The Comedy Project 2019

Two to three pieces are presented each night – with the content ranging from ‘off-book’ sitcom pilots to ‘on-book’ radio plays; from stand-up shows to filmed sketches.

Monday 11th March:

Joz Norris with 20 minutes of his new comedy Job Pig:
Finally, an app that takes advantage of gullible millennials enslaved by the gig economy and works them to death. Finally, Job Pig.
Cast: Joz Norris, Lucy Pearman, Holly Burn, John Kearns. Stage directions: Ali Brice

‘A born entertainer and a great comedy writer…Norris is clearly a young comic going places.’ – Chortle
‘A potentially massive future comedy star.’ –  Herald
‘A comedy legend.’ – To Do List
‘Simple, silly and screamingly funny.’ – Fest
‘A genuinely brilliant character…The audience loves every second.’ – The Skinny

Ladylikes (Miztli Rose & Phoebe Batteson-Brown)
Ladylikes are treating you to a short (20-minute) set featuring sketches from their debut show, Top Secret House Party. Expect outlandish scenarios, wacky characters and a pinch of satire straight from your two BFFS-to-be.

Soho Theatre Young Company alumni, and 2019 Sketch Off! Semi-finalists. They also run a lovely female identifying comedy night, Sketchy Ladies, which is currently in residency at The Waterpoet in Shoreditch.

Husband and wife team Olivia Poulet and Laurence Dobiesz with a pilot episode of new sitcom Parental Guidance:
Outsmarting the admissions desk of an oversubscribed school is a full-time job. Ambitious parents must be prepared to play dirty.

Olivia Poulet – TV appearances include Trollied, Fresh Meat, The Thick of It, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Outnumbered, Holby City, Silent Witness; theatre includes Sarah Rutherford’s Adult Supervision at Park Theatre; Top Girls; A Voyage Round My Father; Age, Sex, Location at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith and, at Soho, Fiasco. Writing – solo or with co-writers including Lucy Brown and Sarah Solemani: Ocean Road; Bride or Groom; Row Girls; The Hen Do; Ladies in Waiting; Play On

Laurence Dobiesz is an actor, known for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), Outlander (2014) and Extraordinary Women (2011).

March 18th:

Peter Rae & Helen Bang (another husband & wife team!) – (S)HITMEN :
Under pressure from cheap foreign labour and an imminent hostile takeover, Martin & Cynthia are struggling to keep their family firm of contract killers in the black.
Cast: Olivia Poulet, Laurence Dobiesz, Lisa Bowerman,Chris Rogers, Samuel Lawrence, Nana Amoo-Gottfried, Dan Snelgrove,  and actress and huge social media star Jahannah James. Narrator: Frazer Hines.

Jacob Edwards – Social+Ism:
In the ever-changing world of new channels and social platforms, the bosses at national broadcaster TBC are determined to have a social media department – but they aren’t entirely sure why.
Cast: Jacob Edwards, Vanina Arias,  Karen Hayley, Richard Keeble, Josiah Norris. Stage directions: Andy Naylor

March 25th:

Pippa Evans – The Question:
Pippa Evans (Showstopper!, Radio 4 regular) explores a burning question someone in the audience needs answering. As ever, there will be music.
Keyboard: Christopher Ash

Rosalind Adler – Happily Ever After:
Manda’s fallen out of love with her husband. Ah well. Never mind. The kids’ll be a bit sad but they’ll bounce back. I mean, she’s got to be true to herself, no?
Cast: Pippa Evans, Justin Brett

April 1st:

Jessica Fostekew – Vacation:
Mel and Nick are escaping for a wild one-night trip to the same run-down B&B where 6 years ago they spent their wedding night.  After what they’ve been through, they deserve to have the best possible time…
Cast: Jess Fostekew, Jen Brister. Directed by Rachel Stubbings

Esther Manito – Yallah Laugh:
Two Arab women who lead very different lives take up stand up comedy just to mix things up. They have plenty of hurdles: family, audiences and at times each other… never judge a book by its cover.