GUT ROCKING COMEDY CLUB UPSTAIRS AT edt starring John Williams & Barry from Watford

Event information

Gut Rocking is proud to present its Edinburgh Preview season with two shows that are sure to take Scotland by storm in August this year. These shows are already amassing critical acclaim and attention in London.

Take a look to see what we've got in store:

PREVIEW ONE: JOHN WILLIAMS

My Son's Not Rainman
A one man show by John Williams. Directed by Anna Crilly.


John is a forty one year old comedian and single dad. 
His son is eleven years old and autistic ... he isn't a genius. His only special power is making his dad laugh. A lot. 


This is their story.



'My Son's Not Rainman' is the real life tale of one man bringing up a child with autism. It's a story of magic trains, lego, power rangers, the number 75 bus and life in a chaotic world neither of them will ever really understand. Funny and tender, ultimately it's just a celebration of what it truly means to be different.


John Williams is a writer and regular on the UK comedy circuit (Laughing Horse New Act of the Year Finalist, Jokers' Joker of the Year). 
He trained at Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama until they chucked him out. He is a full-time single dad. This is his first solo show.


For further information and to read the blog that accompanies this incredible show, please visit www.mysonsnotrainman.com

Some recent audience feedback:

"The best show I've seen in moons ... Hilarious and heartwarming in equal measure"

"A fantastic show, autism awareness with a laugh! Funny, moving and will challenge perceptions. So lovely!"
"It was amazing, I was on the edge of crying and laughing all 55 minutes. I've never seen anything like that"

twitter.com/autistic_kid
facebook.com/mysonsnotrainman
www.mysonsnotrainman.com

Read what one audience member wrote to John after one of his shows- completely unsolicited- very moving!

Hello John
I dragged the wife over to Streatham last night to see the show - she hates going out on Sundays and must've said at least 5 times "it'd better be good". Well it wasn't. Good, I mean.

The show is brilliant: a work of true genius. You blend humour, pathos and honesty in much the same way I imagine Michelin-starred chefs tweak the ingredients of their finest dishes to surprise and delight diners. Except, while they're poncing around with reductions, deconstructions and unpronounceable French preparation methods, you serve up your humorous family anecdotes with a refreshing lack of verbose political correctness in an unpretentious northern accent. The wife says "thanks, John".

We have a 12 year old with Aspergers; unfortunately for him he's become so adept at managing his condition and adapting to his surroundings that his stupid dad forgets he has Aspergers and shouts at him when he occasionally interprets things literally or answers rhetorical questions when he's being told off.

I love 'My Son's Not Rainman'. I love the fact that the show (and the blog) makes me stop and think about everyday situations I have long since stopped giving a second thought to. Which might eventually make My Boy a fan of yours!

Best of luck with the show in Edinburgh. I'm quite sure it'll be the huge success it deserves to be. And keep up the great work on the blog, which the wife and I now read religiously.

cheers
Martin


PREVIEW TWO: BARRY FROM WATFORD

82 year old Barry from Watford was first brought to public consciousness when he became a cult star on Iain Lee's LBC 97.3FM phone-in show. Barry became a familiar voice on London's popular talk radio station for over a year, phoning in a few times each week to offer the benefits of his octogenarian wisdom.Listeners were introduced to his beloved wife Margaret, offered up their sympathies over his rowdy neighbours and felt Barry's frustration as he tried to get a celebrity to turn on his residential home's Christmas lights. London loved Barry's sunny outlook and joie de vie and followed him to Iain Lee's show on Absolute Radio where he regularly phones in today. He is a bi weekly contributor to Steve Wright in the Afternoon on BBC Radio 2 and his Absolute Radio podcast continues to do well on Itunes. In January 2010 it spent several weeks in the Top 10.

In 2010 he performed to packed out audiences at the Edinburgh Festival in a topical comedy show Let the People Decide!, and at the Watford Palace Theatre with The Barry from Watford Comedy Show continuing the success of previous shows Let's Talk To Barry (about the changing face of suburban Britain) and Let's Get On With It (an antidote to the recession). He regularly performs on the London stand-up circuit.

In 2007 Barry was taken under the wing of Marcus Brigstocke, making regular appearances on his topical Late Edition comedy show for BBC4, and since June 2009, he has been a regular feature in the form of "lifestyle guru" on Steve Wright in the Afternoon, BBC Radio 2.

"An endearing, enduring creation" - Chortle
"Alex Lowe's stunning creation" - Time Out
"A wonderfully observed monologue starring Alex Lowe...A beautiful piece that manages to be both poignant and very funny" - Evening Standard

"I have become addicted to Barry from Watford on Steve Wright's Radio 2 show. He is a comedic genius whose talent is impossible to explain or describe" - Radio Times

Barry's stand-up part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOvkhppt5hg
Barry's stand-up part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ5cJi8Gxq0
Barry's Television demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l55t648t-ak
Follow Barry on Twitter - twitter.com/barryfromwat