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Dead Cat Bounce
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Delete The Banjax
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Des Bishop
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Diane Spencer
Doc Brown
Doktor CocaColaMcDonalds
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Show:
Retired circuit comics
Circuit comics
Stars
Legends
Actors
Writers
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Comic Details

Daniel Kitson

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CV

CV

TV: 2001-2:
Phoenix Nights as Spencer
 
Stand Up: 2006
Winner of four Chortle awards: People's Choice, Comics' Comic, best full-length show and best headliner
Stand Up: 2005:
Edinburgh stand-up show; plus Fringe First-winning theatre show - Stories For The Wobbly Hearted
stand-up show;
Stand Up: 2005:
Edinburgh stand-up show; plus Fringe First-winning theatre show - Stories For The Wobbly Hearted
Stories For The Wobbly Hearted
Stand Up: 2005:
Winner of three Chortle awards: People's Choice, best full-length show and best compere
Chortle awards
Stand Up: 2004:
Edinburgh show
Edinburgh show
Stand Up: 2004:
Named People's Choice and Comics' Comic in the Chortle awards. Nominated for a Barry at the Melbourne Comedy Festival
Chortle awards.
Stand Up: 2004:
UK tour: Lover, Thinker, Artist and Prophet. Dates
Dates
Stand Up: 2003:
Edinburgh show Made Up Story, which won a Herald Angel
Made Up Story
Stand Up: 2003:
Winner of two Chortle awards - for Comedian's Comedian and best solo show. Melbourne show. Review
Chortle awards
Stand Up: 2003:
Winner of two Chortle awards - for Comedian's Comedian and best solo show. Melbourne show. Review
Review
Stand Up: 2003:
First solo tour.
Stand Up: 2002:
Perrier winner for his Edinburgh show Something
Perrier
Stand Up: 2002:
Perrier winner for his Edinburgh show Something
Something
Stand Up: 2002:
Winner of Time Out Award for live perfomance. Winner of Chortle Award for best male circuit comic. Nominated for the Barry Award at the Melbourne Comedy Festival.
Stand Up: 2001:
Debut Edinburgh show: Love Innocence And The Word Cock nominated for the Perrier award.
Love Innocence And The Word Cock
Stand Up: 2001:
Debut Edinburgh show: Love Innocence And The Word Cock nominated for the Perrier award.
Perrier
Stand Up: 1998:
Hackney Empire New Act of the Year finalist
Stand Up: 1995:
BBC Open Mic Award finalist
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Reviews

Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder
Live Review
Melbourne International Comedy Festival

 rated 5/5
Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder

It’s a plaintive cry that goes out in a million tearful, drunken arguments: ‘You don’t know me. You don’t know who I am…’ Well, Where Once Was Wonder offers Daniel Kitson’s infinitely more eloquent, nuanced and ambiguous take on the same idea.

First impressions count; and the most striking thing here is that the once-hirsute Kitson is shorn of the scraggly beard and unkempt hair that, much to his chagrin, came to define him. Piqued that a look like his, complete with thick-rimmed glasses and cardigans, somehow became hijacked as a cuddly, earthy ‘brand’ by soulless marketers, he boldly took to the razor and now appears clean-shaven and almost entirely bald. He admits it’s a ‘departure, head-wise’.

But rest assured, he is no stand-up Samson, and his powers of tender, insightful, opinionated comedy remain intact. Which is a good job, since this is about 100 minutes of a man talking largely about why he shaved his beard off.

Or more precisely, it’s a show about identity. About how we are defined by our appearance, our friends, or our deeds.

Or, in Kitson’s own words, it’s a show about life (what show isn’t?) which he considers ‘a series of impossible things that slowly become inevitable’. And that explains the title.

This is told through three main stories, the beard-shaving; his rash decision to declare his unrequited to love to a friend; and the time he found himself cutting the head off a baby pig. But far from being straightforward anecdotes, these allow Kitson to muse on the big issues such as individuality and despondency, as well as offering his opinions on more everyday matters, such as tattoos and the British stand-up boom.

The latter subject prompts expected complaints about the commoditisation of comedy and his fears of becoming part of it, which is why he shuns any sort of media profile.

But, perhaps afraid of being pigeonholed, there are deliberately less certainties in his viewpoint than you might expect, and the entire, elegantly constructed narrative is built on such shifting sands, which means he tweaks expectations delightfully. But it also suits his contradictory nature of a grumpy misanthropist who romanticises what humans are truly capable of.

This is Kitson’s first straight stand-up show in a while, but lack of staging aside, it is thematically not too far removed from his more recent theatrical monologues, save that the pensive stories are about himself, rather than some fictional construct. Certainly the mesmerising storytelling is intact.

But alongside articulate periods of navel-gazing about the human condition, the format allows him to break the storyteller’s fourth wall, and sporadically inject more of his own personality – and more silliness – into the mix.

For although he has a hard-earned reputation as a comedy philosophiser, he’s not above using the oldest and corniest pun about being ‘in denial’ about something. Yet while his persistence and playfulness makes this gag transcend the lame wordplay, he nonetheless celebrates it at the same time. And this naffness comes from a man who minutes later is musing on life being the ‘incremental death of hope’, in one of the segments that momentarily put the chuckles on hold while he supplies the intelligent context.

Of course, someone as self-aware as Kitson knows his own brilliance, and boasts about it endlessly. But he achieves what Ricky Gervais can only dream of doing – making the unseemly arrogance seem tongue-in-cheek and endearing, rather than simply rampant, unpleasant egotism. That he is a master of language and imagery certainly helps, and his extended analogy about his conversational potency, prompted by an exchange with a witlessly cynical New York bookseller, is hilariously sublime.

In one of his many pithy lines that deserve a place in a future book of quotations, Kitson offers the opinion that ‘certainty is a failure of imagination’. But there’s no uncertainty that this is another beautiful show by a comedian who continues to demonstrate the peaks of emotional complexity of which stand-up is capable – while still ensuring a steady flow of laughs.

Date of live review: Wednesday 4th Apr, '12
Review by Steve Bennett
Daniel Kitson: It's Always Right Now, Until It's Later
Daniel Kitson: It's Always Right Now, Until It's Later

Saturday 14th Aug, '10-
Daniel Kitson and Gavin Osborn present Stories For The Starlit Sky at Latitude 2010
Daniel Kitson and Gavin Osborn present Stories For The Starlit Sky at Latitude 2010

Sunday 25th Jul, '10-
The Interminable Suicide Of Gregory Church, by Daniel Kitson - Fringe 2009
Saturday 15th Aug, '09-
Daniel Kitson: The Impotent Fury Of The Privileged
Daniel Kitson: The Impotent Fury Of The Privileged

Show - Tour - Monday 0th Apr, '08-
Sixty-Six A Church Road: A Lament, Made Of Memories And Kept In Suitcases, By Daniel Kitson
Sixty-Six A Church Road: A Lament, Made Of Memories And Kept In Suitcases, By Daniel Kitson

Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2008 -
Daniel Kitson: It\'s The Fireworks Talking
Daniel Kitson: It\'s The Fireworks Talking

Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2007 -
C-90
C-90

Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2006 -
Daniel Kitson : Original Review
Daniel Kitson : Original Review

Tuesday 1st Oct, '02-
The Honourable Men Of Art
The Honourable Men Of Art

Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2006 -
Love Innocence And The Word Cock
Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2001 -
Daniel Kitson: Lover, Thinker, Artist and Prophet
Daniel Kitson: Lover, Thinker, Artist and Prophet

Show - Tour -
Daniel Kitson: Something Perrier winner
Daniel Kitson: Something Perrier winner

Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2002 -
Daniel Kitson: A Made Up Story
Daniel Kitson: A Made Up Story

Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2003 -
Daniel Kitson: Weltanschauung
Daniel Kitson: Weltanschauung

Show - Melbourne 2006 -
Daniel Kitson
Daniel Kitson

Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2004 -
Stories For The Wobbly-Hearted by Daniel Kitson
Stories For The Wobbly-Hearted by Daniel Kitson

Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2005 -
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Comments

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Seen him more often than some family members. Never fail to be moved, cheered and touched.

Ni Tle, February 2012


Saw Daniel at the National Theatre just before Xmas, what an amazing show, brilliant, not a normal stand-up routine, a fantastic, beautiful story.

Neill Aitken, January 2012


Saw Gregory Church show last night in Bristol. Daniel was excellent and it is beautifully written. I can see him going down the Alan Bennett route soon. I really hope he carried on doing stand-up a while longer though. The audience interaction before the show illustrates how wonderful he is in that medium. A natural funny man.

James Evans, May 2011


Think kitson is a genius but is going the way of tony slattery - that we (the audience) are not worthy of his material, showed itself in his attack of two punters last night in Durham . Great show, but enjoy him while you can before he withdraws from public shows..

zack, May 2011


There are funny people and there are Geniuses. Daniel Kitson is a genius I promise you.

M Pet, March 2011


Saw Daniel MCing at the Bums on Seats charity event on 14th June. Never seen him before - he was head and shoulders above anyone else, and most of it was adlibbed while talking to members of the audience. One of the naturally funniest comedians I've seen in a long time. I've seen a few, yet somehow managed to avoid seeing this giant of the circuit - I'll be making up for lost time I can assure you.

Ted Cole, June 2010


Saw Daniel Kitson last night in Brighton where he did the 66a Church Road set. Third time I have commented on him but he really is the most amazing wordsmith and funny man you are ever likely to see. The story about being in love with the house he lived in in Crystal Palace is a wonderful tale delicately told by the most eloquent comic you are ever likely to see. His observations of builders are absolutely spot on and one we can all relate to. Also love the fact that he doesn't milk the fans financially. last nights show was £12 which is un heard of for someone that is as talented as this man. Consistently brilliant in whichever format he wants to show be it stand-up or storytelling. Genius

Matt Gander, May 2010


Went to see Daniel's (newish) show last night 66a Church Road. Loved it . Touching, heartfelt, endearing and funny, a true poet and thinker. His use of the English language is unparalleled and to speak on stage for a full 90mins without break was a masterclass . Everyone was engrossed and hooked as his tale of love for his house unfolded. The memories described were wonderfully descritpive and all-enveloping . This is a man at the top of his game. Saw him do stand-up in the same Durham venue last year and he is very very funny and likeable and supremely talented . Imaginative, innovative... there are not enough superlatives to describe this man

zack, May 2010


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Where can I see Daniel Kitson next?

Where can I see Daniel Kitson next?

23:55~00:40 - Sunday 5th Aug, '12
Venue: Stand 1
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder
Show starts: 23:55
23:55~00:40 - Monday 6th Aug, '12
Venue: Stand 1
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder
Show starts: 23:55
23:55~00:40 - Tuesday 7th Aug, '12
Venue: Stand 1
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder
Show starts: 23:55
23:55~00:40 - Wednesday 8th Aug, '12
Venue: Stand 1
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder
Show starts: 23:55
23:55~00:40 - Thursday 9th Aug, '12
Venue: Stand 1
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder
Show starts: 23:55
23:55~00:40 - Sunday 12th Aug, '12
Venue: Stand 1
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder
Show starts: 23:55
23:55~00:40 - Monday 13th Aug, '12
Venue: Stand 1
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder
Show starts: 23:55
23:55~00:40 - Tuesday 14th Aug, '12
Venue: Stand 1
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder
Show starts: 23:55
23:55~00:40 - Wednesday 15th Aug, '12
Venue: Stand 1
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder
Show starts: 23:55
23:55~00:40 - Thursday 16th Aug, '12
Venue: Stand 1
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder
Show starts: 23:55
23:55~00:40 - Sunday 19th Aug, '12
Venue: Stand 1
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder
Show starts: 23:55
23:55~00:40 - Monday 20th Aug, '12
Venue: Stand 1
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder
Show starts: 23:55
23:55~00:40 - Tuesday 21st Aug, '12
Venue: Stand 1
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder
Show starts: 23:55
23:55~00:40 - Wednesday 22nd Aug, '12
Venue: Stand 1
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder
Show starts: 23:55
23:55~00:40 - Thursday 23rd Aug, '12
Venue: Stand 1
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder
Show starts: 23:55
23:55~00:40 - Sunday 26th Aug, '12
Venue: Stand 1
Prices: Call for prices
Show: Daniel Kitson: Where Once Was Wonder
Show starts: 23:55