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Get an All Day Pass for the Bank Holiday Preview Festival at The Bill Murray

Posted on by Lucila San Martin
Bank Holiday Preview Day at Bill Murray Lou Sanders Kai Samra Ray Badran Travis Jay Steff Todd Tania Edwards Carl Donnely Naz Osmanoglu
Bank Holiday Preview Day at Bill Murray Lou Sanders Kai Samra Ray Badran Travis Jay Steff Todd Tania Edwards Carl Donnely Naz Osmanoglu

Come to The Bill Murray on the 27th of May Bank Holiday for a day packed with previews from some of the best comedians on the circuit.
Get an All Day Pass for £12 or watch individual shows for £3 each.

1:00pm Lou Sanders: Say Hello to Your New Step Mummy

Loulie, AKA the face that launched a thousand dicks, examines conduct (in the media, baby), mental health (other people’s, I’m fine) and perverts (that one is mainly me, actually). I’ll be oversharing, wanging on about spirituality and giving everyone some much unwanted advice. 

2:10pm Kai Samra: Underclass

Winner of the Birmingham Breaking Talent Award 2017, Kai Samra is on a mission to subvert lazy stereotypes based on his personal experience of life as a working-class British-Asian. 

3:20pm Ray Badran: Everybody Loves Ray, Man

Australian comedian Ray Badran recently moved to the UK and is performing his debut Fringe show. A show about the big issues plaguing us all such as pockets, Subway sandwiches, fridges and more. Come and see why everybody loves Ray, man. 

4:30pm Travis Jay: Funny, Petty, Cool

Funny, Petty, Cool combines hilarious, deeply personal anecdotes with side-splitting social commentary, offering insight into Travis Jay’s world. From the time he accidentally became the leader of a Black Lives Matter protest to the time he went to war with a four-year-old, Travis recounts stories and more with the effortless charm he‘s become renowned for. 

5:40pm Steff Todd: Reality Check

Award-winning comedian, impressionist and internet sensation Steff Todd presents her debut solo show. Hailing from Yorkshire, Steff has gained worldwide attention with her viral impressions of stars ranging from the Kardashians, Love Island, The X Factor and many more, making her one of the hottest emerging talents in comedy. Join her for her debut hour of hilarious stand-up, razor-sharp one-liners and amazing celebrity impressions. Steff has appeared on The Dog Ate My Homework (CBBC) and has recently supported Iain Stirling, Sara Pascoe and Rob Delaney. 

8:00pm Tania Edwards: Don’t Mention It 

Award-winning stand-up comedian Tania Edwards explores these emotionally incontinent times and explains why it’s imperative to repress our emotions. But just how easy is it to be bashful and brazen, coy and courageous (and make sure everyone notices)? 

9:10pm Carl Donnelly: Shall We All Just Kill Ourselves?

Double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Carl Donnelly (‘Observational genius’ (Guardian)) returns with a new show about how difficult it is to be a good person in the modern age. Having travelled the world and tried every self-help technique there is, Carl is now questioning the point of it all and is contemplating starting a death cult! Come along if you want to join him. 

10:20pm Naz Osmanoglu: The Naz Show

Heavyweight sketch maestro (WitTank) and award winning stand-up veteran, Naz, charges back to the ‘Burgh to punch out his first solo sketch show. Characters grotesque, sketches inspired and laughs aplenty. Star of BBC Two’s Inside No. 9, Flat TV and Plebs (ITV2). ‘A high energy, no-holds-barred hour from the consistently funny Naz’ (Telegraph).

Get an All Day Pass for £12 or watch individual shows for £3 each.

Phoebe Robinson’s UK debut at The Bill Murray!

Posted on by Siiri Raja'aho

In a London exclusive, Phoebe Robinson brings her debut UK hour to Angel’s Bill Murray comedy club before taking it up to Edinburgh and inevitably taking the Fringe by storm.

Best known as the co-creator and co-star of hit podcast 2 Dope Queens, interviewing the likes of Jon Stewart, Tig Notaro and Michelle Obama to name just a few, Phoebe is also a New York Times best-selling author of You Can’t Touch My Hair & Other Things I Still Have To Explain and her second book Everything’s Trash, But it’s Okay and stars in Netflix film Ibiza and Paramount’s What Men Want.

Sorry, Harriet Tubman marks her UK stand up debut.

Tickets:

August 8th, 9:30-10:30 pm

August 9th, 6-7 pm

Eddie Izzard discusses building his new show Wunderbar at The Bill Murray on The Joe Rogan Experience #1289

Posted on by Lucila San Martin
Eddie Izzard discusses building new material at The Bill Murray on The Joe Rogan Experience

Currently touring the world with his new show Wunderbar, which he crafted at The Bill Murray, Eddie Izzard was interviewed in The Joe Rogan Experience. Towards the end of the two and a half hour long podcast, the pair discussed Izzard’s approach to writing new material and his preference for a slow paced environment where he is free to experiment.


Joe Rogan: Do you still go to clubs at all?


Eddie Izzard: I don’t so much. I was reading the definitive thing on Robin Williams and how he would jump in the clubs and do stuff and that doesn’t really work for my stuff. (…)They have the [Bill Murray] club in Islington. No, Angel, in London sort of Northeast London. And they had you know, shows going on at 6, one at 7, and I would take an hour of that and just do that again and again and again. So I’ll take an hour and I’ll go out for an hour and workshop a show. As opposed to coming on and doing 15 minutes off the top of my head because I find if I’m completely going scattergun just trying to find funny that doesn’t really help me, I need to keep crafting the stuff cause then I can use it in a show.

(more…)

Bridget Christie at The Bill Murray

Posted on by Lucila San Martin

New material shows from the Edinburgh Comedy Award, Rose D’Or and South Bank Arts award winner Bridget Christie. Star of her own Netflix special and award-winning Radio Four series.

“Come and see some old twat who should  probably give up say some boring shit that isn’t even funny or  interesting.” – Bridget Christie

Thursday, 9th May 9:30PM

Wednesday, 15th May 9:30PM

Tuesday, 2nd July 6:45PM

Sunday, 7th July 6:30PM

Comedy at The Bill Murray – Early May Bank Holiday 2019

Posted on by Lucila San Martin

Hello Angels!

The first bank holiday weekend of May is coming up, and what better way to spend it than by stopping by The Bill Murray for some quality comedy.

Saturday kicks off with the FREE ANGEL COMEDY WRITING GYM at 12pm, followed by a live podcast recording from THE LITTLE DUM DUM CLUB and, of course, our free award-winning Angel Comedy shows running through the night.

On Sunday, we are holding the first session of INTRO TO CLOWNING: RELEASE YOUR INNER IDIOT with Jonathan Gunning, co-founder of Clowns Without Borders Ireland.

In the afternoon, the Little Dum Dum Club takes over The Bill Murray with not ONE but TWO live podcast recording.

In the evening, our resident improv troupe SHOOT FROM THE HIP will take back what is ours.

Finally, because there´s never enough Australians, NICK CAPPER will be LOOSE IN LONDON starting 9:30PM

On Monday, we’ve got a jam packed bank holiday programme, starting at 2:30pm with ZACH ZIMMERMAN follwed at 4pm by TOMMY DASSALO

Then at 5.30pm we’ve got stand-up from Mock the Week and Live at the Apollo star ED GAMBLE

At 6.45pm we’ve got a work-in-progress show from Massive Dad star and co-host of the Nobody Panic podcast STEVIE MARTIN

And we round things off with SPARK TRUE STORYTELLING at 8pm, where performers and audience members alike get the opportunity to share stories on a chosen theme.

And if that doesn’t tickle your May Day fancy, then we don’t know what will!

Eddie Izzard in January

Posted on by Siiri Raja'aho

To see 2019 in in style, why not treat yourself to Eddie Izzard?

We’re aware that tickets sold out fast last time – so here’s another chance! We honestly can’t recommend the show highly enough.

Please be aware we cannot guarantee refunds if you accidentally buy tickets for the wrong date or can no longer use your tickets – please make sure you are buying for your intended date.

Get your tickets here:

Monday January 7th, 8-9:15 pm

Tuesday January 8th, 6:45-8 pm

Wednesday January 9th, 6:45-8 pm

Thursday January 10th, 6:45-8 pm

Monday January 21st, 8-9:15 pm

Tuesday January 22nd, 6:45-8 pm

Wednesday January 23rd, 6:45-8 pm

Thursday January 24th, 6:45-8 pm

Munnery Sundays

Posted on by Lucila San Martin

We’re delighted to be introducing a series of shows and a comedy course by Simon Munnery throughout the first months of the year.

Simon is a British Comedy Award nominee, Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and Chortle Award winner. His stand-up career spanning 32 years has seen him regularly perform all over the world and star in several of his own major television and radio projects. He is best known for his character creations Alan Parker: Urban Warrior, Buckethead and The League Against Tedium. His most recent television appearances include The Alternative Comedy Experience (Comedy Central), The Culture Show, It’s Kevin and Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle (BBC 2).

Comedy Course

Simon Munnery will be teaching a comedy course at The Bill Murray on Sunday mornings throughout the month of January and February where he will cover how to go “from 20 to 50” when building a show – characters, monologue, dialogue, clowning, shape of an hour, the visual element/props, themes vs narrative arc. Find more information and book a spot here.

He will also be performing his latest festival shows, as well as retrospectives:

La Concepta

Sunday Jan 6th 4pm and 5:30 SOLD OUT

Sunday Jan 13th 4pm and 5:30pm NEW

Sunday Jan 27th 4pm and 5:30pm NEW

Lovers of haute cuisine are greeted and served by a diligent staff of four (all played by Simon Munnery) at La Concepta. Head Chef Munnery promises a varied menu of conceptual dishes comprising dishes of art, jokes, songs, anecdotes, aphorisms, audio installations, choreographed dances and more. Sous Chef Munnery will be prepping every dish. Maitre d’ Munnery will be ensuring your dining experience is magnifique. Trainee Chef Munnery will be hoping to keep out of the way and not ruin things again.

 

The Wreath

Sunday Jan 6th, 7-8 pm

“I went to a funeral the other day. Caught the wreath…” That’s what came to me, from the mysterious source of the inexplicable. Hear the story of the joke, the painting, and what happened next.

 

Alan Parker: Urban Warrior

Sunday Feb 3rd, 7-8 pm

Alan Parker-Urban Warrior is a bedsit anarchist inspired by the lyrics of punk bands. He’s never quite got over the demise of Sham 69 and the subsequent annexation of youth culture by the iniquitous forces of global capitalism. Once the most radical man in Britain, now the only radical man in Britain, Alan stands alone in his heroic fight against the system.

 

Fylmgeist

Sunday Mar 3rd, 7-8 pm

Simon Munnery has always had a fairly anarchic approach to comedy, one that doesn’t show any sign of abating as he matures. This show is just that. Sort of. Well, it’s live comedy, but performed in a box and witnessed by the audience via video line and amplified into a huge projection of Munnery’s face as he performs. Film? TV? Comedy? Performance art? The only thing that’s certain is that it’s funny.

Daniel Kitson Returns to The Bill Murray

Posted on by Siiri Raja'aho

Daniel Kitson is doing work in progress for his latest theatre show, “Keep”.

He will either be reading out stuff he’s written but not yet learned or talking about stuff he’s thought of but not yet written.

Dates:

Thursday 6th December, 9:30-11 pm

Monday 10th December, 8-9:30 pm – SOLD OUT

Tuesday 11th December, 8-9:30 pm – SOLD OUT

Thursday 13th December, 8-9:30 pm – SOLD OUT

Tuesday 18th December, 8-9:30 pm – SOLD OUT

Wednesday 19th December, 8-10 pm – SOLD OUT

 

Daniel Kitson Returns to The Bill Murray

Posted on by Siiri Raja'aho

Not really work in progress. Just something to do.

With “nothing” to “very little” in the way of material or ideas Daniel Kitson is getting out of the house, Staying loose, Ticking over, Keeping his eye in, Strengthening his core and putting some Shape in the Day. It will mainly be talking although there will almost certainly be some pauses and possibly a bit of absent minded chanting. He may also, introduce one or more others to participate in nascent skits or fill time with their own thoughts and feelings but will more than likely be alone on stage. Talking, pausing and chanting.

Less like the first steps on a creative journey and more like someone rummaging through cupboards and making a pile of stuff for the charity shop.

Tickets for these shows will be released on the day of the show at 12 pm (or 2 h prior to the show if it starts at 1 pm or earlier). Remaining and additional tickets will be sold on the door.

Dates:

Sunday 10th June, 1-3 pm

Monday 11th June, 9:30-11:30 pm

Wednesday 13th June, 10:15 pm-12 am

Wednesday 20th June, 10:15 pm-12 am

Saturday 23rd June, 1-2:45 pm

Saturday 7th July, 12-2 pm

Sunday 15th July, 1-3 pm (cancelled)

Wednesday 18th July, 6-8 pm

Thursday 19th July, 6-8 pm

Sunday 22nd July, 9:30-11:30 pm

Wednesday 25th July, 9:30-11:30 pm

Nish Kumar returns to The Bill Murray

Posted on by Simon Goss

The wonderful Nish Kumar returns to The Bill Murray this May for a run of work in progresses of his new show: It’s in Your Nature to Destroy Yourselves.

The Double Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominee & host of The Mash Report trials new material for a national tour. The title is a quote from Terminator 2. There will be jokes about politics, mankind’s capacity for self-destruction and some jokes that simply don’t work.

6:45 – Wednesday the 9th May – SOLD OUT

6:45 – Thursday the 10th May – SOLD OUT

2pm – Sunday the 13th May

6:45 – Thursday 17th May

6:45 – Monday the 21st May

6:45 – Wednesday the 23rd May

6:45 – Thursday the 24th May

Come watch someone build something.

The Bill Murray – Britain’s best comedy venue of 2018!

Posted on by angel

The Bill Murray has been named the best comedy venue in London in this year’s Chortle awards!

The wonderful Islington bar, crowdfunded by you, our amazing fans, to be the dedicated comedy space that it has become has triumphed over more established venues such as the Soho Theatre and the Comedy Store!

How about dat?

 

Who is Bill Murray?

Posted on by Darren Kisner

Angel Comedy is based in our very own pub, which we named The Bill Murray. But who is this mysterious “Bill Murray”?

William Murray, Bill to his friends, was born in 1600 in Fife. From a young age his talents were obvious, and his parents discarded their other nine children in a wood, and focused all their energies on raising Bill.

Finally, at the age of six months, he got his big break. His Uncle Thomas, a royal courtier, arranged for Bill to be educated alongside the future King, Prince Charles.

“…nearly died on several occasions.”

Bill and Charles became Best Friends Forever, and the Prince, as a mark of this friendship, appointed Bill as his whipping boy. Beating a prince was illegal, so a proxy was appointed to be thrashed in his place whenever discipline was required. These were great days for Bill, who nearly died on several occasions.

In 1626, Charles, now King Charles, made Bill his Gentleman of the Bedchamber. Another great honour. Bill now got to help the adult King dress, eat, and was guardian of the brimming royal water closet.

“…wine, cheese and powerful firecrackers”

At a 2012 history conference, all 424 delegates unanimously agreed that King Charles despised Bill Murray.

In 1642 the English Civil War broke out, and Bill played a pivotal role supporting the monarchy. He made regular trips to France to assist Queen Henrietta Maria in seeking the Pope’s support, and also to buy wine, cheese and powerful firecrackers, or ‘bangers’, which were banned in England at the time.

On his return from one such trip Bill was arrested by the Parliamentarians and incarcerated in the Tower of London. Inspired by the attempts of fellow inmates to catch the ghouls that haunted the Tower, he wrote a play. Ghoulhunters was so popular that it was re-staged 32 years later, with women (played by men) in all the lead roles.

“…remote parts of Fife”

For his loyalty, Bill was ennobled by the King. As First Earl of Dysart he gained lands, power and a hereditary smugness that exists to this day in remote parts of Fife, and abundantly throughout Scotland.

The war lost, in 1649 Charles was tried for treason and sentenced to death. He felt, quite strongly, that Bill, as his whipping boy, should be killed in his place. However Bill, who’d learnt a thing or two by this stage, declined, and so King Charles I was beheaded, and died shortly after of a broken heart.

Bill Murray died in Edinburgh in 1655, leaving his wife, Catherine, and four daughters absolutely baffled.

The Meth Library

Posted on by Darren Kisner

So it’s almost time for the official launch of Angel Comedy 2.0, our permanent venue, funded via Kickstarter. As well as our new HQ, it’s also a local pub, and its name will probably outlast us a by a long time. So we wanted to create a legacy, by honouring someone important to us and who reflects the spirit of what we do.

We’ve kept the name under wraps until launch, but this week, we actually fixed the letters above the door. So, what’s the pub actually going to be called?