Kumquat Comedy Presents:
Dead Funny & Bleeding Heart Liberal

The 31st of October and 1st of November sees an exciting new collaboration between Kumquat Comedy and The Whitby Goth Weekend. Bringing you two nights of alternative comedy with some of the best acts from the UK circuit. On the 31st we have Dead Funny; an evening of stand-up at the Rifle Club (opposite the Leisure Centre) and then on the 1st you can see the awesome Robin Ince performing his one-man show ‘Bleeding Heart Liberal’ at the Spa Theatre.

Dead Funny – 31st October - Rifle Club - Doors 7pm - £8 - buy tickets
Robin Ince
Headlining this event is the sublimely intelligent comedy of Robin Ince. In 2007, Robin Ince performed over 100 solo tour dates, and another 100 supporting Ricky Gervais on his Fame tour. He also performed full-length shows in New York, Milan, Paris and Rome. His first feature film, Razzle Dazzle, was officially selected by the Berlin and Edinburgh Film Festivals and was the opening gala film for the New York Children’s Film Festival in February 2008. He has made regular appearances on Radio 4’s The Now Show, The Personality Test and Loose Ends. On television he has appeared on The World Stands Up, Edinburgh or Bust, The Comedy Store, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Mock the Week and many many more.

This year he will be taking it easy working as script consultant for Skins, recording a documentary about the loss of his record collection for Radio 4, appearing in the new Armando Lannucci produced sitcom Lab Rats and touring the country with a work in progress currently entitled Propaganda and Tittletattle. His award-winning Book Club will be popping up at music and literary festivals around the country, along with his new project The School For Gifted Children. He is one of the few comedians to talk of the behaviour of Bonobos, 15th century astronomy and the structure of DNA. He smells of libraries and doesn’t care.

“when someone writes a history of modern comedy, they should make room for Robin Ince” The Guardian

“snortingly funny” Daily Telegraph

“one of the most thoughtful stand-ups on the circuit … 4 stars” The Independent

“a smart, snarly and inventive one-man show” Sunday Times

"a supremely sardonic comedian ... wry, intelligent and cruel" Evening Standard

“thoughtful, provocative and very funny” The Times

Kate Smurthwaite

Support comes in the shape of award-winning comedienne, broadcaster and journalist, Kate Smurthwaite. Kate started performing as a comic in early 2004. She quit the day-job in finance and turned professional in June 2005 and has performed at over 1000 shows in venues across the UK and overseas. Clubs performed at include Backyard Comedy Club, Birmingham Glee Club, Jesters in Bristol, Brighton Komedia, 99 Clubs around London and Oxford Street Comedy Club, where she won comedian of the year in 2004.

Kate Smurthwaite is one of the busiest acts on the London circuit. She is resident compere at both the Soho Comedy Club and the Comedy Manifesto. A regular panelist on BBC One, Radio Five Live and was a presenter on Radio Jackie for a number of years. She can currently be seen on Sky Travel's "Where In The World?" and was a finalist in the Hackney Empire Comedian of the Year 2008.

She's been a guest writer on BBC website and her incredibly popular Cruella-blog website has been featured in The Guardian, The Independent, The Evening Standard, The Metro, The Herald and on the BBC website.

“Charming, witty and with just a hint of a wicked glint in her eye, Kate Smuthwaite’s exuberant and affable personality is a little reminiscent of an excitable, slightly irresponsible head girl luring impressionable fourth formers into some illicit fun. You’d have to be made of granite not to warm to her.****” National Student

“Adrenaline [2006 solo show] made me want to go cliff-jumping even though I have been suffering from narcolepsy for the past ten years! ... Absolutely brilliant, funny from start to finish” bbc.co.uk

“Excellent ... the next big thing for the comedy circuit. ****” one4review.com

“This is high quality stand-up, not to be missed. ****” Three Weeks

“Spectacular ... brilliant humour. ****” Edinburgh Guide

Owen Niblock

Further support will be provided by the weird and wonderful music and quirky, geeky comedy of Owen Niblock. In 2007 Owen wrote his solo show "Niblock vs. Gig-A-Tron" where he goes head-to-head against the World's First Artificially Intelligent, Voice Activated Computerised Comedian which has so far been performed at Leicester Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival and numerous venues across the UK. Then in 2008 Owen returned to Edinburgh Fringe with a stand-up show called 'Twisted Whimsy' which was very well received. He supports PBH's Free Fringe and likes to do unusual gigs when they're offered to him (he's headlined twice on a barge at Saul Canal Festival).

Owen's been doing straight stand-up since November 2003, he's clocked up an impressive amount of gigs in that time and is rapidly building a reputation as a strong act amongst promoters across the UK. He does one-liners, jokes and silly (and often surreal) songs.

“I don't think I've ever come across anyone quite so talented at being geeky as Owen Niblock; he's the master of all geekdom.” - **** Three Weeks

“inspired and offbeat” – Chortle

“ground-breaking” – The Scotsman

“He is incredibly funny.” - Three Weeks

“A very funny man” – Russell Howard

"One of the best new acts on the circuit" - Wil Hodgson (Perrier Newcomer Award Winner 2004)

"Watch out for him in the future... he will go far" - Cheeky Monkey, Birmingham

"Comedy Genius" - Mac Star, Capital Comedy

Lou Saffire

Compere for the evening is the devilishly fabulous Lou Saffire. Hailing from Huddersfield, Lou is a stalwart of the festival circuits and has recently MCed the Big Top Tent at the Download Festival.

Years have passed since the self proclaimed dark lord of cuddliness arrived on the comedy circuit, since then he has proved himself to be a strong and articulate performer, combining his views with his humour, honesty is his gun and irony his bullet. From a finalist in “So you think you're funny” and the “Daily Telegraph open mike awards” to rocking the comedy clubs around the UK, Lou has met with great success as he turns his frustration of the world into a loud, energetic and very funny performance.

“maximum impact” metro

“man of the match” alternative perspectives

“a truly brilliant performance from a rising star” XS Malarkey

Bleeding Heart Liberal – Robin Ince - 1st November - Spa Theatre - Doors 7pm - £8 - buy tickets

As well as headlining Dead Funny on the 31st, Robin Ince will also perform his solo show ‘Bleeding Heart Liberal’ at the Spa Theatre on the 1st of November.

Time Out Comedy award Winner and double Chortle award Winner Robin Ince talks about the World Bank, media manipulation and the poo fairy. As seen on BBC2’s Lab Rats, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and that sort of thing, and heard on Loose Ends, The Now Show and so on. He’s already performed the show at the Camden Fringe and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals to massive acclaim so book your ticket now before it sells out!