- LIVE COMEDY PILOTS PROGRAMME to start from 11 DECEMBER and will include SHAPPI KHORSANDI, JANINE HAROUNI, DANE BAPTISTE, CATHERINE BOHART, SINDHU VEE, HUGE DAVIES, JESSICA FOSTEKEW and TIM KEY
- Four new films added to SOHO THEATRE ON DEMAND from 9 DECEMBER: NEW PERSPECTIVES’ THE BOSS OF IT ALL, CAMILLE O’SULLIVAN, THE TIGER LILLIES and OPERAUPCLOSE’S LA BOHÈME
- Fourth series of COMEDY MASTERCLASSES announced for JANUARY 2021
- Film of Natasha Marshall’s HALF BREED announced in partnership with BBC ARTS for SPRING 2021
Following the recent announcements of its partnership with Amazon Prime Video UK, the UK/Ireland exclusive streaming of BenDeLaCreme Presents’ The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special, and the BBC Arts ‘Lights Up’ partnership on Natasha Marshall’s Half Breed, Soho Theatre today announces the launch of its live comedy pilots programme, as well as the fourth series of its Comedy Masterclasses, and the addition of four new films to its Soho Theatre On Demand platform.
David Luff, Soho Theatre’s Creative Director, said: “Following a year unlike any other, we reach the festive season with new films on Soho Theatre On Demand and Amazon Prime Video, Natasha Marshall’s Half Breed coming soon to BBC Four and iPlayer via our collaboration with BBC Arts Lights Up season, and more online comedy masterclasses. And thrillingly, with thanks in part to the Cultural Recovery Fund grant, a pilot season of live performances at our Dean Street home for the first time since we closed on Monday 16 March. With a brilliant selection of theatre, comedy and cabaret, this winter get comfy at home or wrap up warm and join us in Soho for a show and a drink. It’s been quite a year but, whisper it, live shows are on the way back!”
Highlights are:
- A Live Comedy Pilots Programme has been announced, starting 11 December, featuring shows from Shappi Khorsandi, Janine Harouni, Dane Baptiste, Catherine Bohart, Sindhu Vee, Huge Davies, Jessica Fostekew, and Tim Key, marking the first time the Soho Downstairs space has been open to the public since March.
- Four new films join the Soho Theatre On Demand platform from 9 December. Two musical shows: the award-winning Irish/French singer Camille O’Sullivan, who transforms each of her songs into an intense, emotional and theatrical experience, and The Tiger Lillies, world famous punk, street-opera trio performing a mixture of pre-war Berlin cabaret, anarchic opera and gypsy music. Also coming to the Soho Theatre On Demand website will be OperaUpClose’s hugely acclaimed, 2011 Olivier Award-winning English version of Puccini’s La bohème, set in 21st century Soho, and filmed at Soho Theatre. Finally, New Perspectives’ smash hit adaptation of Lars Von Trier’s cult film The Boss Of It All, with its full digital makeover, directed by Jack McNamara, captured live over Zoom in September 2020 will join the Soho Theatre On Demand roster. All films will be available to rent for £4 each for 48 hours.
- A fourth series of Comedy Masterclasses has been announced, with Zoë Coombs Marr, Aditi Mittal, Alex Edelman, drag queens Glamrou and Crystal from drag supergroup Denim
Marking the first time the Soho Downstairs space will be open to the public since Soho Theatre closed its doors on Monday 16 March, the Live Comedy Pilots Programme will feature some new and old work from Soho staples, in a covid-secure environment following government advice for Tier-2 venues. Measures will include a one-way system throughout the venue, a socially distanced seating plan with limited capacity, paperless tickets and contactless payments, a phone and online-only box office, as well as the possibility to pre-order drinks when buying your tickets.
Friday 11 December 7pm
Shappi Khorsandi: The Shappi Hour
Shappi Khorsandi is one of the UK’s best stand-up comedians whose TV credits range from Mock the Week to Have I Got News For You, and 8/10 Cats to some obscure history show she’s not sure if anyone watched. Her radio credits are as long as your arm but where she truly shines is live on stage. Thank goodness she’s back, she’s not much good at anything else.
Saturday 12 December 9.30pm
Blue Book Artist Management presents
Huge Davies: The Carpark
From Comedy Central at the Comedy Store, Huge Davies brings his award nominated debut show to London. Expect dark humour, surreal songs, his one-of a-kind wearable keyboard and of course: a carpark. TV appearances include Harry Hill’s Clubnite (Channel 4), Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club and Out There (ITV), The Now Show (Radio 4), Comedy Central at the Comedy Store, The Comedy Central Chart Show and being the first ever musical battle on Roast Battle UK (Comedy Central). His acting credits include Lazy Susan’s Comedy Short and The First Team (BBC Two).
Wednesday 16 December 7pm
UTC Artist Management presents
Dane Baptiste’s Christmas List (of Issues)
Join Dane Baptiste, one of the most celebrated stars in British comedy, as he reflects on a year like no other. Star of the brand new BBC Comedy Show BAMOUS launching in 2021 and hit podcast Dane Baptiste Questions Everything. As seen on Live at the Apollo, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Sunny D, Live at the Palladium… pretty much all over your TV screen.
With support from the fast rising Toussaint Douglass. Toussaint Douglass is one of comedy’s most exciting and talked about new names and is already making serious waves across the industry. His innovative brand of stand up mixes the personal with the political, whilst adding a uniquely absurdist slant to brilliant comic effect.
Thursday 17 December 7pm
Chambers Management presents
Sindhu Vee: WIP
Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer-nominee Sindhu Vee returns to Soho with an hour of brand-new material. As seen and heard on Live At The Apollo, QI, Have I Got News For You, Sex Education, Things My Mother Never Told Me (…About Lockdown) and The Guilty Feminist Podcast.
Friday 18 December 7pm
Ebdon Management presents
Jessica Fostekew: Hench Version 2.0 – The Re-remembering
Hench Version 2.0 – The re-remembering. With all the Christmas trimmings (code for new bits tucked in, here and there). Absolute powershed and regular host of The Guilty Feminist, Jessica Fostekew explores her big strong strength. Have you ever watched a feminist try and take ‘hench’ as a compliment? It’s like watching a snake eat but funny. Hench was nominated for the Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Show, Best Show at the Leicester Comedy Festival and it won best show in the 2020 Chortle Awards, Jess also taking best break-through act. Jess has been seen on BBC’s Live at the Apollo, QI and Richard Osman’s House of Games, in BBC sitcoms Motherland and Cuckoo and BAFTA Award-winning drama Three Girls. She’s also in Michael Winterbottom’s feature film, Greed.
Friday 18 December 9.30pm
PBJ Management presents
Tim Key: Chrimbo Bimbo
Tim Key will be tethering his long-suffering reindeer outside Soho Theatre and nipping in to empty his festive sack all over the floor/audience/place. There’ll be poems of course, stinkin’ sprouts, probably mulled wine, cloves, and other yule garbage. Poems have all been dug back out of Key’s trusty Christmas chest and Key’s tinsel is in tatters. Classic Christmas Fayre. Also, big questions over budget so reindeer may end up being a normal deer or cow.
Saturday 19 December 7pm
Soho Theatre presents
Stand Up with Janine Harouni (Please Remain Seated)
At Janine’s father is a lifelong New Yorker and son of Middle-Eastern immigrants. He’s also an avid Donald Trump supporter. Attempting to reconcile those things makes for one tense Sunday dinner. Catch multi award-winning newcomer Janine Harouni in her debut show about standing up for what you believe in, even if you have to do it really nicely. Winner: Laughing Horse New Act of the Year 2018 and 1/3 of award-winning sketch trio Muriel. Seen/heard on Comedy Central, Comic Relief, BBC Three, and BBC Radio Four.
Saturday 19 December 9.30pm
Chambers Management presents
Catherine Bohart: Live
At the beginning of 2020, Catherine Bohart was busy writing a stand-up show about moving into a new home with her long-term partner and about how life in general was going pretty well. This is not that show. Join the star of BBC2’s The Mash Report for an hour of (mostly) new stand-up comedy. As seen and heard on Roast Battle, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, The Stand Up Sketch Show, Jon Richardson: Ultimate Worrier and The Guilty Feminist Podcast.