Socks at Edfringe - Press Releases, photos & video

The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre return to the Edinburgh Fringe this August with not one but two shows - Boo Lingerie the Socky Horror Show and Chunky Woollen Nits for the kids. The tickets are on sale now: Boo here and Chunky here.

Here are the official Press Releases and promo photos for both shows, for use of all press and media, simply click to download. And we also have a new promo video, a live performance of the song Back In E.D.I.N.Braw, which you are invited to link to and retweet using the link: http://youtu.be/Sb5AfgkoBWI



Click to download:

Boo Lingerie Press Release
Chunky Woollen Nits Press Release

Boo Lingerie promo photo portrait
Boo Lingerie promo photo square

Chunky Woollen Nits promo photo portrait
Chunky Woollen Nits promo photo square

Comedy                                                                                                  

(The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre)

Present

Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre – Boo Lingerie!

Back for their 5th year at the Fringe, the stars of stage, screen and YouTube present a brand new Socky Horror Show – Boo Lingerie!

Following their fourth national and international tour, including a highly successful month at this year’s Adelaide Fringe, the “Abbott and Costello of the Sock World” (Time Out) take on a monumental challenge this year, producing not only brand new show Boo Lingerie every night, but also a family-friendly “kids show” Chunky Woollen Nits in the mornings!

“As long as we remember to do the sweary words and the clever adult satire in the evenings” say the Socks, “and the poo-poo jokes in the mornings, we should be fine.” Their new horror-themed evening show features their usual topical songs and satirical improvisations as well as ambitious theatrical interpretations of every genre of horror from Frankenstein and Dracula to Sherlock and the Walking Dead.

Songs, sketches, socks and violence are guaranteed. And this year’s show is in 3D (though we realise, being theatre, that this is not so big a deal).

"Superbly written, crafted and performed show" - ★★★★½ The Punch, Adelaide 2012

"A complete delight -  ★★★★ Venue, Bath Comedy Festival 2012

"How on earth does The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre turn out to be so bloody good?” -  ★★★★ Chortle

comicfestival.co.uk

Venue:  Gilded Balloon Teviot – Billiard Room

Dates:  1-26 August 2012

Tickets:  Mon-Thurs £9 (£8), Fri – Sun £10 (£9)

Times:  22.40 (23.40)

Box Office:  0131 668 1633 / online www.gildedballoon.co.uk                 

PRESS CONTACT:	GILDED BALLOON PRESS OFFICE:
Gilded Balloon Press Office	Kerry Teakle
	T: 0131 622 6567
	E: press@gildedballoon.co.uk

Kids                                                                                                  

(The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre)

Present

Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre – Chunky Woollen Nits

After four sellout years at the Edinburgh Fringe, and national and international tours including this year’s Adelaide Fringe, the award-winning Scottish Falsetto Socks unveil the show that everybody’s been waiting for – the one you can take the kids to!

For years they’ve been entertaining audiences of all ages, but usually only the over-12 because of their occasional sweary-words and grown-up subjects. Now this year, as well as unveiling a brand new adult show every night, they’ll be presenting a new family-friendly show Chunky Woollen Nits in the mornings.

Writer/performer Kev Sutherland expliains; "When I was doing excerpts from the shows on an outdoor stage in The Garden of Unearthly Delights in Adelaide I realised the kids loved the stuff I was doing as much as the grownups and they responded to The Socks on a similar level. The Gilded Balloon also saw the potential for a different audience and invited me to write a new morning show for the Edinburgh Fringe this year. Obviously without the sweary words! But there will be enough layers of humour for everyone to enjoy."

The show features some old favourite songs and sketches and new delights for all the family (7 and over)

"Superbly written, crafted and performed show" - ★★★★½ The Punch, Adelaide 2012

"For sheer energy and laughs per hour, these comic stockings are the biz – denier miss it." –

★★★★ The Scotsman

"An absolute winner” -  ★★★★ Chortle

"I experienced streaming tears of laughter and almost fell off my chair clutching my aching sides" -  ★★★★★ Broadway Baby

 

comicfestival.co.uk

Venue:  Gilded Balloon Teviot – Billiard Room

Dates:  2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 23-26 August 2012

Tickets:  Thurs £8.50 (£7.50), Fri – Sun £9.50 (£8.50)

Times:  11.00 (12.00)

Box Office:  0131 668 1633 / online www.gildedballoon.co.uk                                   

PRESS CONTACT:	GILDED BALLOON PRESS OFFICE:
Gilded Balloon Press Office	Kerry Teakle
	T: 0131 622 6567
	E: press@gildedballoon.co.uk

The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's Spring Tour & Previews Hereford May 27 • Harrogate June 28/29 • Rondo Bath July 9 • Beverly Puppet Festival July 13 • Tring July 19 • Manchester July 20 • Nottingham + Guildford July 21 • Derby July 22 • Bedford July 27 • Edinburgh Fringe August 2012: Boo Lingerie - A Socky Horror Show + Chunky Woollen Nits (The Family-Friendly Show)

Phil Mitchell Meets Patrick - new comics by kids

Here are some more comics created by kids in my Comic Art Masterclasses from the last week or so:



These are from kids in Swindon and Bridgwater. They dreamt up the titles and contributed to the cover, and inside is a strip by every single one of them plus a caricature of each of them by me. And in the "which celebrity shall we draw in this comic strip" game that I play with every class, their suggestions were Cher Lloyd, Johnny Depp, Lionel Messi, Siomn Cowell, Gene Kelly (I know), Bobby Moore (I know!), and Rihanna.

See these and many more in my Comic Art Masterclass archive.

I'm Kev F, the comic writer and artist who works for The Beano and Marvel comics and Doctor Who - and how many other people can boast that? If you would like to bring my Comic Art Masterclass to your school or art centre, drop me a line, a comment, a Twitter, note tied round a brick, whatever works. Click below to see more, including video and contact details.



RECOMMENDED COMIC BOOKS & GRAPHIC NOVELS for Comic Art Masterclass students, teachers and librarians

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New Socks Edinburgh banner ads

Here they are, the brand new banner ads for both of the forthcoming Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's Edinburgh Fringe shows. Whaddaya think?





Click to enlarge, all comments welcomed.


The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's Spring Tour & Previews Hereford May 27 • Harrogate June 28/29 • Rondo Bath July 9 • Beverly Puppet Festival July 13 • Tring July 19 • Manchester July 20 • Nottingham + Guildford July 21 • Derby July 22 • Bedford July 27 • Edinburgh Fringe August 2012: Boo Lingerie - A Socky Horror Show + Chunky Woollen Nits (The Family-Friendly Show)

Socks at Edfringe - now on sale

The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre return to the Edinburgh Fringe this August with not one but two shows! Our brand new Socky Horror Show Boo Lingerie at 10.40 every night, plus our brave venture into family entertainment, the children-friendly (7+) Chunky Woollen Nits at 11 in the morning Thursdays to Sundays. And tickets are now on sale. Click below to be first in line (and be quick with the kids show, we have a feeling that'll be popular). Remember where you heard it first.






UPDATE: Mon Friday May 31st I accessed the Socks online sales for the first time. Boo Lingerie has already sold 5 tickets, Chunky Woollen Nits hasn't sold any yet. Ooh, I feel a graph on the way...

Eurovision inc Socks & Sitcom Trials

So, another Eurovision's out of the way, and we managed to squeeze in the first ever Eurovision Sitcom Contest this week. The Scottish Falsetto Socks made a guest appearance performing one of the sitcoms. Here's a video giving just a taste of the night:



Eurovision itself was a Twitter-fest, and for the first time I can remember I was stone cold sober for the entire evening. Does it show? Here's how my Twitter feed looked for the night. Just a few hours later, hardly any of it makes any sense whatsoever...

Hev's getting out the pen & paper. We are about to incorrectly predict the #Eurovision voting. Again (Bet we're right about #thehump though)

Nice lighting UK, we illuminate a scuffed floor & have people dressed in black against a black background #eurovision (oh & the song's shit)

Help! This song scares me. It's like a nightmare. And her hair is made of snakes. Make it stop! #Albania #eurovision

Is this the entry from Plan 9 From Outer Space? #eurovision

He can't see us, everyone flick the V's #lithuania #eurovision

Suddenly this song is dragged kicking and screaming into the early 1980s! He can do Stevie Wonder AND Michael jackson #eurovision

The song you were thinking of was Fantasy by Earth, Wind & Fire #Lithuania #eurovision

Look, the piano's playing itself. Honest #BosHertz #eurovision

What's that? A kennel? A pizza oven? Or is someone gonna burst out of it? #eurovision

It's a cakewalk now. This routine has it all #Russia #eurovision

Steve & Sam ‏@mcneilpamphilon

General consensus is we'd all fuck the little one. #russia #eurovision

Bec Hill ‏@bechillcomedian

Russia would have a better chance of winning #eurovision if the little old ladies popped out of eachother. #votebiscuits

Didn't he used to present GMTV? #Iceland #eurovision 

The film you're thinking of is Superman II #Iceland #eurovision And it was Terence Stamp

My #eurovision notes already tell me nothing. I appear to have written Meh seven times. (And Eek for Albania)

You don't get paid if you've forgotten the words love #Cyprus #eurovision 

Think my brain has melted, I actually like the French entry #eurovision 

Frankie Boyle ‏@frankieboyle

Glad France haven't cynically gone for the gay vote #Eurovision

The song you're thinking of is The Boy Does Nothing by Alesha Dixon #Italy #eurovision 

Tony Cowards ‏@TonyCowards

It's Amy Housewine! #eurovision #bbceurovision

The song you're thinking of is All By Myself by Eric Carmen #Estonia #eurovision And Without You by Nilsson. And The Power Of Love.

Mark Gatiss ‏@Markgatiss

Estonia's Gary Barlow has a killer's eyes.

Or you can do a song in a key you can sing, choice is yours #Azerbaijan #eurovision 

Jon Pertwee Dr Who title sequence in the background? Gets my vote #Azerbaijan #eurovision (Only joking, horrible song)

Without the seventh member of the band, this just looks ridiculous #Romania #eurovision 

Gary Erskine ‏@garyerskine

Pretty girl... but somewhere in Romania there is an empty supermarket checkout till and a line of frustrated customers. #eurovision

Hev is trying to say Alanis Morrisette and can't. She has not been drinking. #Denmark #eurovision 

The act you're thinking of is Sheryl Crowe #Denmark #eurovision Or Donald Duck

Greece next. If Twitter doesn't break I will be ama

It's Claudia Winkleman standing over an air vent #Sweden #eurovision 

The video you're thinking of is Hammer Horror by Kate Bush #Sweden #eurovision 

The song you're thinking of is If I Was A Rich Man by Topol #Turkey #eurovision 

The other song you're thinking of is Stop Stop Stop All Your Dancing by The Hollies #Turkey #eurovision 

Tony Blackburn ‏@tonyblackburn

Is it just me that's noticed this show is quite camp !!

Chord change! We have a contender #Spain #eurovision 

Spain are doing The 4 Chords via @AxisofAwesome #eurovision (Google it)

Roman Lob. Best name of the night. Now take that hat off boy, you're indoors #Germany #eurovision 

The song you're thinking of is I've Got A Feeling by Black Eyed Peas #Germany #eurovision (Another version of The 4 Chords, no?)

The 4 Chords song by Axis of Awesome http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOlDewpCfZQ Which you keep hearing in #eurovision tonight

It really is the 4 Chords for the 3rd time in a row, isn't it? #Malta #eurovision With a touch of Umbrella-ella-ella

Her name's Calliope? What, like in Blinded By The Light? Let's hope she doesn't crash to the ground, eh pop kids? #Macedonia #eurovision 

Oh come on lads, you could at least have dressed up #Ireland #eurovision 

Jedward are endearingly inept #eurovision 

The song you're thinking of is The Day I Met Marie by Cliff Richard. Played at 33 and a 3rd #Serbia #eurovision 

First utterance of the phrase "is that a man or a woman?" of the night #Ukraine #eurovision 

Now trending: Cybermen, Buck Rogers, Tin Men, Starlight Express, Doggy Poo and, er, Davina McCall. If you're not watching #eurovision, sorry

The song you're thinking of is Fairytale by Alexander Rybak #Moldova #eurovision 

Busby Berkely would have positioned the camera above those dancers gyrating like ninnies on the floor #eurovision 

Not sure I understand my #eurovision predictions. 10th: Bob The Builder (Spain), 9th: Tulisa & The Twats (Romania), 8th: Amy Vinohouse (It)>

7th: Nonces in Kilts (Ukraine), 6th: Donald Duck (Denmark), 5th: Claudia Winkleman (Sweden), 4th: Borat in a Boat (Turkey) #eurovision >

3rd Grans (Russia), 2nd Jedward (Jedward), 1st "like that riff" France. So, how wrong will I be? #eurovision 

(In the end my No5 prediction, Sweden, won and Jedward, France & Denmark came nowhere)

We are in fits of giggles here at Jedward dancing in background oblivious to the voting #eurovision We are both totally sober

Scott Mills is the first person to make Baku sound like Fuck You. Well done us #eurovision 

Dawn Foster ‏@DawnHFoster

Somewhere in Greece some children are tinfoiling a school stage "just in case" #eurovision

Frankie Boyle ‏@frankieboyle

The way things stand, Jedward are in danger of becoming a laughing stock #Eurovision

Is the Swedish judge from Finchley? #eurovision That accent

Richard Osman ‏@richardosman

If this was #Pointless Englebert would be just 1 point off the lead #eurovision

...and those were the tweets from the Eurovision jury

"Socks put best foot forward" - Hereford Times

Tonight we're playing the Courtyard in Hereford. Let's see if this piece in the Hereford Times has them all flooding in.

HOTFOOT from a successful month-long run at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in Australia, The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre have just embarked on a pre- Edinburgh Fringe Festival tour of the UK.

The brand new preview show was unveiled for the first time at the Brighton Fringe this week before arriving at The Courtyard on Sunday.

Entitled Boo Lingerie – A Socky Horror Show, The Comedy Sock duo plan to entertain and quite possibly scare audiences with their particular brand of chaotic humour that includes sketches, songs and much audience interaction.

The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's Spring Tour & Previews Hereford May 27 • Harrogate June 28/29 • Rondo Bath July 9 • Beverly Puppet Festival July 13 • Tring July 19 • Manchester July 20 • Nottingham + Guildford July 21 • Derby July 22 • Bedford July 27 • Edinburgh Fringe August 1-26. Spread the word.

"Superbly written, crafted and performed show" ★★★★½ The Punch, Adelaide 2012
“An absolute winner” ★★★★ Chortle
 "For sheer energy and laughs per hour, these comic stockings are the biz denier miss it." - ★★★★ The Scotsman
"I experienced streaming tears of laughter and almost fell off my chair clutching my aching sides" ★★★★★ 5 STARS Broadway Baby

"Foul-mouthed creatures" - Independent

Nothing like another quote to add to the files, and "The ever-popular Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppets are some of the most foul-mouthed creatures to pollute a washing basket" from The Independent suits us just fine.



The full article reads:

May 23: Pulling strings on the Brighton Fringe

• By Nione Meakin
• Arts - News, notes and quotes on the Arts world -
• Wednesday, 23 May 2012 at 12:00 am

SOMEONE call Equity; let alone not being actors, some of the stars of this year’s Fringe aren’t even human. From polar bears to mermaids, chippy socks to 50ft women, puppets are being used in increasingly inventive ways in Brighton venues.
No less than 35 shows in this year’s programme feature creatures on strings and poles and not all of them aimed at young audiences. While puppets continue to add a fantastical element to children’s storytelling, more and more, adults are also getting in on the act with puppetry shows that subvert and entertain.

The ever-popular Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppets are some of the most foul-mouthed creatures to pollute a washing basket; The Great Puppet Horn features monstrous, shadowy versions of our esteemed Prime Minister and a mutant Maggie Thatcher and Blind Summit’s The Table must be one of very few shows to feature a giant puppet having an existential crisis.

Like animation, puppetry offers the scope to create characters and explore ideas that wouldn’t be possible in traditional staging. In The Wrong Crowd’s The Girl With The Iron Claws (opens tonight at The Warren), a young girl falls headlong in love with a polar bear, beautifully created in life size with papier mache, fur and poles. The show’s puppet cast lends a depth and magic that would be difficult to achieve by other means.

In Kissing The Gunner’s Daughter, pale sailors and flame-headed sirens dip and dive in the darkness of a barnacled bathing machine, lending an extra dreaminess to a show watched through peep holes (if you’ve yet to catch the wonderful Dip Your Toe installations, the machines will all be lined up on Madeira Drive this weekend).

Following in the ambitious footsteps of I Have Never Cared For Sunsets, which pulled strings with Issac Newton and Karl Popper, the next few days see a 50ft woman attempting to access the bijou Iambic Arts Theatre on Gardner Street. I’ve mentioned Attack of the 50ft Woman before, but really, UFOs, adulterous husbands and a rampaging Godzilla-sized puppet? If this doesn’t embody the spirit of Fringe, I don’t know what does.
Tagged in: Brighton Fringe


The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's Spring Tour & Previews Hereford May 27 • Harrogate June 28/29 • Rondo Bath July 9 • Beverly Puppet Festival July 13 • Tring July 19 • Manchester July 20 • Nottingham + Guildford July 21 • Derby July 22 • Bedford July 27 • Edinburgh Fringe August 1-26. Spread the word.

"Superbly written, crafted and performed show" ★★★★½ The Punch, Adelaide 2012
“An absolute winner” ★★★★ Chortle
 "For sheer energy and laughs per hour, these comic stockings are the biz denier miss it." - ★★★★ The Scotsman
"I experienced streaming tears of laughter and almost fell off my chair clutching my aching sides" ★★★★★ 5 STARS Broadway Baby

Hereford Courtyard Sun May 27 - spread the word

This Sunday the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre are giving one of the last performances of their current touring 90 minute show at The Courtyard, Hereford. Here, we know a song about that don't we..?



The Socks at Hereford Courtyard Arts, as part of the Court Laughing weekend - book now! And spread the word, if you'd be so kind.


The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's Spring Tour & Previews Hereford May 27 • Harrogate June 28/29 • Rondo Bath July 9 • Beverly Puppet Festival July 13 • Tring July 19 • Manchester July 20 • Nottingham + Guildford July 21 • Derby July 22 • Bedford July 27 • Edinburgh Fringe August 1-26. Spread the word.

"Superbly written, crafted and performed show" ★★★★½ The Punch, Adelaide 2012
“An absolute winner” ★★★★ Chortle
 "For sheer energy and laughs per hour, these comic stockings are the biz denier miss it." - ★★★★ The Scotsman
"I experienced streaming tears of laughter and almost fell off my chair clutching my aching sides" ★★★★★ 5 STARS Broadway Baby

Boo Lingerie, on sale now (by the look of it)

Boo Lingerie is in the Edfringe programme and it looks like you can book tickets already. So what are you waiting for? (Click for the link)




The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's Spring Tour & Previews Hereford May 27 • Harrogate June 28/29 • Rondo Bath July 9 • Beverly Puppet Festival July 13 • Tring July 19 • Manchester July 20 • Nottingham + Guildford July 21 • Derby July 22 • Bedford July 27 • Edinburgh Fringe August 1-26. Spread the word.

"Superbly written, crafted and performed show" ★★★★½ The Punch, Adelaide 2012
“An absolute winner” ★★★★ Chortle
 "For sheer energy and laughs per hour, these comic stockings are the biz denier miss it." - ★★★★ The Scotsman
"I experienced streaming tears of laughter and almost fell off my chair clutching my aching sides" ★★★★★ 5 STARS Broadway Baby

Youtoobling 56UP and Human

It comes to a pretty pass when you're too busy to Youtooble, but with all my travels ands the preparations for the Socks new show, there's not been as much of the old one-pop-video-after-another random nonsense as there sometimes is. But when I get stuck in, there's fun to be had. Here are some recent playlists...

56UP

When I Grow Up, Rred Theatre Company
Seven Up: John
Butterfly, Neil, 49UP #7UP
Makin' It, David Naughton

David Naughton, "I Didn't Mean To Call You A Meatloaf Jack" American Werewolf In London transition
Women are Utah's best natural resource, David Naughton
Utah, The Osmonds
Something Good, Utah Saints
Kate Bush v Utah Saints, Something Good
Cloudbusting, Kate Bush
Weather Report, Birdland
Parker's Band, Steely Dan
Parker, Well Done, Lady Penelope
International Rescue, Fuzzbox
Thunder Road, Springsteen
Rat Trap, Boomtown Rats
Lipstick, Jedward
Waterline, Jedward
World of Water, New Musik
Chris Rock - N
Quando Quando Quando, Engelbert Humperdinck
We Are Young, Fun (live)

Human

Real Human Being, College Drive

Human, Human League
Empire State Human, Human League
Blood For Poppies, Garbage
Self Control, Laura Branigan
Idea Of Happiness Van She
Happiness Is A Warm Gun, John Lennon
I'm Happy Just To Dance With You, The Beatles
Dancin' Fool, Frank Zappa
Fool If You Think It's Over, Elkie Brooks
Hanging On The Telephone, Will Young Radio 2 #2day
Hanging On The Telephone, The Nerves (the original)
The Telephone Man, Fenton Gray
You're Moving Out Today, Carole Bayer Sager
Dancing In The City, Marshall Hain
Step Up, Last Mistress

Frankentrees - new from the Scottish Falsetto Socks

It's quite hard to comprehend how this first preview of The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's forthcoming show Boo Lingerie managed to get a ★★★★ 4 star review, when you see this brief excerpt of material which, unsurprisingly, won't be making the final show...



We actually performed two shows, at 7pm on Saturday and 4.30pm on Sunday. For the record (and I realise this is more for my benefit than anyone else's) the running order and success rate went like this:

Pre-song routine (not bad)
Poe routine (one line good, mostly boring)
Foam gag (good, but would like better)
Johnny Cash song (good but would like different song)
Beetle routine (a lot is good, a lot to be cut)
Embra song (good but should be different song)
Sherlock (good)
Cross Channel Football (bad, not doing that again)
Ga Ga Rasputin (good, but would like new song)
Trees (no good, see video above)
Magic (good)
Facebook (good, but would like new song)
Improv with audience (good but needs better set up)
Titus Andronicus (some good bits but not sure overall)
Sweary Poppins (good, but not going in Boo show)

The material we didn't get round to trying on Saturday was Frankenstein, which we tried on Sunday and it went okay but was way too long. Also on Saturday we gave them Halloween, which went down brilliantly and is appropriate for the horror subject matter, but is too much of an old favourite to go into this supposedly all-new show. On neither night did we get time to try Christmas Carol, but that's too long to try out anyway, needs editing.

Thanks very much to everyone who came to the two shows, it's an invaluable exercise to test out new material in front of a live, paying, audience and I think we came away with some dignity. And, if we're lucky, about 10 minutes of material to go into the show in Edinburgh in August. Right, back to the old.... well, I'm writing on it now, but now to turn the blogging computer into the Writing Something Funny computer.



The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's Spring Tour & Previews Hereford May 27 • Harrogate June 28/29 • Rondo Bath July 9 • Beverly Puppet Festival July 13 • Tring July 19 • Manchester July 20 • Nottingham + Guildford July 21 • Derby July 22 • Bedford July 27 • Edinburgh Fringe August 1-26. Spread the word.

"Superbly written, crafted and performed show" ★★★★½ The Punch, Adelaide 2012
“An absolute winner” ★★★★ Chortle
 "For sheer energy and laughs per hour, these comic stockings are the biz denier miss it." - ★★★★ The Scotsman
"I experienced streaming tears of laughter and almost fell off my chair clutching my aching sides" ★★★★★ 5 STARS Broadway Baby

★★★★ Review for first BOO LINGERIE Preview!!

Holy bum! Thanks to Latest 7 magazine, the Scottish Falsetto Socks already have a ★★★★ 4 star review for Boo Lingerie, after just two previews (from which about 10 minutes of material will be making the final show). Check this out...



With the audience hypnotised into a state of suspended disbelief – pay no attention to that man behind the curtain – by their garish tartan theatre, the Scottish Socks’ vault of horror creaked open to reveal… two pairs of googly eyes and a lot of daft songs. Inevitably, the fright theme went out the window as soon as the Socks started arguing, fighting and, having established there were no kids at this afternoon show, swearing. The brilliance of this rough and ready performance lay in the Socks’, ahem, material (mixing rapidfire wordplay with groansome gags), as well as the sweetly ramshackle puppetry.

Komedia Studio Bar, 20 May 2012
Rating: ★★★★☆
Stuart Huggett


The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's Spring Tour & Previews Hereford May 27 • Harrogate June 28/29 • Rondo Bath July 9 • Beverly Puppet Festival July 13 • Tring July 19 • Manchester July 20 • Nottingham + Guildford July 21 • Derby July 22 • Bedford July 27 • Edinburgh Fringe August 1-26. Spread the word.

"Superbly written, crafted and performed show" ★★★★½ The Punch, Adelaide 2012
“An absolute winner” ★★★★ Chortle
 "For sheer energy and laughs per hour, these comic stockings are the biz denier miss it." - ★★★★ The Scotsman
"I experienced streaming tears of laughter and almost fell off my chair clutching my aching sides" ★★★★★ 5 STARS Broadway Baby

Fartimouse Owl - new comics by kids

I've been working with some talented kids in my Comic Art Masterclasses these past weeks, which I hope the front covers of the comics they've produced demonstrate. Won't you look at what the little darlings have dreamt up...


See many more examples at the Comic Art Masterclass website

The comics above are by pupils from the BRIT School in Croydon, Colmore Juniors in Kings Heath, Llangynidr in Powys, and Fowey in Cornwall. And the celebrities they suggested for the "worm" routine were Tinie Tempah, Richard Hammond, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Cee-Lo Green, Simon Cowell (twice) and Barack Obama (I am fully aware that sense may not make sense to anyone who's never seen my class. Well you know what to do about that.)

I'm Kev F, the comic writer and artist who works for The Beano and Marvel comics and Doctor Who - and how many other people can boast that? If you would like to bring my Comic Art Masterclass to your school or art centre, drop me a line, a comment, a Twitter, note tied round a brick, whatever works. Click below to see more, including video and contact details.



RECOMMENDED COMIC BOOKS & GRAPHIC NOVELS for Comic Art Masterclass students, teachers and librarians

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Bang Goes Match of the Day on the Beach - Scottish Falsetto Socks

Another brand new sketch from the Socks which may (or may not) make the new show, Boo Lingerie which has its first previews this weekend in Brighton. Enjoy...





The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's Spring Tour: Bath April 7 • Milford Haven April 12 • Exeter April 13 • Bridlington April 14 • St Andrews April 25 • Aberdeen April 27 • Halifax May 3 • Keighley May 4 • Stafford May 5 • Chorley May 12 • Brighton May 19/20 • Hereford May 27 • Harrogate June 28/29 • Rondo Bath July 9 • Beverly Puppet Festival July 13 • Tring July 19 • Manchester July 20 • Nottingham + Guildford July 21 • Derby July 22 • Bedford July 27 • Edinburgh Fringe August 1-27. Spread the word.

"Superbly written, crafted and performed show" ★★★★½ The Punch, Adelaide 2012
“An absolute winner” ★★★★ Chortle
 "For sheer energy and laughs per hour, these comic stockings are the biz denier miss it." - ★★★★ The Scotsman
"I experienced streaming tears of laughter and almost fell off my chair clutching my aching sides" ★★★★★ 5 STARS Broadway Baby

Scottish Falsetto Socks return to Brighton

Attention Socks fans, this week the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre return to the Komedia in Bath, where they've gone every year for the last five years, prevewing their brand new show Boo Lingerie. This will be its first outing and anything could happen. WE're on Saturday 7pm and Sunday 4.30pm - spread the word. Details and tickets



Last year the Socks show attracted this fantastic 4 star review from Latest 7 magazine. And their long association with Brighton has produced some of their more memorable videos, for example this classic from way back in the day:



...and this musical number (with a surprise at the end, which we can never guarantee will happen in every show)...



The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's Spring Tour: Bath April 7 • Haven April 12 • Exeter April 13 • Bridlington April 14 • St Andrews April 25 • Aberdeen April 27 • Halifax May 3 • Keighley May 4 • Stafford May 5 • Chorley May 12 • Brighton May 19/20 • Hereford May 27 • Harrogate June 28/29 • Rondo Bath July 9 • Beverly Puppet Festival July 13 • Tring July 19 • Manchester July 20 • Nottingham + Guildford July 21 • Derby July 22 • Bedford July 27 • Edinburgh Fringe August 1-27. Spread the word.

Bank Robbery - Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre

Brand new sketch from the Socks. That's right, another one that's not made the new show...





The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's Spring Tour: Bath April 7 • Milford Haven April 12 • Exeter April 13 • Bridlington April 14 • St Andrews April 25 • Aberdeen April 27 • Halifax May 3 • Keighley May 4 • Stafford May 5 • Chorley May 12 • Brighton May 19/20 • Hereford May 27 • Harrogate June 28/29 • Rondo Bath July 9 • Beverly Puppet Festival July 13 • Tring July 19 • Manchester July 20 • Nottingham + Guildford July 21 • Derby July 22 • Bedford July 27 • Edinburgh Fringe August 1-27. Spread the word.

"Superbly written, crafted and performed show" ★★★★½ The Punch, Adelaide 2012
“An absolute winner” ★★★★ Chortle
 "For sheer energy and laughs per hour, these comic stockings are the biz denier miss it." - ★★★★ The Scotsman
"I experienced streaming tears of laughter and almost fell off my chair clutching my aching sides" ★★★★★ 5 STARS Broadway Baby

Boo Lingerie t-shirt - who wants one?

So I've come up with a provisional design for the brand new limited edition Boo Lingerie t shirt, based on the logo and photos from the new Edinburgh Socky Horror Show by the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre. At £12 each (plus postage), if I were to put them into production next week, who wants one?



The shirts are available in all sizes. If I get enough tweets and posts saying people would want one (no commitment) I'll put them into production, take the orders, and we'll all be wearing them in a week or so.

The Socks await your feedback.



The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's Spring Tour: Bath April 7 • Milford Haven April 12 • Exeter April 13 • Bridlington April 14 • St Andrews April 25 • Aberdeen April 27 • Halifax May 3 • Keighley May 4 • Stafford May 5 • Chorley May 12 • Brighton May 19/20 • Hereford May 27 • Harrogate June 28/29 • Rondo Bath July 9 • Beverly Puppet Festival July 13 • Tring July 19 • Manchester July 20 • Nottingham + Guildford July 21 • Derby July 22 • Bedford July 27 • Edinburgh Fringe August 1-27. Spread the word.

"Superbly written, crafted and performed show" ★★★★½ The Punch, Adelaide 2012
“An absolute winner” ★★★★ Chortle
"For sheer energy and laughs per hour, these comic stockings are the biz denier miss it." - ★★★★ The Scotsman
"I experienced streaming tears of laughter and almost fell off my chair clutching my aching sides" ★★★★★ 5 STARS Broadway Baby

5-Ply - Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre

Brand new from the Socks, a new sketch called 5 Ply.



If you're really lucky, over the coming weeks you'll get more little videos of scripts which, very clearly, aren't good enough to be in the new show (Boo Lingerie, previewing very soon). I do hope something good enough to be in the show emerges soon.



The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's Spring Tour: Bath April 7 • Milford Haven April 12 • Exeter April 13 • Bridlington April 14 • St Andrews April 25 • Aberdeen April 27 • Halifax May 3 • Keighley May 4 • Stafford May 5 • Chorley May 12 • Brighton May 19/20 • Hereford May 27 • Harrogate June 28/29 • Rondo Bath July 9 • Beverly Puppet Festival July 13 • Tring July 19 • Manchester July 20 • Nottingham + Guildford July 21 • Derby July 22 • Bedford July 27 • Edinburgh Fringe August 1-27. Spread the word.

"Superbly written, crafted and performed show" ★★★★½ The Punch, Adelaide 2012
“An absolute winner” ★★★★ Chortle
 "For sheer energy and laughs per hour, these comic stockings are the biz denier miss it." - ★★★★ The Scotsman
"I experienced streaming tears of laughter and almost fell off my chair clutching my aching sides" ★★★★★ 5 STARS Broadway Baby

Socks on the map

Oh yes, this is pretty nifty, isn't it? I don't know how long it's been there, but now on the Socks Gig Guide. courtesy of Ents24, there's a map showing everywhere we're playing.



I wish I'd spotted this when it still had last week's gigs in Aberdeen, St Andrews, Halifax, Keighley and Stafford on, that'd be much more impressive. That reminds me, better start booking more tour dates pronto. And you can put reviews and comments up there if you fancy. Go on, spoil yourselves.



The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's Spring Tour: Bath April 7 • Milford Haven April 12 • Exeter April 13 • Bridlington April 14 • St Andrews April 25 • Aberdeen April 27 • Halifax May 3 • Keighley May 4 • Stafford May 5 • Chorley May 12 • Brighton May 19/20 • Hereford May 27 • Harrogate June 28/29 • Rondo Bath July 9 • Beverly Puppet Festival July 13 • Tring July 19 • Manchester July 20 • Nottingham + Guildford July 21 • Derby July 22 • Bedford July 27 • Edinburgh Fringe August 1-27. Spread the word.

Meanwhile over at The Sitcom Trials...

When I'm not busy writing comics, teaching comics, and helping The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre do their thing, I do still like to involve myself with The Sitcom Trials. You remember? The unique comedy show where sitcoms go head to head in competition and the audience vote for their favourite, which I began running back in 1999 and which has kept going on-and-off ever since? And right now there's a bit of activity going on at its own little blog and website, which comedy fans might be interested in.



Coming up on May 24th is the Eurovision Sitcom Contest and, if you're interested, you could help select the scripts by reading, reviewing and voting on the scripts in contention. Details are here.

Following that, the newly formed Bristol Sitcom Trials group will be staging their second show in June. You can get involved by contacting their leader Vince Stadon at the Sitcom Trials Facebook page. The next meeting of the Bristol team is Sunday 13th May and interested parties are invited to come along.

And the show that grew out of the Sitcom Trials into a very successful show of its own, The Sitcom Mission, has just held a series of star-studded shows in London culminating in a grand final with a winner getting a cash prize and a TV commission. The details are all here.

And talking of imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, another of our great ideas, the peer-reviewing of sitcom scripts online, seems to have been adopted by Amazon, who are getting into the sitcom business. I dunno, you can't keep an idea going on a small scale for over a decade without someone smart coming along and doing it bigger and better.

The Sitcom Trials blog is at sitcomtrials.co.uk, where you'll find the YouTube archive of our greatest stuff and all the news of our forthcoming events.

Have we found the new Episodes? The new Extras? The new Ever Decreasing Circles? You decide.

The Sitcom Trials present: THE EUROVISION SITCOM CONTEST

Thu May 24
The Camden Head
100 Camden High Street London NW1 0LU
8pm - 10pm £3