Zoe Lyons

Howlers opens again for business with a one-off Friday night slot. Tonight at the Wheatsheaf we have a headline performance from the brilliant Zoe Lyons. Zoe came to stand up comedy out of desperation and after many years of being a committed under achiever.
In 2004 Zoe won the national Funny Women competition and got to the final of So, You Think Your Funny? She now gigs regularly all over the country and has resident gigs in both Brighton and London.

See more of Zoe at http://www.zoelyons.co.uk/biography.php

Anna Keirle

Cornwalls greatest export since the Pasty returns to Howlers following her recent storming performance at Howlers At The Oak in May.

"Daffy Cornish bumpkin Keirle has funny in her veins, with a disarming daftness and an endearingly babbling manner."
Chortle

"Anna Keirle gives a set based on a childhood in Cornwall - there are surprises. It's an entertaining piece from a stand-up able to create engaging personal warmth."
Fringe Report 2005

Aaron Rice

Howlers welcome back aaron after a great spot at The Venue last Summer. Aaron has been performing stand-up since August 2005, when the part of his brain that deals with public embarrassment and humiliation crawled out one night, in search of milk, and never returned. His words speak of an ability to misread a situation and dramatically screw things up, while never being quite sure why. His manner is often deadpan and slightly disturbed. And his hair will never grow again.

"Aaron Rice was another crowd favourite, his manic and angry humour winning him lots of laughs."
newburytoday.co.uk

"Aaron Rice is on fire"
Avon and Somerset Fire Department

Tom Craine

Our MC tonight is the brilliant Tom Craine.

Tom is an award winning stand-up comic, MC and writer. He can regularly be heard on the BBC in his adopted home of Wales.

After winning 'Best Comedy & Drama' at the BBC National Student Awards 2006 (hosted by BBC Radio 1) he's gone on to pen laughs for BBC 3 and work as a warm-up act. But he's most proudof being named Wales' 33rd sexiest man.

Since leaving university in 2006, Tom has performed extensively throughout the UK and clocked up an impressive list of radio & television credits.

"Great gags and really engaged with the audience"
Cheeky Monkey, Birmingham

"Tom is one of the UK's fastest-rising comedians..."
BBC radio

Wednesday September 24th 2008 At The Cheltenham Town Hall

Mitch Benn

MITCH BENN is not only one of the most sought-after acts on the comedy circuit but is widely acknowledged as one of the best writer/performers of comic songs in the country. Mitch began his comedy career in Edinburgh in 1994. He moved to London in 1996 and quickly established himself as a comedy club "headliner" as well as a favourite on the university circuit.

Mitch is a regular writer and performer on "The Now Show" for BBC Radio 4 and "It's Been a Bad Week" for BBC Radio 2. Three series of his successful Radio 4 show, "Mitch Benn's Crimes Against Music" have been broadcast so far. He also presents "The Mitch Benn Music Show" on BBC Radio 7.

Addy Van Der Borgh

Addy van der Borgh has that rare talent of making people laugh as soon as he walks on stage. He is a great performer of highly acclaimed and original material, an ability noticed immediately by the BBC when he appeared on the 'Stand-up Show' (BBC1) after only one year as a comedian. He has subsequently appeared on 'Live at Jongleurs' and 'The World Stands Up' for Sky TV and the BBC3 series from Baby Cow Productions, 'Brain Candy'. He has also written and co-presented twenty episodes of 'TV Meltdown' for Sky 1 with Kirsty Gallacher (2004 / 2005), and has acted in a number of voiceovers for radio and television.

'van der Borgh has funny bones. This man was born to make people laugh'
Edinburgh Evening News

'Brilliant natural clown'
The Daily Telegraph

'van der Borgh can reel off cracking gags and compete with the best freestylers such as Ross Noble.'
Evening Standard

John Robins (MC)

John is a highly sought after act, both for his compering and his stand-up. His stand-up act mixes tightly written gags and anecdotes with a charming and confessional storytelling style. This has resulted in some incredibly rich routines that have helped him reach the semi-finals of So You Think You're Funny 2005 in Edinburgh and The BBC New Talent Competition 2005. John's relaxed, confident stage presence enables him to make the most of his exquisite choice of phrase and his measured delivery has enthralled audiences of all sizes: from four in Edinburgh to four hundred at The Bristol Community Festival.
As a compere John is making a name for himself up and down the country. He is resident compere at The Richmond Springs and 'Gagging for It' at the Hatchet, both in Bristol.
Whether as an act or MC, he always leaves the audience wanting more.

"Spot of the Night"
Mickey D

"Bloody good comedian"
Ian Cognito

"an endearing and hugely watchable act…good storysmith with bags of material and confidence"
Chortle Forum review

"Far too good for a comic of such short experience"
Chortle Forum review

Jarred Christmas

Filling our headline spot at The Oak and The Wheatsheaf this weekend is the very awesome Jarred Christmas. Jarred has a unique style that deftly mixes gags with storytelling. He has a dynamic onstage persona and the ability to improvise and roll with anything thatís thrown his way, making his comedy sizzle with originality. Full of passion and charisma Jarred takes the audience on a hilarious thrill ride of laughs and gasps with an edge of anger that manifests itself in his incredible rants against the small things in our lives. His confidence leaves the audience secure in the knowledge that they are in very capable hands. His material is strong and distinctive, drawn from life experience and random happenings.
Get a taste of jarred at http://www.jarredchristmas.com/about.php

"BEST OF THE CROP
...A FABULOUSLY BOISTEROUS KIWI WITH A DEFINITE FUTURE"
Evening Standard, 2006

"HUMAN RED BULL"
Time Out

Paul T. Eyres

Winner of Best New Act at the Comedy Cafe

Paul T. Eyres was so bored of middle-class values that he converted to Buddhism, only to win the title of world's rudest Buddhist. Despite his everyman appearance, Paul rallies against the stereotypes and assumptions that are ingrained into our culture.

Having run a number of comedy nights himself, Paul is also a lively and engaging compere who is much in demand for his ability to get a room going.

With his relentless high energy humour and rapid fire delivery, Paul breaks down barriers in way which is often challenging and frequently shocking ó inspiring his audiences to laugh, gasp, then laugh some more!

"Cracking material!"
Matt Kirshen

"I wish I'd written that joke."
Reg D. Hunter

Gareth Richards

Gareth Richards did his first stand-up comedy gig aboard "The Wibbly-Wobbly Boat" a notoriously rowdy venue in South London in 2004. Since then he has performed all over the UK pedaling his own unique brand of edgily surreal jokes and one-liners, and stories based on true events.

Gareth is developing a reputation for himself as a sharp writer and rock solid performer. His outsider viewpoint and appealing persona are already making him a favourite with audiences all over the UK.

Deech MC

More info coming soon

Jarred Christmas

Filling our headline spot at The Oak and The Wheatsheaf this weekend is the very awesome Jarred Christmas. Jarred has a unique style that deftly mixes gags with storytelling. He has a dynamic onstage persona and the ability to improvise and roll with anything thatís thrown his way, making his comedy sizzle with originality. Full of passion and charisma Jarred takes the audience on a hilarious thrill ride of laughs and gasps with an edge of anger that manifests itself in his incredible rants against the small things in our lives. His confidence leaves the audience secure in the knowledge that they are in very capable hands. His material is strong and distinctive, drawn from life experience and random happenings.
Get a taste of jarred at http://www.jarredchristmas.com/about.php

"BEST OF THE CROP
...A FABULOUSLY BOISTEROUS KIWI WITH A DEFINITE FUTURE"
Evening Standard, 2006

"HUMAN RED BULL"
Time Out

Gareth Richards

Gareth Richards did his first stand-up comedy gig aboard "The Wibbly-Wobbly Boat" a notoriously rowdy venue in South London in 2004. Since then he has performed all over the UK pedaling his own unique brand of edgily surreal jokes and one-liners, and stories based on true events.

Gareth is developing a reputation for himself as a sharp writer and rock solid performer. His outsider viewpoint and appealing persona are already making him a favourite with audiences all over the UK.

MC TBC

Wednesday October 22th 2008 At The Cheltenham Town Hall

Jeff Innocent

"It should be made law that every British Citizen must go and see Jeff Innocent. He's that funny."
Evening Standard

'I was always connected. I still get invited to the funerals, if you know what I mean'. From London's East End, Canning Town, Jeff Innocent grew up the son of a real-life villain and could have chosen a career in the family firm. Instead he worked in the 70s as a window dresser in London's fashionable Kings Road & Carnaby Street for a smart chain of boutiques and at night was moonlighting as a DJ popularizing Jamaican music.

Jeff is now very much part of the comedy gentry and widely acknowledge as one of the Uk's top headlines acts and comperes. He has stormed comedy clubs all over the world including Singapore, Hong Kong, The Philippines, Dubai, Holland, Taiwan and more recently Japan.

Dougie Dunlop

"All the composure of a Tiger Woods' putt"
The Scotsman

Highly talented observational comic, Dougie Dunlop, effortlessly gets audiences laughing and sharing his unique take on life.

Dougie started his career at the "The Stand" in hometown Edinburgh, and made his fringe debut in 2000 as part of the "The Midnight Show" in the Gilded Balloon. For Fringe 2003, he headlined the prestigious Big Value comedy package show at the Cafe Royal.

He performs at all the major comedy venues in the UK and abroad - as far flung as Shanghai! He headlines in many places, and his relaxed style and widespread appeal makes him much demand at major corporate events and weddings.

'Dougie has a rare ability to tell jokes about ordinary things and be hilarious!'
Edinburgh Evening News

John Robins (MC)

John is a highly sought after act, both for his compering and his stand-up. His stand-up act mixes tightly written gags and anecdotes with a charming and confessional storytelling style. This has resulted in some incredibly rich routines that have helped him reach the semi-finals of So You Think You're Funny 2005 in Edinburgh and The BBC New Talent Competition 2005. John's relaxed, confident stage presence enables him to make the most of his exquisite choice of phrase and his measured delivery has enthralled audiences of all sizes: from four in Edinburgh to four hundred at The Bristol Community Festival.
As a compere John is making a name for himself up and down the country. He is resident compere at The Richmond Springs and 'Gagging for It' at the Hatchet, both in Bristol.
Whether as an act or MC, he always leaves the audience wanting more.

"Spot of the Night"
Mickey D

"Bloody good comedian"
Ian Cognito

"an endearing and hugely watchable act…good storysmith with bags of material and confidence"
Chortle Forum review

"Far too good for a comic of such short experience"
Chortle Forum review

Geoff Norcott

Described as "The first comedian of rap" by Craig Charles, Geoff Norcott has made a real impact on the national comedy circuit since he first took to the stage in 2001. His abundance of rhythm and energy coupled with a storming mix of impressions, observations, satire and rap, make him one of the original performers on the circuit.

"FAST-talking London gagster Geoff Norcott's party piece is his rapping parody, which is guaranteed to bring the house down at any comedy gig."
Manchester Evening News

Sally-Anne Hayward

Coupling girl-next-door looks with a quick wit, Sally-Anne Hayward has been described as a charming performer with a winning brand of autobiographical humour. She always manages to endear herself to any audience by taking them on a journey through her slightly eccentric world, including insights into the female psyche and her compulsion to send off spoof job applications. Sally has developed a unique brand of sweet young lady cum sharp-witted fox, wrapped in layers of eminently likeable stage persona. Find out more about Sally-Anne at http://www.sallyannehayward.co.uk/

'... really captured the room with a warm and edgy charm, quick wit, and a disarming ability to be friendly and taunting at the same time - all to very comedic effect!'
BBC

"Sally has one of the most likeable onstage presences on the circuit and some truly brilliant routines!"
Chortle.co.uk

MC TBC

Wednesday November 10th 2008 At The Cheltenham Town Hall

Paul Tonkinson

A self-confessed professional northerner - and far worse, a celebrity Manchester United fan, Paul Tonkinson is a star of comedy in all its forms. Be it on stage, in character or as a TB host, this man does not fail to make you giggle.

Having made his name as host of The Sunday Show, he took an even bigger step into the limelight when he replaced Johnny Vaughan briefly on The Big Breakfast.

Still relatively fresh-faced, Paul has actually been at the game quite a long time. Back in 1992, he was winner of the Time Out New Act of the Year Award and then completed the comedy double when he won Time Out Stand Up Comic of the Year in 1997.

On stage, Paul leads his audience on a guided tour through the differences in male and female logic and can take the mickey out of almost every region in Britain and further afield.

Alistair Barrie

Actor and comedian Alistair Barrie has been performing professionally for nearly an entire century (this one). Much in demand as both a headline act and MC across the international circuit, he has played all over the UK and Ireland, as well as further afield in the States, Australia, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Prague, Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Norway, Hong Kong, Macau, Malta, Singapore, Bahrain, Indonesia and the middle of the North Sea.

John Robins (MC)

John is a highly sought after act, both for his compering and his stand-up. His stand-up act mixes tightly written gags and anecdotes with a charming and confessional storytelling style. This has resulted in some incredibly rich routines that have helped him reach the semi-finals of So You Think You're Funny 2005 in Edinburgh and The BBC New Talent Competition 2005. John's relaxed, confident stage presence enables him to make the most of his exquisite choice of phrase and his measured delivery has enthralled audiences of all sizes: from four in Edinburgh to four hundred at The Bristol Community Festival.
As a compere John is making a name for himself up and down the country. He is resident compere at The Richmond Springs and 'Gagging for It' at the Hatchet, both in Bristol.
Whether as an act or MC, he always leaves the audience wanting more.

"Spot of the Night"
Mickey D

"Bloody good comedian"
Ian Cognito

"an endearing and hugely watchable act…good storysmith with bags of material and confidence"
Chortle Forum review

"Far too good for a comic of such short experience"
Chortle Forum review