A load of Spiel: a night of free comedy

Stand-up comedian Stewart Lee

Thursday 3 June  sees the return of Spiel — a night of free comedy at the Hobby Horse.

Headlining is Stewart Lee, previewing material for his upcoming Edinburgh show and the second series of his Comedy Vehicle on BBC2.

Supporting him is his wife Bridget Christie. She will also be previewing her Edinburgh show as A Ant, the scene’s top ant comedian.

There will also be music from ukelele-playing comic Helen Arney of the London Air Accordion Society and the Segue Sisters performing close-harmony covers of tunes from the Andrews Sisters to Nirvana.

Stewart Lee

Stewart Lee began stand-up at the age of 20 in 1988, winning the Hackney Empire new act of the year award in 1990.

In the 1990s he contributed to various BBC Radio comedy shows, including Fist of Fun and On The Hour, with Steve Coogan and Chris Morris, performed as a stand-up almost nightly on the London circuit, and co-created four series for BBC2 with Richard Herring.

Stewart’s three stand-up shows, 2004’s Stand-Up Comedian, 2005’s 90’s Comedian and 2007’s 41st Best Stand-Up Ever, gradually built his live audience and contributed to BBC2’s decision to commission his 2009 series, Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle.

This was followed by a new stand-up show, If You Prefer A Milder Comedian Please Ask For One (2009), and a new series of Comedy Vehicle is due in 2011.

“One of the top three or four living stand-ups” Time Out

Bridget Christie

Bridget Christie is a regular on the sketch and stand-up circuit, performing as both herself and A Ant, the circuit’s top ant comedian.

Her 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Edinburgh shows have been comedy picks in the Metro, The Guardian, The Times, The Stage and The Scotsman.

Bridget has just finished a small UK tour of her last Edinburgh show, My Daily Mail Hell, and is now running in her 5th consecutive solo Edinburgh show, A Ant.

She currently has TV and radio projects in development and earlier this year starred in Andy Zaltzman’s Radio 4 show, The History of the Third Millennium Series 1 of 100, playing herself.

“Like watching a young Frances De La Tour” (Barry Cryer)

“Real class” (Time Out)

Helen Arney sings unusually funny, slightly skewy songs, usually with a piano or a ukulele in tow.

August 2009 saw Helen perform her first solo Edinburgh Fringe show: the excessively titled 45 minute extravaganza of music and words known as “8+1/2 songs about love (and other myths)”.

The List gave it four stars and said: “Charming, witty and warm, with great one-liners… it’s like spending an evening with a funny, interesting, quirky friend” and Groggy Squirrel said, “If you need a break from the big loud and shouty stuff, then this will warm your heart.”

Helen hosts her own monthly lo-fi comedy night in London, consistently recommended by Time Out and London is Funny, and oddly named “The London Air-Accordion Society”.

“Elfin, charming and captivating… intelligently funny…” (BBC Club)

“Geeky” (Time Out)

The Segue Sisters

The Segue Sisters are a thee part harmony comedy singing group comprising Charlotte Jo Hanbury, Carrie Marx, and Kerrie Fairclough. They cover all your favourites from Nirvana’s ‘Rape Me’ to The Andrews Sisters ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy‘.

Spike Spiegel, promoter of Kabarett Spielraum, said, “It’s rare to see a bill of this quality on a night of free comedy. We’re looking forward to a great night and hope to see lots of you there.”

The Hobby Horse is at 281 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8AS.

Doors will open at 7.30pm on Thursday 3 June and the bar will be open until midnight.

Entry is free.

Nearest tubes are Old Street and Liverpool Street.

Nearest overground is Haggerston.

Buses 67, 109, 242, and 243 stop outside the venue (Laburnum Street stop).