The Making of Monsters – AN UPDATE
News of the World is closing? Hooray! Forget that rubbish and read about which writer/director of Love Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral is backing Monsters! Find out which comedians are expected to cameo in this August’s talk-about show Monsters: A History of Villainy! (And read about all the things that are going tits up!)
First the Bad News
Two members pull out in shock horror!
Jesus, okay, where to start. So, I got in these two awesome character comedians Gemma Whelan and Mark Davison. Both first class! However, a couple of weeks ago they both pulled out of the show within a few days of each other. One got offered a part in a feature film, the other in a BBC3 comedy pilot/taster. Great for them and I am genuinely pleased, but as well thinking “oh nice, good work!” I also thought “OH SHHHHHHIIITTT!”.
Lovely Stu is also struggling to find time around previews for his other Edinburgh show, so rehearsing/meeting is going to be tough as well. Much brown stuff hitting the proverbial fan.
No definite flat, no props, no rehearsals and only 1 preview booked SO FAR…
Yeah! I’m struggling to nail down a definite place to stay for the festival AND we’ve had zero rehearsals or previews for the show with exactly 1 month to go. We do have a preview however on July 30th in Balham at the mini-festival. It’s in the afternoon at The Bedford in the Ballroom at 11.50-12.50. COME ALONG. Need to book more previews though! If you can help, get in touch!
Now some Good News
Matt Highton joins Monsters
Success. Lost two members but gained one. Joining me and Stuart Laws is quirky and likeable funnyman Matt Highton who’s performing his new hour long show ‘Shadowed Vagary’ at Just the Tonic. I saw him perform a preview in Camden and thought he’d make a smashing Monster and gladly he agreed to join the team. Lovely. Here he is:
Celebrity Patrons Fund Show!
I can’t say who but you can guess (Britain’s foremost comedy movie writer and Comic Relief patron) has contributed some funds to help MONSTERS. Awesome! He joins other secret celebrity patrons rumours, alleged to be Matt Lucas and Coldplay which I can neither confirm not deny.
Bob meets Brian Blessed!
As you’ll see from the promotional clip above, I recorded Brian Blessed. Brilliant bloke! Fascinating, funny and more than a bit bonkers, he’s voicing sketches for the show where he’ll be playing God. Touchingly, as he sat in the sound booth he said:
“F*CKING great writing! Ah, it’s terrific!”
Genuine quote. How lovely, right? He said he wants to come up and see the show too, so that’ll be fun. By the way, big thanks to Dave Whyte who did the animation and to the BBC who let me record the voice over there. Good lads, the lot of ya!
Star-studded Guest Lineup!
Loads of cool people have agreed to guest cameo in the show which is brilliant! I’m trying to secure more people all the time but have a look at my GIGS page to see who is guesting on which day thus far. Craig Campbell (Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow). Nick Helm (Russell Howard’s Good News), Joe Lycett (BBC’s Epic Win), Ian Smith & Joel Dommett (BBC’s Popatron) are just a few of the people who have agreed. Amaze-balls!
Neither good nor bad news
Monsters in Format Change Romp
The show has taken on a slightly different format which I won’t go too much into now. But practically, given time constraints, it’s taking on a quirky debate forum feel rather than back-to-back sketches.
$823 raised, More needed, Donate Today!
I’ve raised $823 of the $2000 target, just under half way with 12 days to go, which is great also not enough yet, obviously. Please DONATE and become a PATRON folks! You can become a credited PRODUCER for just $30! To donate go to:
http://www.indiegogo.com/Monsters-A-History-of-Villainy
Or click here:
SO yeah. It’s proving an epic undertaking putting on a show. With one month to go, expect a crazy, fun and endearingly chaotic performance okay? It’ll be very or at least somewhat LOL, promise. What do you reckon? You gonna get on board? Unleash the Monster in you!