MET Comedy double bill this October

Fans of stand-up will be delighted to hear that MET Comedy returns this month with not one but two – yes two – hilarious shows! The hilarity begins this Saturday in the MET Studio at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre.

The first act on the bill this weekend is none other than Andrew Bird!

Andrew hails from Northamptonshire and moved to London to pursue a career in stand-up. He worked in a bar where he practised making the regulars laugh before his career in live comedy took off.

Since then, Andrew has become a top headline act up and down the UK as well as performing around the world from Dublin to Doha. He has also supported Rhod Gilbert and Lee Hurst on tour, and been the warm-up artist for TV shows including Nevermind The Buzzcocks, Room 101 and Pointless. Andrew is also a writer in demand having written for series such as 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Mock The Week.

Andrew’s 2011 and 2012 Edinburgh were sold out and received glowing reviews across the board.

Next up is renowned comedian, Rob Rouse!

As seen on Ben Elton’s hit BBC2 Shakespeare sitcom ‘Upstart Crow’, standup Rob Rouse is one of comedy’s most lively, loveable and dynamic performers.

Rob Rouse’s ‘Bottom’ received a warm welcome with viewers and critics alike on Elton’s keenly anticipated ‘Upstart Crow’ which first aired in the spring of 2016 and was recently voted ‘Best new sitcom’ on the British Comedy Guide. Rob is currently recording series two, playing William Shakespeare’s manservant, alongside David Mitchell, Harry Enfield, Mark Heap, Paula Wilcox, Gemma Whelan, Liza Tarbuck and Spencer Jones.

Rob won Channel 4’s Prestigious So You Think You’re Funny competition at the Edinburgh Festival in way back in 1998. He’s one of our best comic storytellers, has performed all over the world and works long form narratives into hard-hitting, uncompromising hilarious tales filled with warmth and a sense of compassion for our collective human frailties.

The Ex-Geography teacher has been described critically as “A born clown”, those who really know him may lovingly use the word ‘idiot’. Either way, Rob takes this trademark comedic storytelling to a career high in this show, as he leads us on an irresistibly hilarious journey of enforced introspection and inspired rantings, it’s a real roller-coaster of a show in which he is forced to relinquish any attempts to control his life and to face down literally one of the most awkward situations you’re ever likely to hear about.

You may also recognise him from 8 out of 10 cats, Spoons, The Friday Night Project, Celebrity Juice, Dave’s One night stand, John Bishop’s Only Joking, Live at the Comedy store, maybe collecting one of his wife’s eBay purchases from your garage or perhaps seen him at one of his 8 Edinburgh fringe shows or 3 UK tours. So, come and see him do what he does best; honest, frank, seriously funny stand-up.

Rob also does a weekly podcast with his wife Helen. ‘Rob and Helen’s Datenight Podcast’ is free each week on iTunes and Podbean. As far as they’re aware, it’s the only comedy podcast made by a married couple. With both kids now at school and a little more time on their hands, it’s often a time that a couple can grow apart, so each week Rob and Helen go on dates ranging from the bizarre to the frankly mundane and make a delightfully daft podcast about it. So far, they’ve been dancing, horse riding, dove wrangling, recorded an incendiary version of Rage Against The Machine’s ‘Killing in The Name’ and stripped butt raw in front of the fire for an impromtu Life-drawing session, to name but a few. You can subscribe to the podcast here.

The final act appearing on the bill this Saturday will be Ivan Brackenbury!

Inept hospital radio DJ Ivan Brackenbury is the creation of Tom Binns, a former breakfast radio host on London's XFM as well as a comedian in his own right.

As himself, Binns won the Jongleurs new act of the year, piloted his own chat show on Five called Tom Binns Munchies, and was one of the presenters on Channel 4 breakfast show RI:SE. He’s also appeared on Knowing Me Knowing Yule With Alan Partridge, Friday Night Armistice and Fist Of Fun as a comic actor.

He created Brakenbury relatively early in his career, and the character appeared on Radio 1, Virgin and GLR, before being rested as Binns developed his own radio career, which included landing XFM with a then-record £50,000 fine for talking about bestiality on air.

However, Brakenbury was resurrected for the Edinburgh Fringe 2007, where he was nominated for the if.comedy prize for the best show, and his roadshow, complete with inappropriate records and bungled cues, is now a regular fixture on the live circuit.

Please note age guidance 18 years+

MET Comedy will take place on Saturday 7th October in the MET Studio at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre at 8pm. Tickets are priced at £12.50 and available from the box office on 01785 619080 or via www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk