Purple Cactuscactus » Purple Cactus

Luke Honnoraty

cactus — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 09:46:01 +0000

Luke’s comedy career began with a bang when he won Southwest New Act of the Year in 2010 – on his 3rd ever gig!

The North Devon Stand Up is a confident, engaging performer whose skilled story telling is sure to captivate any crowd and which has ensured he continues to be the main stage MC for Oceanfest and the MC for the comedy stage at Boardmasters Festival.

Luke’s observational comedy which focuses on parenting and relationships, is always delivered with a cheeky but charismatic style, and made him Katherine Ryan’s choice of tour support for her UK tour. He then went on to support Joel Dommet’s tour in 2017 and and Lloyd Griffith on this UK tour 2017, 2018 and 2019.

A truly natural and gifted comedian and Presenter of the Comedy Special for BBC Radio Devon, Luke makes you feel most comfortable talking about the most uncomfortable subjects; the way in which he communicates such topics whilst making you fall further in love with his boyish charm is all part of the Honnoraty experience.

Stephanie Laing

cactus — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 11:36:31 +0000

Goofy and peculiar, Stephanie Laing’s comedy is partway between the needy oddness of Maria Bamford and the upbeat affability of Josie Long. Her material is a mix of silliness, filth and unusual observations, underpinned by a disarming honesty which makes her seem charmingly vulnerable.

Stephanie started performing in April 2007 on the Scottish comedy circuit. She had shows at the Edinburgh Festival in 2014 and 2015, and has performed at The Stand, The Comedy Store, The Comedy Cafe, Crack Comedy, Downstairs at The King’s Head, Mirth Control, Hilarity Bites, Eminent Banter and XS Malarkey, among others. She was a finalist in the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year 2015. She is now based in Manchester.

Jon Pearson

cactus — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 11:12:48 +0000

Jon began standup comedy in 2010, with his first performance at Birmingham’s Highlight Comedy Club.

Two successful Edinburgh shows later,

and 5 years working the UK comedy circuit, Jon is now regularly found at the biggest and best comedy clubs across the UK including The Glee Club, The Comedy Store and Jongleurs, both as an act and a compere.

His 2015 Daves Leicester Comedy Festival show, Jon Pearson: Tall Order, sold out at Melton Theatre within 2 weeks of the tickets going on sale.
Jon’s laid back storytelling has audiences hanging on his every word. With tales based around his own life experiences, his anecdotes are relatable and certain to have people in hysterics.

Ola The Comedian

cactus — Wed, 19 May 2021 09:17:25 +0000

Ola has appeared on E4’s 8 out of 10 Cats, ITV2’s Plebs, Comedy Central, London Live, ITV4and MTV Base and written for BBCR4’s The Now Show, The News Quiz and Nathan Caton’s Can’t Tell Me Nothing. He performs all over the UK and as far afield as the European Continent and Dubai. Young, driven and hugely talented, Ola is a stand-up comedian, writer and actor with natural originality and enviable stage presence.

Finalist in the FHM Search for A Stand Up Hero, broadcast on ITV4, Ola is renowned for his intelligent, edgy humour. As a core cast member and writer of the “Sniggers With Attitude” pilot, for London Live, Ola has displayed a talent for sketch comedy as well as stand-up comedy on The Comedy Store on Comedy Central.

Ola is the creator of the highly successful live concept “Sunday Service” winning him fans all over London’s comedy scene. Ola’s most recent special, “The Comedian and His Future Wife“, received 5-stars at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and is now available on DVD and online download.

Noel James

cactus — Tue, 18 May 2021 07:59:50 +0000

I have been treading the boards – some would say walking the plank – for twenty-five years. An experienced, very original, comedian from Swansea, Wales, who has played – and often headlined – most comedy clubs in the UK including Glee Clubs, Banana Cabaret, Hyena, The Stand, Up The Creek, Frog and Bucket, Baby Blue, and more.

As well as club gigs I’ve performed at major festivals, and gigs abroad in places like Dubai, Shanghai, Berlin, Cape Town and Canada.

I’ve done sketch shows on BBC Radio Wales, and various TV comedy and acting roles in both English and Welsh.

I am not a gratuitously rude comic. When I’m on stage I come alive and my goal is to literally cheer everyone up, if I can.

My material is highly original, cerebral, with some wordplay; some people think it’s clever but at the same time it has a wide appeal. I can also perform in my mother tongue, the Welsh language.

Catherine Bohart

cactus — Tue, 04 May 2021 09:45:49 +0000

Catherine began performing stand-up in 2015 and has enjoyed a rapid rise through the ranks of UK and Irish comedy, becoming a finalist in both the BBC New Comedy Awards and Funny Women the very next year.

2016 also saw Catherine and fellow comic Cally Beaton perform their show Catcall for a full run at the Edinburgh Fringe, enjoying packed houses and stellar reviews. The following August, Catherine joined the line-up of the prestigious Pleasance Comedy Reserve.

Catherine took her debut solo show, Immaculate, to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018. Immaculate received widespread acclaim, with The Times describing it as “the sort of perfectly structured Edinburgh debut you always hope for and rarely get to see.” Catherine returned to the festival in 2019 with her second hour-long show, Lemon. It enjoyed a month of sold-out performances and excellent reviews before being brought to jam-packed audiences at London’s Soho Theatre. Catherine will tour Lemon in the UK in 2021.

Catherine has also taken her talents overseas. Spring 2019 saw Catherine chosen to join the line-up for New Order, which showcases the best in original and trendsetting comedy at Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Catherine’s burgeoning broadcasting career has seen her appear on BBC2′s Mock the Week, E4’s 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Comedy Central UK’s Roast Battle, BBC2′s Funny Festival Live, Comedy Central’s Guessable?, ITV2’s The Stand Up Sketch Show, Dave’s Jon Richardson: Ultimate Worrier, Celebrity House of Games, Pointless Celebrities, The Blame Game and as a regular correspondent on BBC2’s The Mash Report. Catherine has written material for Comedy Central’s Guessable, BBC shows The Now Show, The News Quiz, Newsjack and Frankie Boyle’s New World Order and E4’sSavage Socials.

Catherine co-hosts her own weekly podcast “You’ll Do” with fellow comedian Sarah Keyworth. You’ll Do is a podcast that challenges the notion of #couplesgoals and explores what it really takes to be in a relationship and make love work. You’ll do is available wherever you get your podcasts.

Catherine hosts a weekly online gig called Gigless every Thursday which aims to provide a space for comedians to try out new material during lockdown. All of the funds are divided evenly between performers. The gig has won a JOE.ie Award for Best Online Show.

She has co-hosted BBC Radio 4 Extra Comedy Club with Arthur Smith, hosted a series of Funny From the Fringe for BBC Radio 4 Extra and was a guest on Reasons To Be Cheerful with Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd. In addition, Catherine was named The Times Comedy Face To Watch for 2019 and featured on the BBC New Talent Hotlist for 2017.

Catherine is also a trained actor, having studied an MA in Acting for Screen at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

“The sort of perfectly structured Edinburgh debut you always hope for and rarely get to see.”
- The Times

”Packed full of laughs… she’s destined for great things.”
- The Herald

”A star in the making.”
- The Skinny

”A winning mixture of self-deprecation and confidence.”
- Beyond The Joke

”A supremely natural quality about her delivery.”
- The List

”Pretty much the perfect comedy package”

- Bruce Dessau, Beyondthejoke

Mark Walker

cactus — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 10:56:11 +0000

Mark Walker is a hoot, a honk, a blast! He delivers a captivating performance that is engaging, dynamic and packed with a hundred imaginary special effects.

Mark has three solo Edinburgh shows to his credit as well as numerous television appearances, he has been a headline act on the London and indeed the UK comedy circuit for over 15 years, this is a man not to be missed.

Larry Dean

cactus — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 10:59:23 +0000

Larry was crowned Scottish Comedian Of The Year when he was 23, and since then his star has continued to rise. His 2015 debut Edinburgh Fringe show Out Now! received widespread critical acclaim and a nomination for the Foster’s Comedy Award for Best Newcomer. Larry brought the show for a run of packed-out performances at London’s Soho Theatre and on to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival where he was one of the standout acts on the Allstars Supershow Opening Night Gala.

In 2016, Larry was invited to join the line up on Laugh Out Loud with Kevin Hart at the prestigious Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival. He then returned to Edinburgh with Farcissist, for which he won the Amused Moose Comedy Award for Best Show. Larry subsequently took Farcissist on a UK-wide tour and for a run at the 2017 Melbourne Comedy Festival. Fandan, Larry’s next show, enjoyed a sold-out run at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe and became one of the British Comedy Guide’s Top 10 Best Reviewed Shows. Larry also performed the show at Christchurch Buskers Festival and Perth Fringeworld in February 2018 ahead of a sold-out UK tour and a stint at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Later in 2018, Larry took new show Bampot to the Edinburgh Fringe, receiving another raft of four and five star reviews and a nomination for Best Show in the Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Bampot then enjoyed a tour of packed out houses across the UK and Ireland.

Alongside his live work, Larry’s broadcasting career continues to go from strength to strength. He has performed on BBC1’s Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, BBC2’s Live at the Apollo and Mock The Week and Comedy Central UK’s Roast Battle. Larry has also appeared twice on BBC Presents: Best of the Edinburgh Festival, perfomed stand-up on Live From the Comedy Store for Comedy Central UK and been on ITV2’s Elevenish and BBC Radio 4’s Don’t Make Me Laugh.

One of the most honest, moving and incredibly funny sets I’ve seen in a very long time.
The Herald ★★★★★

Extremely funny… if he continues to evolve at this pace he seems destined to become a household name.
Telegraph ★★★★

A national treasure.
Chortle ★★★★

Unexpected and excellent
The Sunday Times ★★★★

Has the easy charm of an arena comic and the high joke rate too
The Guardian

Superb timing… deserves much success
The Daily Mirror ★★★★

One of the brightest rising stars
The Metro

Fascinatingly funny…I’m sure Dean will be winning other awards in the future
The Evening Standard

Sharp and unexpected lines…an irresistible chutzpah
Chortle

The audience lap up his cheeky-chappie shtick
The Guardian

I doubt it’ll be too long before he’s being snapped up for countless panel games like Mock the Week and 8 Out of 10 Cats.
The Metro

Dean is unmissable, with razor-sharp gags and precise timing, proving that he is one to watch in years to come.
Ed Fest Mag ★★★★★

Wholly unique, funny comedy… Dean is a fantastic comic
Adelaide Fringe

Abigoliah Schamaun

cactus — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 10:46:41 +0000

A product of her New York stand up roots; frank, funny, and unapologetic. She first showed her face in the UK comedy scene when she became a finalist in the Funny Women Comedy Awards 2010 and has grown a Edinburgh Fringe following coming back yearly ever since. She moved to London in 2014 and has become a regular on the circuit. She was named “One to Watch” at Leicester Comedy festival 2017 and The List named her “Top 5 Up and Coming Female Comedians”

As the only yoga instructor/comedy in comedy Abigoliah presents her always hilarious comedy with an open heart chakra. Bringing her audience into her world with the warmth and excitement like a friend who you haven’t seen in a while.

Her comedy extends past the stage as she was nominated in 2016 for a Malcom Hardee “Cunning Stunt Award” for buying an incredible amount of outside advertising and then plastering them with fake reviews poking fun at the usefulness of the critics words.

She has been featured on Channel 5′s Outrageously Funny Comedy, BBC Radio 4 Extra, and The Guilty Feminist Podcast with Deborah Francis-White. She also appeared in Comedy Central’s season 2 of I Live with Models and has opened for Jim Norton, Kyle Kinane, and Gad Emelah.

“Bayley’s material surprises with inspired and sparkling punchlines…with comic timing that is rarely less than brilliant. An assured performer who doesn’t have much trouble getting audiences laughing.” - Chortle

“I saw her recently and she blew my socks off. She doesn’t dwell too much on “lady issues”. Funny in her own right, she was brilliant, clever and she’s gonna be huge.” BBC Online.

“Likeable headstrong persona- packing a considerable performing punch.” The List

“the night’s star attraction” Tamworth Herald

“Karen is one of the most consistently hilarious comedians I have had the pleasure of working with . She’s a sharp writer and an unflappable compère, able to cajole any room with her warm audience interaction and precise intelligent gags, ” Joe Lycett

Geoff Boyz

cactus — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 14:09:02 +0000

Scottish comedian and impressionist, Geoff Boyz “has established himself as one of the most versatile comedians on the circuit” ID Magazine

Geoff first made his debut at the Edinburgh Fringe back in the 90’s where he hosted Best of Scottish Comedy. He followed that up with his solo stand-up show, Why? and Noises and Other Announcements, which were both a huge hit. Since then, he has continued to be in high demand on the stand-up and corporate circuits. In recent years, Geoff has toured in Australia, playing in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. He was one of the first comedians to perform in China, and has also played in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai as well as, Parker’s Comedy & Jive in South Africa. When he’s not travelling the world or playing up and down the UK, Geoff performs on cruise ships in front of thousands of people.

Geoff has worked widely across TV. He was the face of various TV commercials, such as Tennent’s Larger. He’s also worked as a stand-up and studio host for shows including Dead Ringers, This Morning, They Think It’s All Over, Truth or Dare and Live at the Comedy Store, and also performed on Live At Jongleurs and Talking Telephone Numbers. He also voiced the character of Kickstart The Dog in the pilot animation TV series, Ogri. On radio he has appeared on shows such as The Live Stand Up Showand Fantastic Voyage as well as Colin (BBC Radio 2), which he also co-wrote.

“Fast and very funny” GQ Magazine

“Boyz is a good raconteur and his charisma weaved its magic on the audience.” Chortle