THE LOCKDOWN is no laughing matter, but who says we cannot laugh during the lockdown? Right now, humour is essential to keeping the spirits up and a vital respite from these challenging times.
Thankfully, Róisín Dubh Comedy is here to help. First, there is the Comedy KARLnival Video Podcast with Karl Spain, an hour of comedy and chat every Tuesday at 9pm, via facebook.com/roisindubhcomedy; there is also the semi-regular Friday Night KARLnival Online, an hour of stand-up, songs, and banter, with the next one taking place tomorrow.
Friday Night KARLnival
The Friday Night KARLnival Online Live is at 8.30pm [Friday May 1] on Facebook.com/roisindubhcomedy, and features inept hospital radio DJ Ivan Brackenbury (8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown ); Frank Sanazi, ze Ubermeister of Lounge; and impressionist Al Foran.
Ivan Brackenbury is the creation of Tom Binns, a former breakfast radio host on London's XFM as well as a comedian in his own right.
Brackenbury's hospital radio show, complete with inappropriate records and bungled cues, is a regular fixture on the live circuit. As The Guardian said: “Binns has his character nailed and he mines the comic seam, ruthlessly to create top-quality entertainment with practically universal appeal."
Binns has been nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award, Trident Comedy Award, and Perth International Fringe Comedy Award (twice ). He was voted a ‘Fosters Comedy God’, and won Best International Act at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival and Adelaide Fringe (twice ). He has also won three Sony Gold Awards.
Frank Sanazi, a cross between a Rat Pack style singer and Der Führer, twists swing classics into uneasy listening cabaret. Easily offended? Press the back button on your web browser now! Still here? Then you will appreciate the Blitzkrieg bluster of Frank and his outrageous Das Vegas cabaret, where Frank croons his way through numbers like ‘Third Reich’ (to the tune of ‘That’s Life’ ) and his touching ode to terrorist hijackings, ‘Strangers On My Flight’, while occasionally being overtaken by Downfall parody style Hitler rages.
Al Foran has won acclaim for his impressions and is best known for his work on RTÉ's Funny Friday, JOE.ie, Uni-Lad, and LadBible.
How to watch and extras...
The show is free to watch on Róisín Dubh Comedy’s Facebook page, but donations to the comedians taking part are welcome and can be made via Ko-Fi on the night.
For extra comedy and footage, join the 'backstage' of the live-stream. An audience ticket is €8 on Eventbrite. Ticket holders will be sent a Zoom invite just before 8pm, where they will be able to watch behind-the-stream craic before the broadcast starts. This ticket will also give free entry to the a Tuesday night Comedy KARLnival when the lockdown is over and shows resume in the Róisín Dubh.
