ON FRIDAY April 2, Karl Spain’s Comedy KARLnival is coming live from two venues, in two cities, in two different countries, and all on one livestream.
On that day the Comedy KARLnival will be coming live from a London studio, with stand-up from Shappi Khorsandi (8 Out Of 10 Cats, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! ), Angela Barnes (Live at the Apollo, Mock The Week ), and Barry Castagnola (Live at the Comedy Store, The Stand Up Show ).
Meanwhile, live from an empty Róisín Dubh will be Emman Idama (Republic of Telly ) and MC Karl Spain. Both venues will share a virtual front row audience via Cisco Webex on big screens in front of their respective stages.
For the next few shows, the KARLnival will be taking comedians out of their homes and into studios in Galway, London, and Edinburgh to present high quality, live-streamed, shows.
The comedians
Iranian born comedian Shappi Khorsandi has been a leading name in British comedy since her original sell-out Edinburgh show, Asylum Speaker. Both feisty and flirty, she softens a razor sharp wit with a deliciously dizzy delivery and endless charm.
She has appeared on Mock The Week, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Have I Got News For You, QI, Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! She has also performed at the Glastonbury festival.
Shappi received an honorary doctorate from Winchester University for her contribution to the arts and recently received the prestigious James Joyce award from Dublin University. She is also currently hoping to receive an apology from Ealing Council for consistently failing to remove her bins on time.
Angela Barnes has been described as “brilliantly funny” by no less a comedian than Sarah Millican, and “a gloriously down-to-earth, straight talking and extremely funny comic” by The Guardian.
She has appeared on Live At The Apollo, Mock the Week, Stand Up For The Week, and Russell Howard's Good News. She has also featured on The News Quiz and The Now Show for BBC Radio 4.
Nigerian-born Irish citizen Emman Idama started his comedy career while still at school – much to the dismay of his teachers. Since then he has performed at the Vodafone Comedy Festival, Kilkenny Cat Laughs, Electric Picnic, Forbidden Fruit, and Longitude. He has also appeared on RTE’s Republic of Telly. Chortle.co.uk said of him, “charming and energetic… panache and charm to spare”.
Barry Castagnola’s easy-going, yet very physical style of comedy, mixing personal anecdotes with sharp topical and political comment, has led him to perform at The Melbourne Comedy Festival, Glastonbury, and The Reading Festival.
He has also appeared on Live at the Comedy Store and The Stand Up Show. Metro said of him, “a confident, likeable comic...it’s his self deprecating bemusement at his own diary entries, overblown song lyrics, home videos, and vintage possessions that holds this show together and provides the most hilarity”.
How to tune in
There are two types of tickets for this show: ‘VIP' Front Row tickets (€15 /€12.50 ) allow holders to be part of the action, join the video call, and provide the laughs, thus adding to the atmosphere of the show. ‘Observer’ tickets (€12 ) allow holders to view the show via a private link.
The show is a ‘Galway Comedy Festival & Róisín Dubh Comedy presents…’ event. Tickets are available from www.roisindubh.net/listings
