Bath gets Bent Double
Bent Double is Komedia’s gay friendly stand up comedy night that has built up a loyal following bigger than Imelda Marcos’ shoe collection. On the last Sunday of every month, some of the biggest names from the circuit grace the Komedia stage to entertain the “up for it” crowd. A consuming brew of comedic delight, this gay friendly night promises a fabulous line up every time. Kicking off Komedia Bath’s first ever Bent Double are Barbara Nice, Jen Brister and Chris Neill, all lovingly kept in line by MC Zoe Lyons.
Headliner comes in the shape of Mrs Barbara Nice, aka Phoenix Nights star Janice Connolly. Having given up the domestic bliss of Tupperware and Poundstretcher shops for the unpredictability of the comedy circuit (her husband thinks she’s at the bingo), no audience is too rowdy for her to handle – she’s already raised five teenagers!
Jen Brister has been on the comedy circuit for years, forming the popular Loose Connection sketch group in 2003. She’s found success in Edinburgh with her 2006 show Me, My Mum and I, and returned to the Fringe Festival this year with Reception leading to comedy website Chortle.co.uk to predict ‘bigger things’ soon for the London based comic. Jen can also be heard regularly on 6 Music’s Weekend Breakfast Show, and will start her own afternoon show in October.
Radio 4 pundit, charmingly camp, wry & posh, Chris Neill is a regular panelist on the classic comedy radio shows Just A Minute and Quote & Unquote and frequently guests on many other Radio 4 panel games and sitcoms. With all the wit and ever-so-slightly nasal wryness of a modern, less repressed Kenneth Williams, Chris is a master raconteur to boot.
Zoe Lyons came to stand up comedy out of desperation and after many years of being a committed under achiever. In 2003 Zoe did a five minute open spot at a new act night. She got the comedy bug and hasn’t looked back since, winning the national Funny Women competition and got to the final of So, You Think Your Funny? In 2004. She now gigs regularly all over the country and has resident gigs in both Brighton and London. She also demonstrated to the nation her ability to laugh in the face of adversity, as a contestant on ITV’s ‘Survivor!’ where she ate a rat and lived to tell the tale (and no, rat does not taste like chicken), and in 2008, she won the ‘Funniest Joke of the Festival’ Award, with a one-liner about Amy Winehouse.
BENT DOUBLE takes place every last Sunday of the month, starting on Sunday 30 November at Komedia Bath at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10/£8 conc. available on-line at www.komedia.co.uk/bath (booking fees apply)
