Jack Carroll
Jack Cowley
Jack Dee
Jack Heal
Jack Samuel Warner
Jack Whitehall
Jackie Mason
Jaik Campbell
James Acaster
James Blood
James Branch
James Campbell
James Christopher
James Corden
James Dowdeswell
James Farmer
James Goldsbury
James Hately
James Kirk
James Mason
James Mullinger
James Redmond
James Sherwood
Jamie Sutherland
Jan Ravens
Jane Bostock
Jane Bussmann
Jane Hill
Janey Godley
Janice Phayre
Jared Hardy
Jarlath Regan
Jarred Christmas
Jason 'Entertainment' Cooke
Jason Byrne
Jason Cook
Jason Freeman
Jason John Whitehead
Jason Kavan
Jason Manford
Jason Patterson
Jason Rouse
Jason Wood
Jasper Carrott
Javier Jarquin
Jay Cowle
Jay Foreman
Jay Lafferty
Jay Ryan
Jay Sodagar
Jeff Brighton
Jeff Caldwell
Jeff Green
Jeff Innocent
Jeff Leach
Jeff Stevenson
Jefferson & Whitfield
Jellybean Martinez
Jem Brookes
Jen Brister
Jennifer Saunders
Jenny Eclair
Jeremy Dyson
Jeremy Hardy
Jeremy Hotz
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Sadowitz
Jerry Seinfeld
Jessica Fostekew
Jessie Cave
Jethro
Jim Bowen
Jim Breuer
Jim Campbell
Jim Davidson
Jim Gaffigan
Jim Jefferies
Jim Smallman
Jim Tavare
Jimbo
Jimeoin
Jimmy Bird
Jimmy Carr
Jimmy Cricket
Jimmy McGhie
Jimmy Tarbuck
Jo Brand
Jo Caulfield
Jo Coffey
Jo Dakin
Jo Enright
Jo Romero
Jo Selby
Joan Rivers
Joanna Neary
Joanne Lau
Joe Bor
Joe Bromehead
Joe Cornish
Joe Heenan
Joe K
Joe Lycett
Joe Mercer
Joe Rooney
Joe Rowntree
Joe Wells
Joe Wilkinson
Joel Dommett
Joey Page
John Bishop
John Cleese
John Colleary
John Cooper
John Flint
John Fothergill
John Gavin
John Gillick
John Gordillo
John Kearns
John Lenahan
John Lloyd
John Lynn
John Mann
John Moloney
John Oliver
John Pinette
John Robins
John Ryan
John Scott
John Tansey
John Warburton
John-Luke Roberts
Johnny Armstrong
Johnny Candon
Johnny Vegas
JoJo Smith
JoJo Sutherland
Joleed Farah
Jon Culshaw
Jon Levene
Jon Plowman
Jon Richardson
Jon Torrens
Jonathan Hearn
Jonathan Mayor
Jonathan Paylor
Jonny And The Baptists
Jonny Lennard
Jonny Pelham
Jonny Sweet
Jordan Brookes
Joseph Wilson
Josh Howie
Josh Widdicombe
Joshua Ross
Josie Lawrence
Josie Long
Josie Wicks
Jovanka Steele
Joy Carter
Jude Mahon
Judith Lucy
Julia Clark
Julia Davis
Julia Morris
Julian Clary
Julian Deane
Julie Jepson
Juliet Meyers
June Brown
Junior Simpson
Justin Brett
Justin Moorhouse
Joe Rowntree
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Kempinska's opening night |
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Jongleurs founder Maria Kempinska has opened more than her fair share of comedy nights in her time, but never, until now, a venue under her own name. Kempinska’s is more low-key than some of the more raucous venues her company often operates in: a minimalist basement bar in central London with plain walls and a smallish stage in one corner, aimed at wooing the moneyed City types who work nearby rather than the drinking-and-clubbing crowd. Five Jongleurs circuit regulars, plus compere Geoff Norcott and a couple of musical acts, opened the venue at a preview night last week in front of an invited audience, each performing just eight minutes. We started with Joe Rowntree, who’s one of those comics who does exactly what’s expected, with slightly blokey, slightly rude observational material, delivered confidently. It’s very safe – reassuring for bookers who want to serve up exactly what a casual audience expect stand-ups to talk about, but leaving him struggling to stand out or inject much personality into his set. At one point, though, he does launch into something surprising – a surreal off-the-wall rant that seems to come from nowhere, shaking his routine from its complacency, and even topped with a decent punchline, not just weird for it’s own sake. It’s a nice moment, but sadly out-of character. Built like brick outhouse, Colin Cole grabbed the audience’s attention more conclusively, grabbing lots of laughs from short, punchy gags. Unfortunately, though, they have all either been told before, or so predictable that you could fill in the punchlines yourself. His keen sense of rhythm seems wasted on this pub-gag material – like one of the old-school comedians from the Seventies. His obsession with midgets gives him some easy gags, but he also strays into much less edifying territory, when he simply invites the audience to laugh at the silly way the little people walk. Ha! Ha! Look at the idiots with their disabilities! Over the past couple of years arch cabaret duo Topping and Butch have undergone a makeover, switching garb from S&M to M&S – or, more likely, an even sharper gentleman’s outfitter. Though they’ve lost an obvious gimmick, the smarter look better befits the elegant camp of their song parodies. There’s nothing new in what they are doing, but their cheek and charm is irresistibly winning, with Butch playing up the innocent and Topping the devilish influence leading him astray. Here they wisely chose to lots of short bursts of songs, getting in and out with the gags without outstaying their welcome with a full verse. The one longer number they did tackle, a dirty version of I Dreamed A Dream, did show up it’s formulaic roots a little more – though the ‘prompting’ device was a nice touch, the filth enjoyable and Butch’s singing voice impressive. Susan Boyle, pah! After the showmanship (and an interval), the more relaxed delivery of Ava Vidal draws the audience in, and they hush to listen to her withering put-downs – aimed at her own children. The punchlines are strong and although she knows it’s wrong to say such evil things about her own flesh and blood, she’s not apologetic, but invites the audience to share her guilty pleasure at getting the frustrations off her chest. Finally Kev Orkian, who proved the clear audience favourite of the night – thanks in no small measure to his comedy Armenian accent. Laughs come from his tale about being a poor and naive immigrant, exploited but too simple to realise it. The style is a little old-fashioned – especially in his portrayal of effeminate gay men – but its a nice story, and Orkian’s wide-eyed persona engenders empathy. But his greatest skill is music. He’s a brilliant boogie-woogie piano player, and gets the crowd going with some call-and-response, and a virtuoso demonstration of his quick fingers. It’s not funny – but it’s very entertaining. |
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| Date of live review: Sunday 13th Nov, '11 | |
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Review by Steve Bennett |
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Friday 2nd Feb, '07- | |
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I've just seen Joe at Edinburgh festival and he was brilliant. Great performance with original material based on life experiences. He had me laughing all the way through. Leonie, August 2010 |
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Gigged with him in Brighton and saw his act a couple of times at comic Boom. Original and exciting Anthony Ayton, October 2009 |
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Seen Joe a couple of times recently. Really enjoyed both sets. Plenty of well written material. Would disagree that he is trying too hard to come across as 'wacky' - it's hardly the kind of rubbish the Mighty Boosh come out with! Joe's lines are well constructed and also have a clear point. AJ, August 2009 |
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Awful set at the Comedy Store the other week - seems to try a bit too hard to come across as 'kooky' and 'wacky' - completely lost the audience. ds, July 2009 |
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Ive seen Joe several times and his comedy makes for a refreshing change. Its off beat and very funny. Go see him. he'll make you laugh like a swan. Oli Roberts, August 2007 |
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Saw this guy at Jongleurs on 12/05/2007 and recognised him from when he got booed offstage at the Comedy Club in Leicester Square 2 years previously. He is in such a rush to get through his material that he forgets that there is an audience trying to listen. When you do catch a word you realise that it is not worth listening to anyway. Give it up mate. Amy, May 2007 |
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Excellent comic! Saw him at the Funhouse gig in Nottingham a couple of days ago and he brought the roof down. The audience wanted his babies! He just kept building laughter upon laughter, with a gag that built up enough energy to power an Iranian nuclear plant.! I thoroughly recommend that you go out and see him if you can! If he gets any better...other comics won't have a job left! Darshan, April 2007 |
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I rarely disagree with Chortle reviews, but he is vastly better than this review suggests. Consistently funny. Very good performer and one of the very best closing routines on the circuit that can whip a crowd to a huge high even in the first section of a night. Spiky Mike, April 2007 |
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Where can I see Joe Rowntree next?
| 20:30 - Saturday 18th May, '13 | |
| Venue: | Bath Komedia |
| Prices: | £10 to £18 |
| Comics: | David Hadingham, Joe Rowntree, Andrew Stanley (MC) |
| Info: | Plus: George Zach |
| 20:00 - Saturday 25th May, '13 | |
| Venue: | Reading Highlight |
| Prices: | From £17 |
| Comics: | Joe Rowntree, Tiffany Stevenson |
| Friday 31st May, '13 | |
| Venue: | Nottingham Jongleurs |
| Prices: | £12 |
| Comics: | Adam Crow, Joe Rowntree, Mandy Knight, Stu Who? |
| Saturday 1st Jun, '13 | |
| Venue: | Nottingham Jongleurs |
| Prices: | £15 |
| Comics: | Adam Crow, Joe Rowntree, Mandy Knight, Stu Who? |
| 21:00 - Friday 5th Jul, '13 | |
| Venue: | Birmingham Jongleurs |
| Prices: | From £12 |
| Comics: | Dave Williams, Joe Rowntree, Rudi Lickwood |
| Info: | Plus: Kyle Grooms |
| 21:00 - Saturday 6th Jul, '13 | |
| Venue: | Birmingham Jongleurs |
| Prices: | From £12 |
| Comics: | Dave Williams, Joe Rowntree, Rudi Lickwood |
| Info: | Plus: Kyle Grooms |
| 21:00 - Saturday 20th Jul, '13 | |
| Venue: | Croydon Jongleurs |
| Prices: | Call for prices |
| Comics: | Daliso Chaponda, Joe Rowntree, Rob Collins |
| 20:00 - Thursday 5th Sep, '13 | |
| Venue: | Cardiff Glee Club |
| Prices: | Adult - £9.50, Student - £6.00 |
| Comics: | |
| 20:30 - Friday 6th Sep, '13 | |
| Venue: | Cardiff Glee Club |
| Prices: | Adult - £15.00, Student - £6.50 |
| Comics: | |
| 20:30 - Saturday 7th Sep, '13 | |
| Venue: | Cardiff Glee Club |
| Prices: | Adult - £17.50 |
| Comics: | |
| 20:30 - Saturday 21st Sep, '13 | |
| Venue: | Oxford Glee |
| Prices: | Adult - £14.50, Student - £5.00 |
| Comics: | |

Cockburn & Rowntree: 28 Days Of Laughter
Joe Rowntree: Peaceful Worrier
Edinburgh Fringe 2011
AAA Stand--Up 2011
