Comedy and stand-up Books
Quercus Publishing What is Your Problem?: Comedy's little ray of
Book SynopsisJack Dee has been very busy during lockdown and would like to update everybody on what he's been up to. While the nation has been baking bread and clearing out cupboards, Jack has retrained online as a psychotherapist and is now open for business. After FOUR HOURS study, he has a certificate of completion from The Ruislip College of Advansed Learning [sic].If you have an emotional, relationship, work or other issue that you need help with, or if you've just totally lost your sh*t and can't take it anymore, then he would love to hear from you.This book will be a rich compendium of your problems along with Jack's unique, very professional, advice.Trade ReviewSo funny, and so wise. Just like the man himself * Richard Osman *Morally bankrupt ... Not a book to be seen on your shelves during a zoom call * Jo Brand *Britain's foremost humourist and a compassionate counsellor have both told me Jack doesn't know what he's talking about * Graeme Garden *Funny, sometimes bracing * Spectator, Books of the Year *What Is Your Problem? is indeed very funny, and it's partly because much of Dee's advice is not at all helpful. But what's even better is that sometimes his advice is-albeit inadvertently-genuinely wise and illuminating * Caroline Sanderson, The Bookseller *I recommend you read this. You'll thank me * Barry Cryer *I inhaled it. HILARIOUS. So sharp - it really made me laugh * Katherine Ryan *Jack dispenses advice exactly as you'd want him to: with both hilarious insight and healthy disdain for everyone involve * Romesh Ranganathan *A breath of fresh air * Sun *Timely resurgence of the pull-yourself-together school of therapy * The Times/Sunday Times *Absurd, occasionally useful, and always sardonic * Sunday Express *
£9.49
Quercus Publishing Living My Best Life, Hun
'A hilarious must read.' -Jameela Jamil'I loved the chutzpah and the honesty.' - Graham Norton'Funny, frank and inspiring.' - Lenny Henry All her life, London longed to be a badass, an awesome bulletproof star nobody could mess with - someone who takes no shit - and in Living My Best Life, Hun, she lifts the lid on how she went from secretly writing Frasier fan fiction alone in her bedroom to taking Hollywood by storm.It hasn't been an easy journey; from birthday parties gone wrong and dealing with bullies every step of the way, to getting blocked by Foxtons (long story) and being mistaken for the cleaner at a comedy competition (true story), London leaves no stone unturned. It took London some time to find her voice and her people, but now that she has, she's mentally high-fiving her fourteen-year-old self every day.Frank, fearless and funny, Living My Best Life, Hun will inspire you to ditch the self-loathing, start the self-loving and engage with your inner winner.
£16.00
Christian Publishers LLC Funny Business: An Introduction to Comedy with
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£18.89
Christian Publishers LLC Ultimate Improv Book: A Complete Guide to Comedy
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£18.04
Christian Publishers LLC Improvisation for Actors & Writers: A Guidebook
Book SynopsisFar more than simply an overview of improv comedy, this book helps actors, writers and comedians learn the basics as taught in all the major comedy schools. First, the do''sand don''ts of the Comedy Improv Commandments. The concepts that, when understood, hit the student like falling anvils: Anvil 1: Collaboration -- Working with the ''Group Mind'', Anvil 2: Agreement -- ''Just say Yes'', Anvil 3: Foundation -- ''Who, What and Where", Anvil 4: Exploring -- ''Finding the Game''. Successful improv requires the skill of the actor, the talent of the comedian and the ideas of the writer rolled into one. This book tells how it can all be done for performers or teachers.
£18.04
Christian Publishers LLC Acting Duets for Young Women: Eight- to
Book SynopsisThese scenes for two female actors are divided into two sections: comedy and drama. The comedy scenes will have audiences laughing at the outrageous yet believable scenarios. Comedy scenes include: On-line Love, Dirty Laundry, Marriage Phobia, New Best Friend Forever and more. The dramatic scenes will have the audience and actors thinking about the relevant topics. Dramatic scenes include: The Wishing Well, Night Storm, Broken Promises, The Red Dress and more. All scenes are entertaining and enjoyable. Actors will be challenged by each scene in this collection. Sets and costumes can be elaborate or simple. The length of every scene is perfect for the female dramatic duo competitions sponsored nationally. They may also be used for auditions, acting practice, or an evening of entertainment. Laurie Allen''s plays for teens have had great success in productions across the United States. Many of her competition pieces have advanced to national Speech and Forensics competitions.
£17.09
Christian Publishers LLC Two Voices: 54 Duet Scenes for Teens
Book SynopsisFinally -- a collection of duologues from the best-selling author of Winning Monologs for Young Actors and her granddaughter. These humorous and thoughtful scenes present distinctive viewpoints on issues meant to provoke and inspire discussion as well as to entertain. Most roles can be played by either gender. The short length of each duologue makes it easy for students to memorize their lines. Sample titles include How Not to Get a Job, Cutesy-Wutesy Doggie-Woggie, The Alibi, My Rotten Roommate, Prince Not-So-Charming, The Tooth Fairy Conspiracy, Mall Survey, Hair Salon Gossip, That''s How Rumors Start, Backstage Pass, and Goody, Two Shoes. Fifty-four scenes in all. For use in a wide variety of settings, from speech contests and auditions to acting practice or comedy revue shows. A valuable resource for teachers and theatre libraries.
£17.09
Christian Publishers LLC Improvise: Scene from the Inside Out
Book SynopsisRenowned improvisation instructor and award-winning director Mick Napier has been at the heart of the professional improvisation community for over 25 years. The first edition of Improvise. quickly earned its position as necessary reading for improvisation students across the country and around the world and gave birth to a new generation of performers who questioned "The Rules" of improvisation. This expanded and revised edition provides additional advice and tips for success, as well as a full reproduction of Napier''s web journal from his time directing the famous show Paradigm Lost for The Second City that included Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, and Kevin Dorff. In this entertaining and incredibly informative book, Napier will teach you the essentials of: Why "The Rules" don''t matter; How to take care of yourself in a scene; Using context to your advantage; Effective two-person scenes; Balanced large-cast scenes; Successful auditioning; Solo exercises you can practice at home.
£19.94
Surrey Books,U.S. The Second City: The Essentially Accurate History
Book Synopsis“Chicago's temple of improvisational comedy.” —New York Times Since opening in 1959, The Second City has transformed the state of comedy as we know it, creating a wickedly funny culture of improvisation and training thousands of artists—who now dominate popular entertainment—in the art of improv-based theater. This newly revised and expanded edition of The Second City tells the story of the legendary comedy institution and the Emmy-winning sketch comedy classic SCTV, folding new material and commentary in with tales of The Second City’s storied past. The giants who got their start at The Second City in its earlier years—including Alan Arkin, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, John Candy, Chris Farley, Eugene Levy, Tim Meadows, Bill Murray, Mike Myers, Catherine O’Hara, Gilda Radner, Joan Rivers, Martin Short, and Fred Willard—are joined in these pages by more recent alumni like Aidy Bryant, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Keegan-Michael Key, Jack McBrayer, Bob Odenkirk, and Jason Sudeikis. The real stories of The Second City and its performers will make you see the comedy juggernaut in a whole new light. Did you know John Belushi got his start lifting jokes from The Second City? Or that many cast members—including Stephen Colbert and Nia Vardalos—sold tickets or waited tables at the theater before they made it to the stage? The Second City takes you behind the scenes of the world’s leading improv theater. Now spanning six decades, the story of The Second City is both funnier and more poignant than anyone could have imagined.Trade Review"I'm loving my fresh copy of the updated edition, which celebrates our 60th anniversary." —Catherine O'Hara in Entertainment Weekly “The entire recent tradition of American theatrical satire can be summed up in three words: The Second City.” —New York TimesTable of ContentsForeword Introduction Chapter 1: The Second City Origin Story: Before the Beginning Chapter 2: 1959: A Comedy Revolution Begins Chapter 3: The 1960s: Coming Out Swinging Chapter 4: The 1970s: New Blood, New Horizons Chapter 5: SCTV, 1976–1984: Welcome to Melonville Chapter 6: The 1980s: Triumph & Tragedy Chapter 7: The 1990s: Changing the Format Chapter 8: The 2000s: Expanding by Land & by Sea Chapter 9: The 2010s: Second City on Fire Afterword Complete Alumni List
£27.54
Modern Language Association of America Teaching Comedy
Book SynopsisEssays on teaching comedy in literature, writing, theater, and cultural studies courses.From Shakespeare to The Simpsons, comedy has long provided both entertainment and social commentary. It may critique cultural values, undermine authority, satirize sacred beliefs, and make room for the marginalized to approach the center. Comedy can be challenging to teach, but in the classroom it can help students connect with one another, develop critical thinking skills, and engage with important issues.The essays in this volume address a rich variety of texts spanning film, television, stand-up, cartoons, and memes as well as conventional literary works from different places and times. Contributors offer theoretical foundations and practical methods for a broad range of courses, including guidance on contextualizing the humor of historical works and navigating the ways that comedy can both subvert and reinforce stereotypes. Finally, the volume argues for the value of comedy in difficult times, as a way to create community and meaning.This volume contains discussion of fiction, poetry, plays, and essays by Maya Angelou, Jane Austen, Aphra Behn, Hugh Henry Brackenridge, Frances Burney, Charles W. Chesnutt, Roddy Doyle, Maria Edgeworth, Ben Jonson, Anita Loos, Emtithal Mahmoud, Thomas Middleton, Okot p'Bitek, William Shakespeare, Laurence Sterne, Jonathan Swift, Alma Villanueva, Paula Vogel, Oscar Wilde, John Wilmot, and William Wycherley; TV shows and films including Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Gold Rush, Life Is Beautiful, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Office, Office Space, Rick and Morty, and South Park; works and stand-up performances by Aziz Ansari, Samantha Bee, Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K., Tina Fey, Moms Mabley, Hasan Minhaj, Eddie Murphy, Trevor Noah, Richard Pryor, Issa Rae, and Wanda Sykes; and visual works and other media including Aaron McGruder's The Boondocks, Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes, Nick Sousanis's Unflattening, Marvel's Hawkeye, The Onion, YouTube videos, advertisements, and memes.
£34.81
University of Iowa Press The Principles of Comedy Improv: Truths, Tales,
Book SynopsisThe Principles of Comedy Improv is an authoritative handbook for beginners and experts alike. More than just entertainment, improv’s tenets enable you to change every moment of your life. Your guide is Tom Blank, who crystallizes two decades of experience to convey improv in unparalleled scope, depth, and fun.Trade ReviewNot only is this the most fun, joyful, and informative book about improv I know of, it’s also an invaluable crash course in life and communication." —Heidi Gardner, actor, Saturday Night Live"This book is a brilliant look into the fascinating and often mystical process of being creative in a flash. It’s fast, funny, and bursting with instant insights. Just like you when you’ve finished reading it. Warning: improv is highly addictive.”—Bill Steinkellner, writer/producer, Emmy Award winner “Improv changed everything for me as an actor, writer, director, and human. Tom has written a smart and eye-opening book that has made me a student all over again. Happily so. Because, we can always be better. Especially at the human part.”—Jim Rash, actor, Academy Award winner “This ingenious book lets you improvise with great confidence. Tom’s take on the ins and outs of comedy improv is not only educational, it’s an exploration and celebration of all things creative. Read it or else . . . that’s not a threat, I’m just improvising.”—Jillian Bell, actor, Brittany Runs a Marathon “Shhh, don’t tell Viola Spolin, but Tom Blank has written the definitive book on comedy improv with wit, and clarity. Whether or not you are in the comedy business, it will expand your mind and broaden your world.”—Steve Little, actor, Eastbound & Down “Watching Tom Blank do improv is one of the great joys of my life. Working with Tom Blank has been one of the great joys in my life. Read this book if you want to know how to improvise with excellence.”—Jordan Black, actor, The Black Version “Tom has been around the block at the major improv theatres, and brings all his wisdom and humor to examine the psychological, social, and technical sides of improv.”—Stephanie Courtney, actor, Flo, the Progressive Insurance lady
£20.85
Arcadia Publishing Brave New Workshop Promiscuous Hostility and
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£18.69
Trine Day This Day In Comedy: The Ethnic Encyclopedia of
Book SynopsisOn This Day in Comedy is not just an encyclopedia, but a celebration of comedy. In humorous prose the book takes readers through the often-neglected subcultures of comedy in America, acknowledging the inclusiveness of the performers as well as shows and films that made this art form so vital to comics of all backgrounds. It’s artistically criminal that a search for Native American or Asian comedy information yields a virtually blank slate. Look for Middle Eastern comics and you’ll be provided information on the region's comic book revolution, and search results for Latin comedy are confined to a series of outdated articles. This encyclopedia will offer rare and in some cases never-before-seen photos and obscure facts, making it an indispensable comedy essential.
£19.76
Permuted Press Lies My Mother Told Me: Tall Tales from a Short
Book SynopsisAs seen on The View and Good Morning America! If you think Joan Rivers said funny, outrageous, and ridiculous things ONSTAGE, wait ’til you read the funny, outrageous, and ridiculous things she said OFFSTAGE…things that will make you laugh out loud…and keep Melissa in therapy for the foreseeable future.The only thing my mother loved more than making people laugh was lying…or as she’d say, “embellishing.” Her motto was: “Why let the truth ruin a good story?” This book contains some of those stories. ***************** “When Joan told a story, the truth disappeared faster than I did.” — Jimmy Hoffa “If you thought Dante’s Inferno was hot, read Lies My Mother Told Me; it’s a five-alarmer.” — Dante’s second wife, Allie “Twelve of my twenty-six personalities loved this book.” — Sybil “The words on the page absolutely crackle and spark; I burned my fingers reading it!” — Annie Sullivan “The Bible may be the good book, but Lies My Mother Told Me is way funnier.” — Matthew 2:14 The Jets. 7 “Lies My Mother Told Me is the feel-good book of 2022.” — Torquemada “All’s not well that ends well. I’ve had massages with happier endings.” — Wm. Shakespeare “Melissa, I don’t care what your mother said in this book, I LOVE your bangs.” — Mamie Eisenhower “Lies My Mother Told Me is so funny even those ‘woke’ m***********s will laugh.” — Lenny Bruce
£18.00
She Writes Press Anarchy in High Heels: A Memoir
Book SynopsisAnarchy in High Heels is not a state of dress; it’s a state of mind.A San Francisco porno theater might be the last place you’d expect to plant the seed of a feminist troupe, but truth is stranger than fiction.In 1972, access to birth control and a burn-your-bra ethos were leading young women to repudiate their 1950s conservative upbringing and embrace a new liberation. Denise Larson was a timid twenty-four-year-old actress wannabe when, at an after-hours countercultural event, The People’s Nickelodeon, she accidentally created Les Nickelettes. This banding together of ¬¬like-minded women with an anything-goes spirit unlocked a deeply hidden female humor. For the first time, Denise allowed the suppressed satirical thoughts dancing through her head to come out in the open. Together with Les Nickelettes, which quickly became a brazen women’s lib troupe, she presented a series of feminist skits, stunts, and musical comedy plays. In 1980, The Bay Guardian described the group as “nutty, messy, flashy, trashy, and very funny.”With sisterhood providing the moxie, Denise took on leadership positions not common for women at the time: playwright, stage director, producer, and administrative/artistic director. But, in the end, the most important thing she learned was the power of female friendship.
£12.34
S&s/Simon Element You Dont Have to Have a Dream
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£17.00
Minnesota Historical Society Press First Avenue: Minnesota's Mainroom
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£22.46
The New York Review of Books, Inc Poor Helpless Comics!: The Cartoons (and More) of
Book SynopsisFor the entire run of National Lampoon, Ed Subitzky bent, broke, and reimagined what a cartoon could do: A cartoon that hypnotizes you. A cartoon that goes to prison. A cartoon that folds up and flies away. Framed by an interview with Mark Newgarden, this first-ever collection of Subitzky’s work is a portrait of one of the funniest, most prolific humorists of the ’70s and ’80s.
£25.65
Salamander Street Limited Sniff
Book SynopsisTwo strangers meet in a pub toilet in a small city that no one cares about. Liam, struggling with addiction and money troubles, has never left the claustrophobic place that birthed him. He's lost everything?if he ever had it. Alex, cloaked in a Hugo Boss suit and the pride of a job in Canary Wharf, comes down to visit this quaint location with one objective: to propose to his girlfriend. It seems like he has everything. However, as time ticks and substances are consumed, a dark connection between the two begins to unearth itself.This play is an ode to the forgotten.First developed at the Maltings Theatre in Hertfordshire, Sniff was then selected as an outstanding' script by Theatre503 and performed there. It then went on to a longer run at the Jack Studio in 2023 and the Park Theatre in 2024. Fascinating, exciting, gripping and chilling' ???? Broadway BabySniff
£13.39
Salamander Street Limited Algorithms
Book SynopsisBrooke has it all: the job, the flat, the girlfriend... but what happens when things go tits up just before your 30th birthday?Hopeless romantic Brooke is the algorithm writer for a dating app;she literally codes attraction - so when she finds herself unexpectedly single, she decides to give the science of love (online dating) a chance.A bisexual Bridget Jones for the online generation, this tragicomic one-woman show, and its lovably hapless heroine, is for anyone who''s ever felt like they were too much and not enough at the same time.Written by Sadie Clark (12 Theatre Stars for 2020, The Guardian) and winner of the TV Foundation''s Netflix Stage to Screen New Voice Award. Algorithms was made into an award-winning Audible Original series starring Sadie Clark, Alison Steadman, Seyan Sarvan, Len Gwyn, Desiree Burch, Ciara Baxendale, Joe Thomas and an ensemble cast.Reviews:Astonishingly assured and practically broadcast ready - The Guardian (12 Stars for 2020)★★★★★ This year''s Fleabag - Deadline News;★★★★ Moving, profound and hilarious - The Wee Review;★★★★ An impeccably polished piece of writing - The Upcoming;★★★★ Sadie Clark has the audience roaring with laughter - The Spy in the StallsCAST:MonologueDURATION:60 minutes
£10.44
Steve Best COMEDIANS
Book SynopsisComedians gives us an exclusive and revealing peek behind the curtain of the British Comedy scene. Steve Best's own years on the comedy circuit have not only taken him to the four corners of the planet but helped him to gain the trust of some of the funniest people on it - and with it an open door to the four corners of their dressing rooms. Being in the exact right place is only one thing, however. Being there at the right time is another matter entirely; and none more so than when it can be measured by the split-seconds of the camera's shutter. We are very fortunate, therefore, that Best's mastery of photographic timing is faultless because with it we get such a complete picture. The look exchanged between Julian Clary and the compere Paul Thorne, at the Ealing Comedy Festival, was as fleeting as can be, but its depth does not escape Best's eye. There is such camaraderie and affection between the two comedians. There is admiration. Well-wishing and gratefulness. And we sense the shared adrenalin rush. We know that it is Joe Rowntree who must be about to go on because we can hardly breathe for him whilst Michael Fabbri must just have triumphed because Best captures his immortal smile for all eternity. In Best's image of Barry Cryer we have a whole career in the mirror, and we can't tell whether the name-call is about to happen or is as long gone as any of the nerves that used to go with it. And who knew that Jack Whitehall might ever take anything seriously enough to show any nerves, or to feel the need to actually plan any of his material for that matter? But of course he does, and of course he has to - as Best reveals so perfectly to us. And so it is with Harry Hill. Everything is there in the moments of stillness that Best portrays - the meticulous and hard-working people behind the comic personas we know and love.Trade ReviewI’m not sure when I first saw Steve’s act - a brilliantly inventive and hilarious procession of visual gags and tricks - but I remember being glad I didn’t have to follow him. No one wanted to, you couldn’t top that, you needed an interval or a bus home. So when he said he was turning his hand to photography I was more than a little surprised. The fact is no one takes photos of comedians like Steve. Why? Because he knows us, because he’s one of us. No one captures the atmosphere backstage like him because no one has the access - to us he’s just Steve, and he’s got his camera with him again we stop trying to impress or be funny - no mean feat for a comic - and Click! he’s got us. When I look at these photos I’m right back there in the clubs , in the theatres, that happy vibrant scene, the camaraderie, the thrill and the fight - because it doesn’t matter how big or successful you are or how many people have bought tickets to see you, we are all, at the end of the day exactly the same thing - stand up comics and on any night any one of the people in this book can die or be the best in the world. Only we know this and only Steve is able to nail it.Thanks for capturing us Steve you are simply the… no, sorry, not gonna go there. - Harry Hill… For many years I’ve been following Steve’s photography work and have been mightily impressed, so when it came to looking for a photographer for the Comedy Store's 40th birthday show and celebration in 2019 then it was a no-brainer to ask him to be the official photographer. I love the shot of myself holding my granddaughter when I gave a little speech at the celebrations. In fact I love it so much it is now on the walls of the Comedy Store! Steve has a fantastic eye for catching the moment. Being a comedian himself he totally gets the timing of comedy and the nuances and idiosyncrasies of the comedians. He also understands the Comedy Store, the best comedy club in the world (I would say that wouldn’t I?) Steve has photographically mastered the room, finding weird and wonderful angles and positions to creatively capture the performance. And because he feels very at home with the comedians he manages to get beautifully candid, in the moment, poignant shots backstage. His pictures document the ever changing world of comedy and comedians. With this collection of photographs he has not only given us so much visual pleasure but also a superlative historical pictorial documentation of the best live comedy scene in the world. I’ll certainly ask him back for the Comedy Store's 50th birthday celebrations! - Don Ward, Founder, Executive Producer & CEO of the Comedy Store… I love Steve’s photos. Being a stand up comedian himself he knows what makes a comedian tick, and this comes across in the photos beautifully. - Lee Mack… I just went to the Dome and saw your exhibition. It is brilliant. I kept going back and looking at some of them over and over again. You should be immensely proud of it, you've created something really special - Matt Forde… You’re used to posing for photographs in this line of work, so a lot of photos we have of ourselves have a self awareness about them. He always captures us in the most natural positions. This photo of me for example, this is the first and last time I will ever strike this pose. I imagine it’ll be the photo they use at my service when I actually die on stage in my 70’s (a psychic told me once, that’s how it’s going to happen.) - Jayde Adams… Being a performer himself gives Steve Best a unique access to and understanding of comics. He knows where to find us, lurking and laughing in corridors or getting ‘into the zone’ backstage. I love his photographs because they show the timeless beauty of the theatre or comedy club. He captures the huge variety of emotions that comics will whirl through in one show. You can tell from the photos that he’s one of us and he ‘gets’ us. - Jo Caulfield… Steve Best would be one of my favourite portrait photographers, even if I'd just come upon him by chance. The fact that his photographs are all of people I know, doing the thing I love best, is kind of overdoing it a little to be honest. Back in 1995, in the Tufnell Park Tavern, Steve Best made me fall off my chair, laughing at his act. Now, he makes me sit up straight, looking at some of the best stage and backstage photography I've ever seen. I wish I knew what it was, the magical ingredient, the knack of capturing character in a likeness, in a frozen moment, on film. Whatever it is, Steve has it. - Simon Evans… Now live art is a memory there has never been a better time to revisit Steve Best's unflinching portraits of comedians at work, in spaces that will one day soon ring with laughter again. - Stewart Lee… It takes a comedian to know a comedian and Steve just instinctively knows how to "get the shot". The pictures that capture the joy, laughter and camaraderie of those off stage moments and what it is to be part of the gang of clowns. Equally he has got such a brilliant eye for getting those pictures that seem to get the very essence of the comic. The thing that defines them on stage. I'm usually caught in an exaggerated cartoon like pose...and this is me in a nut shell. - Zoe Lyons.
£40.00
Talon Books,Canada Redbone Coonhound
Book SynopsisOut for a walk in their Vancouver neighbourhood, interracial couple Mike and Marissa meet a dog with an unfortunate breed name: Redbone coonhound. This detail unleashes a cascading debate between them about race and their relationship that manifests as a series of micro-plays, each satirizing contemporary perspectives on modern culture. Through hard-hitting comedic elements, Redbone Coonhound explores the intricacies of race, systemic power, and privilege in remarkable and surprising ways.
£13.49
Goose Lane Editions Brit Happens: Or Living the Canadian Dream
Book SynopsisWinner, New Brunswick Book Award (Non-Fiction)One Sunday afternoon in a tiny postage-stamp garden, James Mullinger made the life-altering decision to give it all up: the London pubs, bustling city streets, and a flourishing comedy career. But where in the world would he and his partner raise a family? The English countryside? Toronto? New York?Hmmm. How about St. John … sorry, Saint John, New Brunswick?Brit Happens chronicles Mullinger’s lifetime of adventures, from his beginnings as a shy and nervous kid collecting comedy records at the neighborhood video store, to rising through the ranks of GQ magazine and meeting his personal idols Jerry Seinfeld and Paul McCartney, to imagining the possibility of another life in Canada. From the highs and lows of London to beginning anew in New Brunswick, Brit Happens tells gut-busting stories of success and failure and the unpredictable grind of stand-up comedy. It also offers a laugh-out-loud look at life in Atlantic Canada from the region’s funniest outsider-turned-local.Trade Review“I don’t even like British people, but I love James Mullinger and Brit Happens.” -- Mary Walsh“In Brit Happens, Mullinger masterfully straddles the line between objective and inclusive, culturally and geographically. He gently pokes us with a stick while being one of us. I can’t wait for the Brit to hit the fans!” -- Jonathan Torrens“James Mullinger is my favourite comedian friend who has relocated from England to New Brunswick. And I’m not just saying that because he is the only one. Brit Happens is a great glimpse inside the mind of a British man who becomes more Canadian seemingly by the minute and who might just appreciate the magic of the Canadian Maritimes even more than born and bred Atlantic Canadians. Which I realize might be fighting words to Atlantic Canadians. So fight him if you want to, I guess. But you’ll be fighting one of your own.” -- Steve Patterson“We should all be curious about the origins, motivations, and unrelenting optimism of James Mullinger. While his contagious good mood still remains a bit of a mystery, all else is laid out here in fine, hilarious form. Brit Happens is a wonderful read.” -- Ali Hassan“Brit Happens is not just a comedian’s memoir, but also doubles as a handbook to how a comedian can survive in such a difficult — yet sometimes lucrative — way of making a living. So let James Mullinger be your guide to how you can do what you enjoy and conquer the impossible ... yet be ready to pay those dues on that journey.” -- Stuart Nulman * Montreal Times *“As multi-faceted as its author, Brit Happens is a manifesto of living life to the fullest, of seizing opportunities when they are offered, of creating opportunities when they aren’t, and of letting the joys and hardships of life inspire and move you to give to others. It is equal parts moving and inspiring, and really, really funny.” -- Heather McBriarty * Miramichi Reader *
£16.99
Fantom Films Limited One Foot in the Grave
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£17.99
Fantom Films Limited One Foot in the Grave and Counting
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£17.99
Intellect Books The Cultural Set Up of Comedy
Book SynopsisHow do various forms of comedy - including stand-up, satire, and film and television - transform contemporary invocations of nationalism and citizenship in youth cultures? And how are attitudes about gender, race and sexuality transformed through comedic performances on social media? The Cultural Set Up of Comedy seeks to answer these questions by examining comedic performances by Chris Rock and Louis C.K., news parodies The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report, the role of satire in the Arab Spring and the groundbreaking performances by women in Bridesmaids. Breaking with the usual cultural studies debates over how to conceptualize youth, the book instead focuses on the comedic cultural and political scripts that frame them.
£20.42
Unbound Forgotten Heroes of Comedy: An Encyclopedia of
Book Synopsis'The top chronicler of British comedy' Film Review'Robert’s knowledge of English comedy is formidable' Phil CollinsIn this long overdue and affectionate salute, celebrated comedy historian Robert Ross pays tribute to some of the finest, funniest and most fascinating names in comedy from both sides of the Atlantic. Delving into the careers of the beguiling Avril Angers, the Clitheroe Kid himself, the forgotten Stooge Shemp Howard, Hollywood golden girl Thelma Todd, Italian film-maker Mario Zampi and many more between, Ross honours these legends of humour who, for a variety of reasons, didn't quite reach the heady heights of stardom – or, once they did, they couldn't cope with the pressures. Whether it is a favourite from the distant smoke and ale-stained world of the Music Hall like the great George Robey, or the downbeat poetry of Hovis Presley, who dropped disenchanted bombs on the late 1990s, the Forgotten Heroes of Comedy will finally elevate them to the Hall of Fame where they belong. Forgotten, no longer.
£29.75
Bonnier Books Ltd Will I Ever Have Sex Again
Book Synopsis'This book had sex with my brain!' SARA PASCOE'Hilarious. Intimate. Vital.' JAMEELA JAMIL'I couldn't put the book down!' LAURA BATESComedian Sofie Hagen has not had sex in 3,000 days (and counting). And it turns out, she's not the only one . . .In an attempt to find out why we're not having the sex we want, Sofie asks the questions: can we blame a lacking sex education? Is it all just sexual trauma? Where's the radical sexual liberation we were promised? What are we going to do about this? Should she have slept with that guy in that bush that one time? How do you overcome being a 35-year-old virgin (when it comes to queer sex, that is)? How do the socially awkward and the neurodiverse have sex?In Will I Ever Have Sex Again?, Sofie Hagen explores the quirks and difficulties of being an 'involuntary celibate' (but one of the feminist, progressive ones). With a blend of me
£15.19
Eye Books Good Riddance
Book SynopsisDecluttering her tiny New York apartment, Daphne Maritch decides to throw out any belongings that do not spark joy. These include a high-school yearbook inherited from her school teacher mother, June, to whom the class of '68 dedicated the volume. June in turn attended every class reunion, scribbling notes and observations - not always charitably - after each one. When neighbour Geneva Wisenkorn finds the discarded book and wants to use it for her own ends, Daphne realises she wants to keep it after all. Fighting to reclaim it, she uncovers some alarming Maritch family secrets and sets in motion a series of events that prove to be both poignant and absurd. Good Riddance is a vastly entertaining screwball comedy from the Jane Austen of modern New York.Trade Review'I was new to Lipman, but I loved her signature snappy style and gently satirical detail. From dog-walkers to state senators, chocolate courses to trash TV, all American life is here' - Wendy Holden, Daily Mail, `You'll definitely be delighted. Can an entire book function as a shaggy-dog story?' - Washington Post, `A caper novel, light as a feather and effortlessly charming. It inspires a very specific kind of modern joy' - New York Times, `The author has long been one of our wittiest chroniclers of modern-day romance. Her writing is brisk and intelligent, and if the plot of this novel is zanier than her usual fare, that too may show just how plugged-in she is to our far-fetched times' - Wall Street Journal, `A charming romantic comedy. A stellar cast of supporting characters and intelligent, lyrical prose, make this novel a delightful treat readers will want to savour' - Publishers Weekly, `The ultimate V-day binge read' - Cosmopolitan, `Fans of Lipman will cheer for a new novel in her signature style: funny, warm, sharp, smart, and full of love for family, no matter how flawed' - Library Journal, `Smart, sassy, and satisfying... a tightly woven, lightly rendered, but insightfully important novel' - Booklist
£8.54
Transworld Publishers Ltd Glutton: The Multi-Course Life of a Very Greedy
Book Synopsis‘This book made me laugh and then order an unholy amount of takeaway.’ GREG DAVIES‘One of my favourite comics has now written an annoyingly great book.’ ROMESH RANGANATHAN‘Full of belly laughs and full bellies, this book is warm, honest and wonderfully entertaining.’ TOM KERRIDGE'One of the funniest comedians in the world, Ed is only serious about one thing - dinners.'NISH KUMAR---The hilarious memoir from comedian, Off Menu host and Great British Menu judge, Ed Gamble.From a young age, Ed Gamble's immaculate bibs and extremely dirty nappies hinted at his capacious appetite. Before he could walk, Ed already knew that he preferred poached salmon to puree, that celery was a calorie-sapping waste of time, and that mashed potatoes should be made with lashings of butter.Whilst he might ordinarily have been upset by the calls of 'precocious little sh*t' coming from his family, he was too busy stuffing his gob and staging rebellions against the patronising list of misery that is a children's menu.In Glutton, Ed shares a relatable buffet of experiences and stories from a life lived through food. From the trials of being a diabetic with a sweet tooth to his teenage battles with obesity, to the joy of cooking and the power of food to bring us together, this is a wonderful, hilarious and heart-warming memoir of a delightful obsession.Trade ReviewFull of belly laughs and full bellies, this book is warm, honest and wonderfully entertaining. * Tom Kerridge *This book made me laugh and then order an unholy amount of takeaway. * Greg Davies *Funny as hell. Ed's love of food is absolutely infectious. * Claudia Winkleman *One of my favourite comics has now written an annoyingly great book. * Romesh Ranganathan *A cracking read. * Chris Evans *Bloody brilliant. * Alan Carr *Ed Gamble just has funny written through his very core, like a stick of rock (he probably loves a stick of rock). This book is full of heart, empathy and it is of course crackling with his customary wit. It is all that you’d expect from this most excellent of humans! * Andi Oliver *One of the funniest comedians in the world, Ed is only serious about one thing - dinners * Nish Kumar *An absolute joy and delight. * Zoe Ball *Gamble has plenty of stories and tells them with an easy charm and warmth. Among his lively accounts of food-based capers that wouldn't be out of place in the Beano [there are] many funny observations. * The Times *A heart-warming memoir about the joy of eating. * My Weekly *Full of belly laughs and full bellies, this book is warm, honest and wonderfully entertaining. * Tom Kerridge *One of my favourite comics has now written an annoyingly great book. * Romesh Ranganathan *One of the funniest comedians in the world, Ed is only serious about one thing - dinners * Nish Kumar *This book made me laugh and then order an unholy amount of takeaway. * Greg Davies *An absolute joy and delight. * Zoe Ball *Ed Gamble just has funny written through his very core, like a stick of rock (he probably loves a stick of rock). This book is full of heart, empathy and it is of course crackling with his customary wit. It is all that you’d expect from this most excellent of humans! * Andi Oliver *
£18.00
Bonnier Books Ltd The Audacity: Why Being Too Much Is Exactly
Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER from the star of Netflix's The Duchess, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Your Face or Mine and host of All That Glitters'A fearless origin story' Caitlin Moran'Outrageously brilliant! I'm buying this for all my friends' Laura Whitmore*****'I've come to accept that being audacious is a gift I can't escape.' People 'know' my on-stage comedy persona or my scripted ballsy characters and wrongly assume that at home, I must stomp around all day in designer dresses eviscerating those who dare to cross my path and denouncing the existence of men in general. But mostly, I'm just sat eating pickles and being nice to some dogs. Whatever strangers think of me is fine with me. How audacious is that? I can always take a joke, I don't waste time worrying about things I can't control, and I have zero anxiety. I embrace the reality that you just can't please everyone, so you might as well put yourself out there and have a laugh. As my mother always said, 'Katherine, if we all liked the same thing, we'd all be married to your father'.I'm often asked how I developed my lurid level of courage and assurance and for tips on how others can match. The Audacity is my chance to share my blueprint for just that. You will learn:How to Become The Most Popular Girl in SchoolHow to Waste All Your Money on Designer DogsHow to Attract Toxic Men... AND Keep Them Interested!And so much more... Plus, secrets! Secrets are my favourite things to be told and I figured I'd better tell a few juicy ones myself. Why not? No matter what I do, there will always be something about me that reads as simply, outrageously audacious. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
£13.49
Bonnier Books Ltd Watching Neighbours Twice a Day...: How ’90s TV
Book Synopsis'Read any history of the Nineties in Britain and you will read about Britpop, Blair, the birth of the Premier League and the rise of new lads. I played no part in any of these events. Growing up in a tiny rural village on Dartmoor, no bands came within 100 miles, all the local farmers voted Tory, our nearest football team was in the fourth division, and the closest I got to being a new lad was when my older brother let me drink some of his Hooch.' In Watching the Nineties, much-loved comedian Josh Widdicombe tells the story of a strange rural childhood, the kind of childhood he only realised was weird when he left home and started telling people about it. From only having four people in his year at school, to living in a family home where they didn't just not bother locking the front door, they didn't even have a key. Using a different television show of the time as it's starting point for each chapter Watching the Nineties is part-childhood memoir, part-comic history of 90s television and culture. It will discuss everything from the dangers of recreating Gladiators in your front room, to Josh's belief that Mr Blobby is one of the great comic characters, to being the only vegetarian child west of Bristol. Together it tells the story of the end of an era, the last time when watching television was a shared experience for the family and the nation, before the internet meant everyone watched different things at different times on different devices, headphones on to make absolutely sure no one could watch it with them.Trade ReviewYou know when your mate does something really impressive, and you look at them with a renewed sense of admiration? That's how I feel about Josh's book. Beautifully written, cleverly crafted and charmingly funny. -- Adam HillsIf you read only one book by Josh Widdicombe this year, make it this one -- Jack DeeA wonderful blend of nostalgia, hilarity and personal anecdotes that only Josh Widdicombe could deliver -- James AcasterBrilliantly observed -- Romesh RanganathanWarmth, wit and Widdicombe - with big laughs and pure nostalgia at its heart. Made me want to watch Neighbours with him. Twice.' -- Danny WallaceThis book is genius -- Dawn O'PorterFantastic -- David BaddielA '90s TV throwback dream -- Katherine RyanAnnoyingly very funny -- Sean WalshRetro heaven -- Alan CarrBrilliantly funny and nostalgic -- Russell Kane
£17.00
Bonnier Books Ltd Watching Neighbours Twice a Day...: How ’90s TV
Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'A wonderful blend of nostalgia, hilarity and personal anecdotes that only Josh Widdicombe could deliver' James Acaster'Brilliantly observed' Romesh Ranganathan'Beautifully written, cleverly crafted and charmingly funny' Adam Hills 'Retro heaven' Alan Carr 'A '90s TV throwback dream' Katherine Ryan Watching Neighbours Twice a Day... is part-childhood memoir, part-comic history of '90s television and culture. Using a different TV show of the time as its starting point for each chapter, it discusses everything from Josh's strange, rural childhood, to the BBC convincing him that Michael Parkinson had been possessed by a ghost, to Josh's belief that Mr Blobby is one of the great comic characters, to what it's like being the only vegetarian child west of Bristol. It tells the story of the end of an era, the last time when watching television was a shared experience for the family and the nation, before the internet meant everyone watched different things at different times on different devices, headphones on to make absolutely sure no one else could watch it with them.'Annoyingly very funny' Sean Walsh 'Warmth, wit and Widdicombe - with big laughs and pure nostalgia at its heart' Danny Wallace'Brilliantly funny and nostalgic' Russel Kane 'If you read only one book by Josh Widdicombe this year, make it this one' Jack Dee
£8.99
Bonnier Books Ltd Watching Neighbours Twice a Day...: How ’90s TV
Book Synopsis'A wonderful blend of nostalgia, hilarity and personal anecdotes that only Josh Widdicombe could deliver' James Acaster'If you read only one book by Josh Widdicombe this year, make it this one' Jack Dee'Beautifully written, cleverly crafted and charmingly funny' Adam Hills'This is a book about growing up in the '90s told through the thing that mattered most to me, the television programmes I watched. For my generation television was the one thing that united everyone. There were kids at my school who liked bands, kids who liked football and one weird kid who liked the French sport of petanque, however, we all loved Gladiators, Neighbours and Pebble Mill with Alan Titchmarsh (possibly not the third of these).'In his first memoir, Josh Widdicombe tells the story of a strange rural childhood, the kind of childhood he only realised was weird when he left home and started telling people about it. From only having four people in his year at school, to living in a family home where they didn't just not bother to lock the front door, they didn't even have a key.Using a different television show of the time as its starting point for each chapter Watching Neighbours Twice a Day... is part-childhood memoir, part-comic history of '90s television and culture. It will discuss everything from the BBC convincing him that Michael Parkinson had been possessed by a ghost, to Josh's belief that Mr Blobby is one of the great comic characters, to what it's like being the only vegetarian child west of Bristol.It tells the story of the end of an era, the last time when watching television was a shared experience for the family and the nation, before the internet meant everyone watched different things at different times on different devices, headphones on to make absolutely sure no one else could watch it with them.
£17.53
Bonnier Books Ltd What's That Lady Doing?: False starts and happy
Book SynopsisFor fans of Really Good Actually and I'm Glad My Mom Died'Moving, hilarious and generally astonishing' - Guardian'Brave, funny and moving' - Aisling Bea 'A deftness that catches your breath' - Fern Brady'An incredible piece of writing' - Brett Goldstein'Interrogates moments of trauma with insight, kindness and humanity' - John RobinsThis is a book about mistakes. And why we should de-flower shame in all its messy, complicated glory...Hello!It's Lou here...I've poured my heart and guts on to the page and shared my soul in this book. This won't be for everyone but I hope it helps the people it does connect with. We all have stories and I think its useful to share them, I think it helps unite us and in some ways it helps us release some shame.I've been alarmingly truthful and sincere, because I think society would be better if we could all be honest. I've of course used humour too, not as a way to cope (I've processed the darker things that have happened to me), but as a change in pace, some gorgeous light relief, because life is light and dark dancing together in the wind. And I love jokes.If this is the sort of thing you're after, please pick me up and take me to bed (that's the book speaking so a little joke there).
£15.19
Simon & Schuster Audio The Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Book
Book Synopsis
£29.99
Chronicle Books The History of Sketch Comedy: A Journey Through
Book SynopsisAuthors Keegan-Michael Key and Elle Key build on the popularity of their 2022 Webby Award–winning podcast and delve deeper into the world of sketch, helped along with new essays created expressly for the book by comedy greats. The History of Sketch Comedy will appeal to all kinds of comedy fans as well as fans of Keegan-Michael Key, whether they know him from his Emmy- and Peabody-winning work on Key & Peele; his roles in Fargo, The Prom, Schmigadoon!, The Bubble, and the upcoming Wonka; voiceover work in The Lion King; or as President Barack Obama's anger translator, Luther. With epic personal tangents and hilarious asides, their story takes you on an illuminating look at all facets of comedy from the stock characters of commedia del arte in the 16th century, to the rise of vaudeville and burlesque, the golden age of television comedy, the influence of the most well-known comedy schools, and the ascension of comedy films and TV specials - all the way through to a look at the future of sketch on social media platforms. Along the way, we hear tales of Key's childhood, his comedy influences, and the vicissitudes of his career path. As the New York Times said in its review of their podcast, "this comedy nerd history is filtered through memoir, with Key relating stories of his budding fandom, training and rise from improv comic to television sketch artist." Part masterclass, part memoir, and hilariously embellished with priceless commentary, The History of Sketch Comedy illuminates the essential building blocks of sketch comedy while interweaving Key's experiences of personal discovery and the influence of his comedy heroes. The text is complemented by original art by Elle Key and exclusive essays compiled from conversations with some of their famous comedy friends and performers who have influenced the development of comedy, such as Jordan Peele, Mel Brooks, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mike Myers, Chris Rock, John Oliver, Tracy Morgan, Carol Burnett, Jim Carrey, and many more.
£20.89
Octopus Publishing Group DONT PANIC
Book SynopsisThe essential book for new dads by an award-winning comedy writer and his friends, preparing you for the confusing, emotional - and funny - rollercoaster ahead. A must-have gift for new dads!
£10.44
Octopus Publishing Group Hexy Bitch
Book SynopsisFollowing her 2021 bestselling memoir Don't Laugh, It'll Only Encourage Her comes the laugh out loud follow-up Hexy B*tch. 'My life's changed a lot since This Country came out.
£10.44
Renard Press Ltd Almost Adult
Book SynopsisHope’s leaving her home town up north for the bright lights of London. It’s going to be mind-blowing. Attractive Hinge dates, mature new friends… A job at a dinosaur-themed bar? Hell. Yes. Several months in things are looking slightly less rosy. Her housemate seems to hate her and her manager’s a creep… But we don’t need to talk about that. Do we? Almost Adult is a brilliantly funny play that lays bare the darker side of slick modern workplaces and the underhand employment practices that police them – or fail to – with stunning lightness of touch.Trade Review'Tilley’s energy while performing is so infectious and endearing… we honestly couldn’t fault this production.' (Theatre and Other Things); 'Delights and disturbs in equal measure' (Everything Theatre); 'Blisteringly funny and deeply emotional. (The Indiependent)
£7.99
Gill Mad Isnt It
Book SynopsisOn a solo trip with her best friend to a Wexford caravan park, a barely 18-year-old virginal (ish) Emma Doran discovers it only takes one time to change your life forever and end up covered in stretch marks.Finding herself preparing to do her Leaving Cert in a maternity school uniform, hopes of a glittering acting career (which began with a feted primary school performance as middle-aged alcoholic Mrs Hannigan in Annie and culminated in a case of stage fright as Caroline Aherne's famous Sister Mary Immaculate in transition year) are derailed.Baby in tow, Emma spends her college years getting up at 7 a.m. and going to bed at 8 p.m. instead of staying out 'til 6 a.m. and sleeping 'til noon. By 24, her idea of a good weekend is perusing the aisles of Home Store + More for new cushions to brighten up her living room. But on the verge of turning 30, an opportunity arises, and Emma finds herself back on stage again Mad, Isn't It? is a hilarious and moving story about life, friendship, (young) motherhood and taking risks.''A hilarious tale of guts and resilience that made me cry when I least expected it.'' Sarah BreenA must read. I laughed through my tears and delighted in Emma's triumphant spirit.' Deirdre O'KaneHilarious and heartwarming all at once. Packed full of spirit, life lessons, love and laughs. I didn't want it to end.' Amy HubermanOne of the funniest humans I've ever encountered.' Joanne McNally
£22.97
Andrews UK Limited How To Be A Comedy Writer: Secrets from the
Book Synopsis
£8.99
Andrews UK Limited How To Be A Sitcom Writer: Secrets from the
Book Synopsis
£8.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Sunshine and Laughter: The Story of Morecambe &
Book SynopsisThe unique story of Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise – British television's most iconic double act. 'A warm and sympathetic portrait of two pals who conquered the world simply by radiating hilarious friendship' Sunday Times 'Barfe lifts the lid on the lives of TV's most iconic double act... and gets to the heart of what made them so loved by a nation' Sunday Post 'Set to be the definitive account of the television age's funniest pair' New European 'Colour about the characters of [Morecambe and Wise] is mixed with Barfe's usual forensic research' Chortle The Morecambe and Wise Show was the crème de la crème of TV light entertainment from the late 1960s until the early 1980s. The hardy perennial comedy duo at its heart had even greater longevity, spanning five decades and becoming a national institution whose shows drew audiences in excess of twenty million. They also loved each other like brothers, and the audience repaid that love; they were the nation's best friends. In Sunshine and Laughter, Louis Barfe tells the touching story of Morecambe and Wise, and explores how it is that thirty-seven years after their last television show, the tall handsome one with glasses and the one with the short, fat, hairy legs continue to work their unique brand of comedy magic.Trade ReviewA warm and sympathetic portrait of two pals who conquered the world simply by radiating hilarious friendship * Sunday Times *Barfe lifts the lid on the lives of TV's most iconic double act [...] and gets to the heart of what made them so loved by a nation * Sunday Post *Britain's best-loved double act have a superb chronicler in Louis Barfe... This looks set to be the definitive account of the television age's funniest pair * New European *Written with affection... Such colour about the characters of [Morecambe and Wise] is mixed with Barfe's usual forensic research * Chortle *Louis Barfe is becoming a polymathic guide to British show business * Sunday Times *Countless TV programmes have paid tribute to 'the boys' [...] and there's a veritable library of books. So do we need a new one? The answer – if you're a fan – is a resounding yes. And comedy historian Louis Barfe [...] is just the man to do it. A safe pair of hands, his Sunshine and Laughter is the perfect companion piece to Graham McCann's excellent 1998 biography. His research is exemplary * Camden New Journal *The comedy continues * Devon Life *
£9.49
Anthem Press Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors : A
Book SynopsisShakespeare’s Comedy of Errors: A Psycho-Semiotic Analysis uses semiotics along psychoanalytic to offer a granular analysis of one of Shakespeare’s funniest and most interesting comedies. It is distinctive in that it offers a discussion of the basic techniques found incomic literature of all kinds and applies these techniques to events in the play. It also offers a discussion of the basic theories of humor and a syntagmatic and paradigmatic analysis of the play.Trade ReviewArthur Asa Berger has done it again. A brilliant semiotician, a renowned humor scholar and visual artist, Berger has used all three skills for this remarkable book on Shakespeare’sComedy of Errors. Applying selected aspects of the many theories of humor, along with semiotic methods of narrative analysis, Berger shows how they make their way concretely into Shakespeare’s play, itself a theatrical essay on why we laugh—by making us laugh. This book is not only enjoyable because of Berger’s own caricature art, which he intersperses throughout, but also because he has written it in his usual fluid style, making no special technical assumptions on the part of the reader, without ever comprising the scholarly seriousness of his approach. Reading this book we are enlightened and entertained at the same time, realizing by the end that life is indeed a “comedy of errors.”—Marcel Danesi, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto.Arthur Asa Berger is an important, versatile scholar. In his scientific work, he devotes much of his time to the study of humor and laughter. For the first time in the study of Shakespeare's comedies, he offers a unique method by which one can understand not only this play but any comedic work whether it is in theater, cinema, or television. I highly recommend the book to anyone interested in Shakespearean humor or comedy and humor in general.”—Prof. Arie Sover, Communication and Humor Studies, The Open University of Israel, Author of Jewish Humor (Cambridge Scholars Press), 2021 and Editor ofTheLanguages of Humor: Verbal, Visual and Physical Humor(Bloomsbury Academic)2018.‘Every why hath a wherefore,’ declares a character in Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors. In a humorous guide to what we find funny, Professor Berger offers us several wherefores and a catalogue of whys. Is it all about incongruity? ‘Until I know this sure uncertainty, I'll entertain the offered fallacy,’ quips another character.”—Daniel Chandler, Aberystwyth University, Wales.“A delightful, very readable introduction to theories of humor that Berger brings to life through an analysis of Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors. Insightful and funny as you, the reader, like it.”—Professor Dirk vom Lehn, King’s College London.Arthur Asa Berger is one of the best world scholars in the study of humor, who has written seven books on various aspects of the topic. His latest work, The Comedy of Errors: A Psycho-Semiotic Analysis, deals with different theories of humor, and then explains and applies his research on the forty-five techniques of humor to the play. Although the books deals with many topics, the major part of the book is devoted to his semiotic analysis of The Comedy of Errors. In addition, his writing style is light and graceful, similar to what might find from a professor from the Sorbonne. He has a distinctive sense of humor, and his drawings are just great.”—Christo Kaftandjiev, Ph.D., Professor of Communication and Marketing Semiotics Sofia University, Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communications. Table of ContentsDedication; Epigraph; 1 Introduction ; 2 Theories of Humor; 3 Semiotics and Humor; 4 Glossary: The 45 Techniques of Humor; 5 The Comedy of Errors; 6 Coda; References; About the Author; Index
£19.94
Pallas Athene Publishers Mikado Memories
Book Synopsis“The audience should feel as they come out of this show that they have over-eaten an enormous cream meringue”. Jonathan Miller's ambition was completely successful, and his Mikado has been revived umpteen times in London and played in LA, Houston, New York and Venice. It brought together some of the finest stage talents of its time, and revolutionised Gilbert and Sullivan. Richard Suart, iconic incarnation of KoKo, Lord High Executioner, celebrates this landmark production in all its variations over the years, with his unmistakeable wit and humour, and deep understanding of the stagecraft of opera and the history of G&S. Over 200 photographs take the reader on a unique journey into the heart of a theatrical masterpiece.
£17.00
New Island Books Reggie's Guide to Social Climbing
Book SynopsisCork's most beautifully spoken millionaire is on a mission to help Ireland's nouveau riche: learn to eat, drink, flirt and behave as if you were a member of Cork's One Per Cent.
£8.54
Nick Hern Books The Comeback
Book SynopsisUp-and-coming comics Alex and Ben have been booked in the warm-up spot for a beloved but fading double act's comeback tour. Neither is delighted to be playing to a sparse crowd in a sleepy seaside town – but when it's revealed that a Hollywood director is in the audience, both acts glimpse a final chance for their big break. Cue sabotage, mistaken identity and full-on farcical mayhem, as the performance descends into a desperate battle for the limelight. With the action alternating between offstage and on, and the tone between Noises Off and Morecambe and Wise's old-school charm, The Comeback is a heart-warming exploration of bittersweet nostalgia and the enduring power of friendship. It is the joyful and dazzlingly funny debut play by The Pin's award-winning Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen – 'destined to become one of the great comedy duos' (Radio Times). It opened at the West End's Noël Coward Theatre in December 2020.Trade Review'A bulletproof nugget of comic theatre' * Guardian *'A neat conceit, played to the hilt of escalating, exhausting buffoonery… an uproarious, gag-a-minute triumph' * Telegraph *'Has plenty of charm… a high-energy meta-comedy' * The Times *'Hugely enjoyable… a complicated, fast-paced farce' * The Arts Desk *'Has everything you'd want in a comedy show… The Comeback is jam-packed with gags; from throwaway one-liners to clever call-backs which only get funnier and never lose speed or outstay their welcome. But what makes it so clever is how emotional moments are brought in and out throughout the show; you aren't just watching farcical situations, there are real moments of emotion too… an unmissable show full of heart and hysterical chaos that will leave you smiling for days' * Broadway World *'Surreal, silly and very, very funny... will simply make you laugh your socks off’ * Evening Standard *
£9.49
