Theatre and Dance

I'm not normally one for comedy clubs. Don't get me wrong - I like laughing as much as the next person but somehow the regimented Nuremberg rallies that make up most organised comedy clubs leave me cold.

The idea of paying between £15 and £20 to see three or four artless former students doing barely-differing routines on being dumped/the differences between men and women/how you need to eat chocolate after smoking jazz woodbines fills me with dread.

Most of these places are the most joyless, soulless hellholes you'll ever find yourself in. Wanna go to an event populated by hen parties, stag parties, works nights out and birthday parties where everybody is hyped up to a shrieking frenzy by cheap booze and a desperation not to have a good time, BUT to prove to everyone else that you're having one? No me neither...

...and neither does one of the two headliners tonight - the delightful curmudgeon (his words, not mine!) Robin Ince. Robin has become rather more famous in the last year or so - not because of his fine stand-up or witty contributions to TV panel shows or Radio 4 - but because of his friendship with Ricky Gervais. Although it's hard to tell why he puts up with Ricky's embarrassing and puerile 'fun' humour as evidenced on recent Gervais DVDs.

No matter, Ince doesn't need celebrity endorsements - he's a genuinely funny man who unravels his humour in a maelstrom of gags, asides, rants, storytelling detours and just general rambling that shows what a fine comedy mind is at work here. He picks his targets well and quite clearly was enjoying himself as he went from social philosophising to ranting at the the drop of a metaphor! Check this guy out. After all, looking like a Sociology lecturer didn't do Bill Hicks' career any harm!

The second headliner was another Radio 4 stalwart, Mitch Benn. A lazy comparison would be with Bill Bailey. Both are deft musical humourists but Benn's main armoury was a raft of well-constructed songs and parodies that showcased not just Mitch's (surprisingly tuneful) voice but his talent for merciless piss-taking. Just one gripe - Yoda jokes: passé!!

Squeezed inbetween was newcomer from Liverpool, Stephen Porter. Despite a few obvious nerves, Porter soon got into his stride and showed a ready wit and some good timing. One to keep an eye out for.

The whole thing was knitted together by Silky. Liverpudlian by birth, he now resides in Chapel Allerton or as he memorably puts it - Leeds' ciabatta belt! As organiser and compere he deserves a pat on the back for putting on a fine show that was great value for money. It's just a pity the next CCC isn't until May!!

James Addyman went to the Courtyard Comedy Club on Sunday 10 February 2008.