 20 years to win the So You Think You’re Funny? competition for up-and-coming comics in 2012 (former winners include Peter Kay and Dylan Moran), and was nominated by The Observer as a rising star of 2014. Bea marked the New Year with a six-night solo show – titled C’est La Bea – at London’s Soho theatre which was just the start of what will be a busy 2014. As well as performing, she’s a regular on TV panel shows and writes for television, radio and film, working on a project with another female comedian, Sharon Horgan. Don’t pass up the chance to see her in full flow.
With so many comic acts to see, you certainly won’t be short of choice but these are definitely some of the best and freshest.
This article was written by Amanda Walters, an experienced freelance writer and regular contributor to Huffington Post. Follow her here: @Amanda_W84
