Brighton's Biggest And Best Gay-friendly Stand-up Night - Bent Double
Published 18th May 2009 by Komedia Press

On the first Sunday of every month, some of the biggest names from the circuit grace the Komedia stage to entertain the "up for it" crowd in Bent Double. A consuming brew of comedic delight, this gay friendly night promises a fabulous line up every time – and June’s line-up is no exception, with Alistair Barrie, Shelley Cooper and Sally Ann Hayward taking to stage, all lovingly kept in line by MC Zoe Lyons.

Sally-Anne Hayward combines the things you shouldn't like about your best friend's mum with the sensibilities of Jack the Ripper. She grew up to reject dizzy incompetence and feminine wiles for a disarming mix of ingratiating charm and unsettling pugnacity that gets more laughs than a hyaena's dawn rally. (That's an anagram by the way. Check it out). An accomplished radio presenter with stage and TV acting credentials ('Absolutely Fabulous' BBC, 'Why the Long Faces' Square Donkey Productions, and various TV warm-up including 'Deal or No Deal' Channel 4), Sally-Anne's confident persona and quick wit have rapidly made her a much sought-after compere. She's been resident MC at Jesters Comedy Club in Bristol since 2005 and is a regular, keenly anticipated turn on the UK comedy circuit.

Actor and comedian Alistair Barrie has been performing professionally for nearly an entire century (this one). Much in demand as both a headline act and MC across the international circuit, he has played all over the UK and Ireland, as well as further afield in the States, Australia, Athens (during riot season) and the middle of the North Sea.

Shelley Cooper was the first transgender comic to perform on the UK comedy circuit. Her debut at in 2003 wowed critics and audiences alike, with reviewers claiming her ‘a star in the making' (Attitude), ‘one to watch!’(Time Out) and ‘not to be missed' (The Scotsman). If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, Shelley Cooper is ... out of this world! Having seen life from both sides, Shelley shares her unique and humorous insights as she presents her much acclaimed stand-up comedy.

Zoe Lyons came to stand up comedy out of desperation and after many years of being a committed under achiever. In 2003 Zoe did a five minute open spot at a new act night. She got the comedy bug and hasn't looked back since, winning the national Funny Women competition and got to the final of So, You Think Your Funny? In 2004. She now gigs regularly all over the country and has resident gigs in both Brighton and London. She also demonstrated to the nation her ability to laugh in the face of adversity, as a contestant on ITV's 'Survivor!' where she ate a rat and lived to tell the tale (and no, rat does not taste like chicken), has appeared on BBC’s Mock The Week, and won the ‘Funniest Joke of the Festival’ Award, with a one-liner about Amy Winehouse last year.

BENT DOUBLE visits Komedia Brighton on Sunday 7 June at 8pm (food served from 6.30pm). Tickets are £10/£8 available on-line at www.komedia.co.uk/brighton or from the Box Office on 0845 293 8480.

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