This must be the furthest travelled between classes in one day: the morning session was in Windermere in the Lake District, and the afternoon session in South Bristol. The morning was, of course, virtual, and the afternoon session was in real life.
Wednesday 30 June 2021
Bart's Bottom - new comics by kids from Yorkshire to Windermere
Tuesday 29 June 2021
Socks do Beat The Frog & a garden party
Well, last night's journey to the Frog & Bucket was worth doing, just to get out there and experience doing gigs, but sadly The Socks couldn't grab the audience's attention.
We were 6th on the bill of competing new acts, each trying to last 5 minutes before being gonged off (by three audience members who got to hold up cards if they didn't like the act). Three acts before us had been gonged off, and two had lasted the whole 5 mins, none had been that bad or that great.
We came on after an interval, so I'd had time to erect the set and be ready sat on stage for the start of the set. Then, when he introduced us, I was doing the set without music (which would have been too complicated) so I go on cold, with my "20th Century Fox" sign and me just singing the music. Then when the first Sock says "hello" we get no reaction at all. That's never a good sign. We get nothing for "shit he's got a guitar", nothing for the quick costume change. We really were not grabbing their interest, and when that happens I'm really not sure what to do. I ploughed on with our best opening material, but when a room is thinking "what's this nonsense?" rather than "ha ha what's this nonsense?" you can really feel it's going nowhere.
Although we got good laughs from parts of the room for some funny lines, all in all they just weren't a Socks crowd, and after about 2 minutes the three cards had gone up and we were off. We got probably our biggest laughs from me then having to sidle off stage with the set, remaining unseen.
As I was packing up backstage I heard all 4 acts after me getting gonged off too, so the audience were just in that kind of mood. The plus side was I didn't have to stay to the end of the show and got back to my hotel by about 11.30.
As I type this it's Tuesday morning, and I'm looking forward to a 50 minute drive to my school near Grassington, a day of classes, and a four and a half hour drive home. It's good to be back on the road again.
July 2 - Lichfield Garrick
Jul 3 - Theatre Shop Clevedon
July 24 - Bedfringe
Aug 1 - Jul 4 - Derby Bar One
Sept 3 - Whitchurch Comedy Fest
Sept 4 - Stourbridge Comedy Fest
Sept 17 - Bridport Arts (Shakespeare)
Oct 5 - Old Joint Stock
Oct 8 - Ropery Hall Barton
Saturday 26 June 2021
Comic Cuts episodes 13 to 16 + a trailer
Easily the most laugh-filled Comic Cuts recording came this week with the recording of episode 13 which, spookily, goes out on Friday 13th of August. It was Adam Roche of The Secret History Of Hollywood's contribution that did it. I recorded four shows in a day (Tues Jun22nd) then took the next two days to edit them.
Aug 13 - Adam Roche & Hannah Berry https://www.buzzsprout.com/1788415/8761565
Aug 20 - Rachael Smith & Paul Kerensa https://www.buzzsprout.com/1788415/8761578
Aug 27 - Nerine Skinner & Steve Noble https://www.buzzsprout.com/1788415/8761597
Sept 3 - Bennett Arron & Susan Murray https://www.buzzsprout.com/1788415/8761614
Kev F Sutherland, as well as writing and drawing for The Beano, Marvel, Doctor Who, and graphic novels adapted from Shakespeare, runs Comic Art Masterclasses in schools, libraries and art centres - email for details, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter. View the promo video here.
Thursday 17 June 2021
Piggy The Biggy - comics by kids, online and for real
After a bit of a break from schools, during which I've gone a bit bonkers in the production of my new podcast, thanks to my inability to stand idle for five minutes, in the past week I've returned to Comic Art Masterclasses with a vengeance. This one, with Stockton libraries, was the only one squeezed into the latest half term (in contrast to February's half term, when there was one every day. This time, with schools back, the online classes aren't so vital to everyone. This, however, was one such).
Kev F Sutherland, as well as writing and drawing for The Beano, Marvel, Doctor Who, and graphic novels adapted from Shakespeare, runs Comic Art Masterclasses in schools, libraries and art centres - email for details, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter. He is the host of the podcast Comic Cuts The Panel Show.
Sunday 13 June 2021
Back on stage, and back on the flipchart
The Socks made their return to the live stage this week! Their first stage gig since they played a birthday party in Margate in February 2020, the Socks headlined Widcombe Social Club in Bath, on a bill with Danny Buckler and Mandy Muden, and Chelsea Birkby. Haven't seen Danny and Mandy since they were in the 2002 Edinburgh Sitcom Trials performing, as Danny remembered and I'd long forgotten, I See Dead People, written by Jovanka Steele. But I digress. Mandy was en route to another gig that Danny was driving her to, so she grabbed 5 minutes extra stage time by warming up the show and introducing him.
The Socks did a 25 minute headline set and it went brilliantly. Getting good laughs from crowd work to begin with, then giving them I'm A Sock, An Actor Prepare, Earth Song, Magic, and ending with Walk On The Wild Side. A joy to do. Biggest thanks to Nick Steel for giving us the perfect comeback gig after a year on Zoom.
Kev F Sutherland, as well as writing and drawing for The Beano, Marvel, Doctor Who, and graphic novels adapted from Shakespeare, runs Comic Art Masterclasses in schools, libraries and art centres - email for details, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter. View the promo video here. He is the host of the podcast Comic Cuts The Panel Show.
Thursday 10 June 2021
Comic Cuts episodes 9 to 12
I'm happy to announce the next four episodes of Comic Cuts The Podcast, episodes nine to twelve (see previous episodes here)
July 16 - Dean Friedman and Juliet Meyers bring in panels from an American underground legend and a twist of one of the most famous newspaper strips of all time.
July 23 - Brian Bolland and Rianne Rowlands bring in panels from an overlooked Silver Age artist and a colourful comedy horror.
July 30 - Metaphrog's Sandra Marrs and John Chalmers bring in panels from adaptations of two classic novels into equally classic-worthy graphic novels.
August 6 - Juliette Burton and Gary Northfield bring in panels from an outstanding current British cartoonist and a less well known North American indie artist.
Kev F Sutherland, as well as writing and drawing for The Beano, Marvel, Doctor Who, and graphic novels adapted from Shakespeare, runs Comic Art Masterclasses in schools, libraries and art centres - email for details, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter. View the promo video here.
Friday 4 June 2021
Comic Cuts - episodes 3 to 8
I'm happy to announce the next 6 episodes of Comic Cuts - The Panel Show podcast, which will be coming out every Friday at midday.
June 4 - Peter Hogan & Bethany Black bring in panels from an uncharacteristic comic by a legendary US artist, and the most exciting new superhero of recent times.
June 11 - Louise Leigh & Ashley Storrie bring in panels from a new Scottish indie comic, and a fondly remembered nursery title.
June 18 - Jessica Martin & Wil Hodgson bring in panels from a title of mystery and magic, and an imaginary story (but aren't they all?)
June 25 - Nigel Auchterlounie & Laura Howell bring in panels from a classic underground comic, and a surprising British horror story.
July 2 - Jaleelah Galbraith & Okse bring in panels from a classic British girls title, and a legendary superhero graphic novel.
July 9 - Laura Watton & David Leach bring in panels from a multi-million selling 1970s manga, and one of Britain's most famous cartoonists of all time.
Guests have been lined up for the next four shows, being recorded next week. Stay tuned for news. Subscribe to Comic Cuts to be sure of getting every episode when it comes out, wherever you get your podcasts from.