Tania Edwards
TanyaLee Davis
Tara Flynn
Tatiana Ostrakova
Teddy
Terry Alderton
Terry Frisby
Terry Saunders
Tez Ilyas
Thankless Child
The 1 Like Fish
Thom Tuck
Three Englishmen
Tiernan Douieb
Tiffany Stevenson
Tig Notaro
Tim Bradbury
Tim Clark
Tim Craven
Tim FitzHigham
Tim Key
Tim Minchin
Tim Nutt
Tim Rivett
Tim Shishodia
Tim Vine
Tina C
Toby Caldwell
Toby Foster
Toby Hadoke
Toby Whithouse
Todd Barry
Tom Allen
Tom Basden
Tom Bell
Tom Binns
Tom Clutterbuck
Tom Craine
Tom Davis
Tom Deacon
Tom Gleeson
Tom Goodliffe
Tom Price
Tom Rhodes
Tom Rosenthal
Tom Stade
Tom Toal
Tom Wrigglesworth
Tomi Walamies
Tommy Campbell
Tommy Cooper
Tommy Nicholson
Tommy Rowson
Tommy Tiernan
Tony Burgess
Tony Cowards
Tony Dunn
Tony Gerrard
Tony Hendriks
Tony Law
Tony Richardson
Tony Tinman
Tony Vino
Topping & Butch
Trevor Crook
Trevor Lock
Two Episodes Of MASH
Toby Hadoke
|
Stand-up, and promoter of Manchester's XS Malarkey club, for which he won the Chortle Award for best offstage contribution in 2008 |
|
XS Malarkey, Nov 1, 2011 |
|
![]() XS Malarkey, by overwhelming consensus Manchester’s best independent comedy club, has not long settled into its new home in a disused chapel in the studenty Fallowfields part of town. It feels like an appropriate site, with a quirky, homespun ‘knit-your-own-organic-teabag’ atmosphere, but with enough professionalism to ensure sound, light and audience comfort is all just right. The main thing that makes the night, though, is resident compere Toby Hadoke, who treats the paying punters like friends popping round his house for a chat – trying out new material with varying shades of success, but primarily creating at ambiance of relaxed, respectful bonhomie that has defined the club over the years. He plays up the attitude of a mildly irascible middle-aged man, but he’s someone who just knows what he likes rather than being overtly angry at the world. He stresses the differences between XS and more corporate clubs, berating himself for the odd double entendre, though, of course, not holding back from doing them. It builds up a supportive clique, and never more so than the section where he reluctantly handed out cheap prizes. By refusing to play along to the cheesiness of the idea, it becomes hilarious in its casualness. Opening act was Javier Jarquin, a half-Latino, half-Chinese Kiwi. Cue predictable racist stereotypes about each half of his heritage and how they might conflict – a predictable, by-the-book approach he never really got beyond. He can sometimes wring good jokes out of the over-used formula, though, as his bit about British store names attests, and he’s a robust, confident performer – perhaps learned in his other professional life as a magician. It all made for a solid, if uninspiring, set. Andrew McGowan is a Robbie Williams impersonator in the Rochdale area, clearly taking advantage of XS’s genuinely open ‘open mic’ policy to make his first moves into comedy. But he has a very restricted outlook of what modern stand-up entails. Generic jokes about Josef Fritzl and Fred West abound, with fast-decreasing returns, and when he told a gag about Jedward being ‘less popular than a gypsy’ you could hear a pin drop, as the last vestiges of support evaporated. Add flabby set-ups and old pub gags into the mix, and you have someone who’s still got a lot to learn about the comedy basics. Ruth E Cockburn is an intriguing personality, adept and in control on stage but apparently racked by self-doubt and klutziness in real life. Her embarrassing stories have the ring of truth to them that makes the self-deprecation really work, and there are a good number of solid jokes here. She’s not yet the finished article, as the different elements of her comedy and personality don’t always fit well together, but she’s eminently watchable, sympathetically flawed and quirky enough to be interesting. However, the closing song – ‘You’re Girlfriend’s A Minger’ – is old-fashioned and, frankly, a little dull. The rest of the set suggests she is better than this, and certainly has the potential to be a lot better. Finally, late-booking headliner Chris Cairns, a large friendly Scouser who has so many years of experience in the business that he knows how to hold the room in rapt attention. He needs to, as well, as his pace is incredibly slow, and he spends a lot of time talking around a subject before settling on its punchline. The payoffs are usually strong, but not really worth the wait, which adds nothing to the tension. The occasional turn of phrase nicely highlights the precise mundanity of his middle-aged, lazy life, but again he doesn’t exploit them particularly well, meandering around the subject with little concern where the next punchline might be. There’s definitely the feeling that he’s a comic who’s found his place on the circuit and is now doing the least he needs to do to get by. But with so many hungrier comedians coming up behind, such complacency doesn’t seem nearly enough. |
|
| Date of live review: Wednesday 2nd Nov, '11 | |
|
Review by Steve Bennett |
|
|
Wednesday 2nd Nov, '11- Manchester XS Malarkey | |
|
Saturday 7th Aug, '10- | |
|
Wednesday 21st Oct, '09- Manchester XS Malarkey | |
|
Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2006 - | |
|
Show - Misc live shows - Monday 23rd Oct, '06- | |
|
Another excellent evening at XS Malarkey last night, brilliantly compered by Toby who came out with some fantastic lines (the one involving drama students and millinery being my favourite). And note to self - must read Gulliver's Travels! Dave, October 2011 |
|
Brilliantly funny as the compare of XS Malarkey. Kerri Leigh, March 2011 |
|
Having watched Moths Ate My 'Doctor Who' Scarf earlier this year, I was greatly excited about getting the opportunity to see Toby Hadoke's follow up show, and was not disappointed. This is a heartfelt look at how it was as a thirty-something growing up watching the best television of its time. Through Toby's childhood memories, the audience gets to live those moments again when we would sit in front of the TV after escaping from school for another day and taking in the adventures of Zammo and friends, and pressing our eyes against the screen to catch site of our contributions to Tony Hart. But, worry not, those young 'uns out there, because this show will appeal to you as much as it will of people of a certain age, Toby has a gift of making all his material relatable to his entire audience. But even more than reminding us of the TV days of years gone by, Toby reflects on the difficulties in growing up a little different, and how TV (and primarily the BBC) relates to how we see the world. Toby provides a compelling argument against all the naysayers who continue to attack the BBC. . You'll leave the show feeling pumped, contented and ready to burn any copies of the Daily Mail or Sun that you find in the street. I apologise in advance for any misplaced apostrophes. Andrew McKie, August 2010 |
|
Toby Hadoke is an absolute gem! His weekly night at XS Malarkey in Manchester is a must and, unlike a few other nights in Manchester, provides a supportive atmosphere for the comedians (there is rarely a heckle) and is also a bargain. Hadoke as a compere engages wonderfully with crowd and makes you feel truly at home. On top of that, he manages to draw in some of the best comedy talent around (Robin Ince and John Gordillo have both made appearances this year). Toby Hadoke's Moths ate My Doctor Who Scarf' is excellent. A heartfelt look at the influence of the (previously) much lampooned series on his life and an education to those who don't know, as to why the show is so much better than some of its old press may suggest. Interwoven with this are numerous top gags and an insight into Toby's relationship with his son (which almost brings a tear to the eye! See Jason Cook's shows for similar). Alex, June 2008 |
Where can I see Toby Hadoke next?
| 19:30 - Sunday 12th Feb, '12 | |
| Venue: | Manchester Comedy Store |
| Prices: | £3 |
| Comics: | Toby Hadoke |
| Info: | New Stuff |
| 20:30 - Tuesday 14th Feb, '12 | |
| Venue: | Manchester XS Malarkey |
| Prices: | £5 |
| Comics: | Gary Delaney, Iain Stirling, Ray Kane, Toby Hadoke (MC) |
| Info: | Plus: Lewis Costello |
| 20:30 - Wednesday 15th Feb, '12 | |
| Venue: | 99 Club Leicester Square |
| Prices: | £12 |
| Comics: | Hal Cruttenden, James Acaster, Josh Widdicombe, Toby Hadoke (MC) |
| 20:30 - Tuesday 21st Feb, '12 | |
| Venue: | Manchester XS Malarkey |
| Prices: | £5 |
| Comics: | Bobby Mair, Hayley Ellis, Luke Benson, Toby Hadoke (MC) |
| 20:30 - Wednesday 22nd Feb, '12 | |
| Venue: | 99 Club Leicester Square |
| Prices: | £12 |
| Comics: | Inder Manocha, James Acaster, Josh Howie, Toby Hadoke (MC) |
| 19:30 - Sunday 26th Feb, '12 | |
| Venue: | Manchester Comedy Store |
| Prices: | £3 |
| Comics: | Toby Hadoke (MC) |
| Info: | New Stuff |
| 20:30 - Tuesday 28th Feb, '12 | |
| Venue: | Manchester XS Malarkey |
| Prices: | £5 |
| Comics: | Julian Deane, Lucy Beaumont, Toby Hadoke (MC) |
| Info: | Plus: Peter Marshall |
| 20:30 - Wednesday 29th Feb, '12 | |
| Venue: | 99 Club Leicester Square |
| Prices: | £12 |
| Comics: | Hal Cruttenden, Joe Bor, Sol Bernstein, Toby Hadoke (MC) |
| 20:30 - Tuesday 6th Mar, '12 | |
| Venue: | Manchester XS Malarkey |
| Prices: | £5 |
| Comics: | Helen Arney, Laura Carr, Toby Hadoke (MC) |
| Info: | Plus: Christian Manley |
| 19:30 - Sunday 11th Mar, '12 | |
| Venue: | Manchester Comedy Store |
| Prices: | £3 |
| Comics: | Toby Hadoke (MC) |
| Info: | New Stuff |
| 20:30 - Tuesday 13th Mar, '12 | |
| Venue: | Manchester XS Malarkey |
| Prices: | £5 |
| Comics: | Benny Boot, Colin Owens, Pat Burtscher, Toby Hadoke |
| 20:30 - Friday 16th Mar, '12 | |
| Venue: | Hereford Courtyard Theatre |
| Prices: | £6 |
| Comics: | Jared Hardy, Sam Gore, Toby Hadoke |
| 20:15 - Saturday 17th Mar, '12 | |
| Venue: | Highlight Watford |
| Prices: | From £15 |
| Comics: | Simon Bligh, Toby Hadoke |
| Info: | Plus: Danny McLaughlin |
| 20:30 - Tuesday 20th Mar, '12 | |
| Venue: | Manchester XS Malarkey |
| Prices: | £5 |
| Comics: | Ray Bradshaw, Sean Moran, Toby Hadoke (MC) |
| Info: | Plus: Sheeebeast vs the Masked McGee |
| 20:30 - Tuesday 27th Mar, '12 | |
| Venue: | Manchester XS Malarkey |
| Prices: | £5 |
| Comics: | Danny Deegan, Toby Hadoke (MC) |
| Info: | Plus: Rick Hulse, Dan McKee |
| 20:30 - Tuesday 3rd Apr, '12 | |
| Venue: | Manchester XS Malarkey |
| Prices: | £5 |
| Comics: | Paul Savage, Toby Hadoke (MC) |
| Info: | Plus: Phil Chapman, Jay Hampson |
| 20:15 - Saturday 26th May, '12 | |
| Venue: | Wigan Frog & Bucket |
| Prices: | £13 (£10 concs) |
| Comics: | Mike Newall, Phil Walker, Sam Avery, Toby Hadoke (MC) |

Gag Reflex Management
34 Northbank Gardens
Manchester
M19 1BE
contact by email
Office: 0161 432 9836
Mobile: 07974 685 267
Moths Ate My Dr Who Scarf
Toby Hadoke's 2006 Edinburgh show, released as a full cast recording by the BBC.
Toby Hadoke: Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf
Edinburgh Fringe 2010
Toby Hadoke: Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf [Edinburgh 2010]
Toby Hadoke: Now I Know My BBC
Misc live shows
Unbroadcastable Radio Show

