Gavin Webster started his comedy career as half a double act, going solo in 1995. He was a regular team captain in Channel 4's Does Doug Know? and is an established name on the circuit. He has also supported Lee Evans, Jack Dee and Phill Jupitus on tour.

The Stand Newcastle launch gig
Live Review
Newcastle Stand

The backdrop is very familiar, a baby-faced cowboy, holding a gun to his head. Only one thing is different – there’s a temporary ‘wet paint’ sign tacked to the corner.

This is the Stand’s newest venture, a 300-seat club in a reasonably intimate Newcastle basement, below a bar and what will be a swanky smoking terrace. There are a few finishing touches to be completed, but tomorrow the venue will officially open its doors and join the company’s much-respected clubs in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Despite the comedy boom spawning ever-increasing numbers of tours and pub gigs, the opening of a purpose-built comedy club is still a rare occurrence. And Newcastle is a perfect place for The Stand’s expansion, filling an obvious gap in the market between the Hyena provision for rowdy stag-night-style audiences and the smaller, or more occasional, gigs around town.

Following his £750,000 investment in the site, Stand director Tommy Sheppard says his aim is nothing less than having ‘the best comedy venue in England’. And last night, just a couple of hours after the building was signed off as being fit for purpose, the ball was set rolling with a private preview night.

As compere, Jo Caulfield was the first comedian ever to take to the venue’s stage. And her historic first word, to mark this momentous occasion? An awe-struck ‘Fuck!’

Amid jokes about reality TV shows and the relaxed attitude of Greggs staff to customer niceties, she introduced some of the local and/or Scottish talent that will be fixtures at the club over the coming months and years.

First up was Vladimir McTavish, a comic with close links to the Stand, having performed on opening night at both the other venues, too. You couldn’t accuse him of being too adventurous with gags about what he looks like or Susan Boyle, but he’s an eminently likeable bloke, who gets plenty of laughs from hitting the punchlines hard.

John Scott, a Scotsman now living in Newcastle built on that atmosphere, largely through the sheer number of local gags and references he crammed into his brief set, such as jokes about the glut of bridges across the Tyne, or a Geordie version of Bohemian Rhapsody.

Scott will be one of the regular, local comperes of the Red Raw new act night, to be held on Wednesdays, alongside Tony Jameson, John Smith, George Zach and Nicola Mantalios-Lovett. Chortle has previously compared the latter to Sarah Millican – both in accent and material – and that again proved to be true tonight, as she quipped about her appearance and chatted casually about sex in a charmingly self-deprecating way.

Four-strong improv group The Suggestibles didn’t really have time to stand out. They played the established game ‘Die!’ – in which they take turns to pick up a story until someone fumbles and is eliminated from the round – reasonably well, but the change of style from stand-up didn’t really strike a chord with the audience.

Next up, local hero Simon Donald, who was welcomed with a deafening cheer after being introduced as the co-founder of Viz. His character Barry Twyford has, unsurprisingly, a similar sense of humour to the magazine, using Geordie street slang in an apparently straight-laced questionnaire, in a juxtaposition that works well.

Continuing to play up the local pride was headliner Gavin Webster, who will have a Sunday night residency here, emphasizing his ‘ordinary bloke’ credentials by translating Geordie patter in to Queen’s English, and stressing that he has proper jokes – a word he gives at least a couple of extra syllables to. Indeed, there are some delightful non-sequiturs in his quirky but no-frills set.

Before this gig, Webster sang the praises of the new venue, saying: ‘The way the Stand allows you to develop distinctive ideas will give me and all the other acts based in the North East a huge boost, and will give the people of Tyneside and beyond a club that reflects the culture and the humour of the area.

‘This is definitely our moment. We've finally got a club that we Geordie comics can call our own.’

Champion.

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Voted best act of the night by all in our group of 8 at The Laugh Inn, Chester Saturday night. Another great show delivered with great skill. he can draw in a crowd. Don't understand the negative views, seen him 3 timmes...always top of the bill 4 me.

AzzA, March 2012

Lucky to have seen Gavin a couple times over the last year, a really confident performer with good solid material and delivery. I'd happily see him again. :)

Me, October 2010

I personally work at a comedy club and have to say he is one of the worse comedians on the circuit absolute rubbish. 'These are jokes' Well really? I think he has very low confidence in his set. Although I heard a few years back he was really good.

John Farnsworth, August 2010

A very strong opening act at Cardiff Glee. I wouldn't say he's the best on the circuit, but he's certainly far from being the worst! Some of his observations on how we use swear words are hysterical.

David, August 2010

Saw him at Newcastle's Irish Centre in January. He's the best comic I've ever seen..I don't go to many comedy gigs but Gavin was a class above Jimmy Carr and Jack Dee, and the usual Hyena drivel. He's as clever as Ben Elton and shows the sophistication and pain of a man who is traduced by middle class fools but has to grin and bear it to pay the bills. One day he'll get the appreciation that he deserves. The main thing is that he's got a brain, but he also knows the people and knows (like them) that the cards are stacked against him. Reading some of these reviews reminds me how wrong most critics are. Gavin will make you laugh, and show you the truth. Enjoy him and give him the attention his talent, wit, craft and intelligence deserve.

Bill Corcoran, March 2010

Aimless waffle at Berwick. Repeated one joke twice. Funniest thing of his act was has mic going on and off in the first half and continued into the second half even though it was meant to be fixed. First time I have ever found myself laughing at the comedian instead of with. I had to try to stop myself from laughing at the wrong time. A stark contrast to john bishop who was here the week before who raised the roof with his performance.

John bacon, November 2009

I love Gavin, Saw him at the Stand comedy club while up in Edinburgh and he had me laughing so hard I cried. Loved him, he's a great comic

Danielle, August 2009

I'm so lucky not to be a comic reviewer - all sense of humour seems to be removed from your soul as you asses tear acts apart - Webster is genius. I saw the show and yes, bad crowd, but Webster knows what he is doing - even if he turns half the crowd against him, at least the other half are having double the fun! Perhaps one is too upper middle class to stoop to Webster's filthy 'commoners' humour to understand it?

Luke Mailey, August 2009

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