Latitude 2013: our comedy picks
Latitude say they’re “more than just a music festival.”
It’s a claim trotted out by just about every festival in the country, to be fair, but Latitude deliver on their promise. In theory, you could leave Henham Park on Monday having seen no music whatsoever – and you’ll still be satisfied with the end product.
This year, we’re told, there’s more performing arts than music. There’s stages for poetry, film, theatre, cabaret and, of course, comedy. You’re really spoilt for choice – which is why we’ve put together this handy list of must-see comedy this weekend. We’ve got five picks each day, with our top tips from elsewhere included too.
So without further adieu…
Friday
12:30 to 13:15 – Professional dick-kicker Nick Helm nearly gave middle-class Latitude a heart attack last year – so naturally we’re chuffed to bits he’s back in 2013. Comedy meets rock ‘n’ roll meets crushing desperation. Great fun. To borrow a line from Nick; get on board. This is happening.
14:45 to 15:15 – Mercury New Comedian of the Year Romesh Ranganathan is being touted as the ‘next big thing’ by the comedy hotshots – and we agree. Don’t be surprised if Ranganathan is a household name come Latitude 2014. Just need to learn how to pronounce it now.
16:15 to 16.45 – Impractical Jokers star Roisin Conaty is just as much fun on stage as she is off it. Well worth half an hour of your time.
17:15 to 18:00 – Former Welshman Mark Watson went down a storm at Glastonbury a few weeks back, with our review saying: “Watson delivers a typically dynamic end to the day. I’m a huge fan of Watson’s, so wasn’t surprised to see him at ease with a festival crowd. His routine is unpredictable, but free-flowing.” We’re expecting fireworks at Glastonbury’s sister festival.
18:10 to 18:55 – Latitude have been rolling out big name announcements for weeks now, and Sean Lock is one of their marquee signings. The British Comedy Award winner been on all the telly shows – Live At The Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, 8 Out of 10 Cats’ – so will no doubt attract a huge crowd on Friday night. Nice early finish as well, just in time to catch Calexico on the 6 Music stage. Lovely.
Elsewhere – Daniel Simonsen, Lucy Beaumont, Andrew Ryan, Vikki Stone and Tiffany Stevenson are all worth catching on the Cabaret Stage.
Saturday
11:40 to 12:10 – Terry Alderton might be filling in the early spot at Latitude this year, but he’s certainly worth getting up for. Bit of trivia: Eddie Izzard said he was a “very funny comic with a fantastic comedy mind.” He also told Terry to seek some sort of professional help.
12:30 to 12:50 – Over in the Film and Music tent, Daniel Kitson is doing a Q&A after his screening of ‘It’s Always Right Now, Until It’s Later’. A great chance to hear from the comedian’s comedian – and let’s face it, he’s going to be funny.
13:15 to 14:00 – The charming Dylan Moran has been previewing new material for a couple of months now, with mixed success. We caught him on a ropey night in Newcastle, but even a half-baked Moran is enough to whet your appetite.
15:15 to 16:00 – It’s been an immense couple of years for Josh Widdicombe. C4’s The Last Leg, Stand Up For The Week and Mock The Week have given him regular TV opportunities, and later in the year he’s releasing his first stand-up DVD. Cracking stand-up too…
17:15 to 18:00 – Russell Kane gets more than his fair share of criticism, but there’s certainly something to be said for broad stroke comedy. A nice easy listen before you party with Hot Chip. (Just us then?)
Elsewhere – Holly Walsh, The Noise Next Door and Luisa Omielan are Saturday’s Cabaret highlights, plus there’s a midnight poetry lesson from Daniel Kitson & Gavin Osborn in the Poetry Arena. All come highly recommended.
Sunday
11:00 to 12:15 – In this slot last year, Marcus Brigstocke and his liberal comedy chums set about berating the state of the nation through its mainstream media in The Early Edition. This year he’s back, seeking to rectify the societal wrongs The Early Edition unearthed in 2012, with Marcus Brigstocke’s Policy Unit. Alongside guest Andrew Maxwell, Brigstocke may well end up solving all of modern life’s pressing problems in a field in Suffolk. More likely however, it’ll be an hour of derisive silliness – but you wouldn’t want to miss it either way.
12:30 to 13:00 – Edinburgh Festival veteran, former associate of Stewart Lee and general maestro of cult comedy Richard Herring arrives at Latitude to show the whipper-snappers how it’s done. One of the county’s most prolific and consistently lauded comics, Herring has tackled all the big issues; aging, male genitalia and Hitler’s facial hair. He also comes armed with twenty five years of stand-up experience; hecklers beware.
13:30 to 14:15 – Grab a falafel and prepare to be educated. An intriguing concoction of fiery leftist zeal and self-flagellation, Brooklyn’s Jamie Kilstein tears through issues such as gay marriage, rape culture, veganism and er… cats. Charmingly frenetic, urgent and unquestionably earnest, Kilstein is a searingly entertaining spectacle.
15:30 to 16:00 – While most people will be packing beer, baby wipes and disposable ponchos, Nina Conti‘s festival check list is a little bit different. Depressed monkey? Check. Crotchety Scottish grandmother? Check. Nightmarish cartoon masks? Double-check. Leave your preconceptions about ventriloquism at the tent flap; Conti’s mischief, filth and inspired madness is sure to brighten up your Sunday afternoon.
16:45 to 17:15 – Join devastatingly smooth Gallic raconteur Marcel Lucont, as he brings sophistication, disdain and world-class sex poetry to Latitude. Recently spotted on Live at the Electric, and on route to Edinburgh Festival with his new show, be sure to catch Lucont at the Comedy Arena. After all, you may find him in your tent, but he shall be gone by morning.
Elsewhere – The Horne Section, Tim Key and Nish Kumar on the Cabaret Stage.
Our complete Latitude coverage will be online early next week, but in the meantime, why not follow our festival tweets on @GiggleBeats.
