The Monkey Barrel March Preview

As always, The Monkey Barrel has a full and varied line-up. March is stuffed with great shows featuring big names and up-and-comers.

Thursday 15^th sees Canadian comic Glenn Wool back in Edinburgh with his show Viva Forever.  We liked it very much during the Fringe, calling it “smart and deconstructive… and compelling.” Wool takes aim at the current trend of taking offence at everything, championing comedic freedom in the process.

Wool is sticking around to headline the Big Show on Friday and Saturday 16^th and 17^th, with support from Jojo Sutherland, Eddie Cassidy and Dan Downie.  The much-loved Irish veteran Michael Redmond heads the bill on the 2^nd and 3^rd, with Keith McAllister, Robin Grainger and Martin Bearne providing the support.  The 9^th and 10^th has Stuart Mitchell headlining, with Keith Farnan, George Rigden and Marc Jennings.  Jim Muir’s mad clerical creation The Reverend Obadiah Steppenwolfe III is the main attraction on the 23^rd and 24^th, sharing the stage with John Gavin, Will Naameh and Luke Ashlocke on the Friday and Robin Grainger, Stuart McPherson and Ashlocke on the Saturday.  The month is rounded off by Danny Deegan, supported by Tanyalee Davis, Ross Leslie and Tony Wright, on the 30^th and 31^st.  As always, each night is hosted by Rick Molland.

Each Thursday offers the regular choice of Spontaneous Sherlock/ Potter, depending on your preference for wands or pipes.  Thursday the 1^st also offers the monthly open-mic night Free for All.  Phil O’Shea hosts Peter Pancake’s Comedy Extravaganza on the 8^th.  The 22^nd also has This is Your Trial, in which comedians play lawyer against the audience.

Liam Withnail hosts Progress each Sunday. Keir McAllister headlines on the 4^th, supported by Bob Grainger, Bob Graham, Krystal Evans and John Millar.  Stuart Mitchell heads the bill on the 11^th, with George Rigden, Gareth Mutch, Liam Farrelly and Chris Griffin. That man Glenn Wool is back again on the 18^th, with Vlad McTavish, Dan Downie, Gareth Mutch and Sebastien Dall’Ozzo.  Luke Ashlocke, Will Naamah, Wis Jantarasorn and Richard Hooper are the support to Chris Forbes on the 25^th.

Ben Verth hosts Project X every Tuesday, featuring the Barrel’s Alternative Comedy Collective. The theme on the 6^th is ‘Dark Comedy’, ‘Mixed Bag’ on the 13^th, and ‘Character Comedy’ on the 20^th, with the 27^th devoted to the ‘Surreal and Absurd’.  Each Wednesday is the regular New Act evening Top Banana hosted by Liam Withnail.

A full programme, and tickets for all events are available through the Monkey Barrel website.