Comics aim for sickest show

A group of Scottish stand-ups are getting together to produce the most offensive shows they can.

The idea is to give a platform for comics to tell sick gags, safe in the knowledge the audience knew what they were letting themselves in for.

Last month, a trial of the show, called Wild Wednesdays, proved a reasonable success, and now organisers are planning more.

Acts on that first show included Alf Ghani: the Taliban's favourite comic, a routine from comic Allan Miller (pictured) in the guise of Fred West ("it's nice to be out, cementing relations... ") and other stand-ups, including Steven Dick, Teddy and Bruce Devlin performing their most outrageous stuff.

Teddy said: "The show went pretty well, though obviously its intention was to be partly hit and miss Hopefully the next show will have a pretty different line-up to avoid repetition."

Jason Hall, comedy critic of the Edinburgh Evening News, said: "Most of the depravity centred on sex rather than any hard-hitting viewpoints on September 11th, for example. That said, there were a few nods in this direction."

"Inevitably, there were a few teething troubles, but enough quality to balance this out. Above all, it's just nice to know that a show like this exists. If comedyis to continue to evolve, it's shows like this that will help make it happen."

Teddy is now looking for off-the-wall open spots, or more established acts who want to run out their darkest material. (Email him)

"Ideal topics are terminal illnesses, serial killers, war or anything else - though we are still looking for funny," he added.

The next show is scheduled for Wednesday February 6 at The Stand in Edinburgh.

Published: 15 Jan 2002