10 Shows You Must See At The Glasgow Comedy Festival

Our comedy editor picks 10 shows you'll not want to miss at this year's Glasgow International Comedy Festival

Feature by Bernard O'Leary | 05 Mar 2012

Now in its tenth year, the Magner's Glasgow International Comedy Festival allows the best Scottish acts to mix it up with glittering international stars. That's a marked contrast to the Edinburgh Fringe, where local acts tend to get drowned out by hordes of visiting Londoners, and a good reason to support this festival. We've interviewed some of the best acts appearing this year and made a wee list of ten other shows you won't want to miss. Enjoy, and keep an eye on our special Glasgow Comedy Festival 2012 microsite for bucketloads of interviews and previews.

1. Josie Long: The Future Is Another Place
The Stand, 28 Mar
A brilliant mix of whimsy and politics from one of the best comedians in the country.

2. Late Night Gimp Fight
Tron Theatre, 30 & 31 Mar 
Psychotic sketch team who put the ‘ow’ in outrageous.

3. Susan Calman: Revenge of the Cat Lady
The Stand, 29 Mar
Sorely missed at last year’s Fringe, Calman returns to Glasgow with a new full-length show.

4. Stewart Lee: Carpet Remnant World
King’s Theatre, 23 Mar
Pretentious tit or the Messiah of British comedy? We lean towards the latter.

5. Abandoman
The Stand, 23 Mar
Stunning freestyle rap improv. By two Irish guys with an acoustic guitar. Seriously.

6. Raymond Mearns: Rock 'n' Roll Comedian, The Therapy Sessions
The Garage, 15 Mar
Scotland’s foremost raconteur shares stories of life on the road with Pete Doherty

7. Robin Ince & Michael Legg: Pointless Anger, Righteous Ire 2 – Back In The Habit
Tron Theatre, 28 Mar
The perfect show for people who like being cross at things.

8. Mark Nelson: Live & Unleashed
Oràn Mór, 30 Mar
Caustic, whip-smart humour from one of the big breakthrough Scottish acts of recent years.

9. The Unemployables
Cottiers, 31 Mar
Excellent mixed bill including two of our finest locals, Joe Heenan and The Reverend Obidiah Steppenwolf III.

10 Keara Murphy: Flypaper for Freaks
The Griffin, 31 Mar
She’s dated all kind of weirdoes for your entertainment. Get a sample of the show in this exclusive article written by Murphy for The Skinny.

The 2012 Glasgow International Comedy Festival is on from March 15 to April 1 http://glasgowcomedyfestival.com