Thursday, 8 May 2014
Comedian Simon Amstell to play Picture House
TV star turned stand up Simon Amstell makes his Hebden Bridge debut road-testing new material at the Picture House.
Amstell made his name as the caustic host of pop panel show 'Never Mind the Buzzcocks' taunting minor pop stars before returning to his first love and he is using his Hebden Bridge Arts Festival gig on Wednesday 2 July to try out some new work.
Festival Director Helen Meller told the HebWeb, "After Daniel Kitson's astonishing gig last year we wanted something equally unique and Simon Amstell fits the bill perfectly.
"Every knows Simon from the TV, but his stand up is mesmerising. He's an extremely perceptive comic who straddles the line between self parody and character assassination brilliantly. This is definitely one for the comedy connoisseur."
Amstell started out as the acerbic host of Channel 4's Popworld where he subverted lame PR interviews to the delight, and sometimes disgust, of pop stars.
When he took over the Buzzcocks chair from Mark Lamarr it was a rare case of making a show better as he mercilessly ripped into guests with cheeky smile, even prompting reality star Preston to storm off set in a rage. Since then he has boosted his writing and acting credentials with the critically acclaimed BBC 2 comedy drama 'Grandma's House' loosely based on his own upbringing.
Stints at the Edinburgh Festival honed his stand up skills creating the material for the 'Numb' show which played to sell out houses all over Britain.
Tickets for Simon Amstell will on sale to local supporters first at the festival's open launch on Sunday 18 May in the Town Hall which starts at 2pm.
Previously, the Festival on the HebWeb
- HebWeb News: The Tiger Lillies play one off show at Hebden Bridge Arts Festival (10 April 2014)
- HebWeb News: Festival seeks new board members (27 March 2014)
- HebWeb News: Meet the Arts Festival team (10 March 2014)
- HebWeb News: Local business invited for a festival cuppa (15 Feb 2014)
- HebWeb News: New look for Arts Festival (31 January 2014)
- HebWeb News: Budding Playwrights Wanted! (20 January 2014)
- HebWeb News: Festival Board thanks Festival volunteers, and the HebWeb (21 July 2013)
- HebWeb News: Latest from the Festival (26 June 2013)
- Arts Festival Website