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The Comperes |
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The Comperes |
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This pages is dedicated to the tireless work of our fantastic Beat the Frog Comperes!
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Dan Nightingale
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| Dan started his comedy career whilst studying Politics at
Newcastle University. but soon decided he was funny as f*ck so
knocked the degree on the head and moved into doing stand up.
Being constantly billed as "the next big thing" has done nothing to quell the ever increasing Nightingale ego, but this confidence is just the thing that makes him the ideal compere for this night. As well as being a regular weekend act at the Frog and Bucket Dan has regularly appeared at XS Malarkey, The Buzz, the Iguana as well as too many national appearences around the UK, including gigs to 5,000 people at Newcastle Uni Fresher's ball. "One of the most spontaneous and promising acts to come out of Manchester since Tony Burgess". - XS Malarkey Reviews. "Dan's the man" - Manchester Evening News "..a real natural, a 100mph bundle of energy". - Mike Barnett, Manchester Evening News. |
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Jason Cook
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Be ready for pretty much anything when Jason Cook takes to the stage. Behind his cheerful Geordie exterior lurks a dark, sharp comedic mind capable of taking an unsuspecting audience to places they didn’t want to go. Dwarves, newspaper vendors, the toilets at raves, true-to-life stories that drag you in and won’t let go. Cook is close to the edge but always intriguing and blessed with the sort of charm that’ll have you laughing in spite of yourself. At the same time Jason can cater to any audience with his prolific writing and irresistible charm. Jason was first bitten by the comedic bug as part of the renowned Newcastle based sketch troupe known simply as Soup. He then went on to make a name for himself around the Tyneside area, most notably his time spent as a regular compere at The Hyena Club. There is no better place to hone comedic talent than in front of 300 baying punters, many of whom look capable of eating their own young. Mr. Cook also bears a striking resemblance to Herr Karl Karl of Die Clatterschenkenfietermaus, one of the world’s foremost techno bands. Jason is also head writer of Soup groundbreaking sketch show, and writer of Die Clatterschenkfieternmaus and Malcolm and Mirriam. The 2005 Edinburgh show gaining a treasured 4 star review from the Scotsman In 2007, Jason took his first solo stand up show to the fringe, selling out for the bulk of the run, and earning 5 star reviews. “…he doesn't lose his crowd for one second." - The Metro |
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Toby Hadoke |
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Toby
Hadoke is the highly regarded regular compere at XS MALARKEY,
Manchester’s award winning comedy venue. He has also headlined at many
Northern comedy venues and is an accomplished actor with experience on
television, the stage and even in an opera! He also won THE LES DAWSON
AWARD for services to comedy at the 2003 MANCHESTER COMEDY FESTIVAL
beating Peter Kay, Johnny Vegas, Ken Dodd and Steve Coogan. Saddled
with an incomprehensible surname that no-one can pronounce or spell, Toby
moved to Manchester in the early 1990’s – it offered opportunities
unavailable in the wilds of his native Shropshire (such as comedy clubs,
the secret of fire and eligible females to whom he wasn’t a blood
relative). His stand-up is renowned for its topicality and occasionally
uncompromising political slant, and his delivery giddily straddles the
humbly self-deprecating to the ferociously in-your-face. "One
of the local heroes of comedy... one of the regular highlights (of the
night) is the genial and all-inclusive banter of Hadoke himself." -
Ben Carlish, Metro “Brilliant,
had the audience in stitches”
– Kevin Bourke, Manchester
Evening News "One
of the circuit's leading comperes - an expert ringmaster, tackles hecklers
with relish and zeal. A comedy genius." - Helen Duff, Metro "His
quick witted mix of left field topicality and observational asides ensures
he’s rarely short of work." - Mike Barnett, Manchester Evening News |
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Jonathan Mayor |
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| Jonathan Mayor is one the rising stars of the Manchester alternative performance scene, making regular appearances not only on the stand up circuit, but also various queer or black minority events and performances. His first appearance as a stand up comedian was at Pink Purse, a queer performance night at Manchester’s radical Contact Theatre in December 2001, and that night saw the start of a growing cult of lesbian and gay fans. Not that Jonathan was any stranger to the stage, having appeared in amateur and semi-pro theatre ever since he was old enough to wear a pair of sling backs, including producing and performing in a play at the Pleasance at Fringe 1993. Jonathan’s path into full time stand up was largely due to the landlord of the Bulls Head handing over his highly respectable establishment for the camp riot that is Jonathan's Tuesday night quiz. This quiz quickly evolved into a night of comedy and cabaret with a few questions thrown in. It was here that he was spotted, and encouraged try the alternative stand up circuit. His first 'proper' stand up gig was at the highly respected Manchester Buzz club in April 2002. Since then he has made several appearances at all the major Manchester venues. He has also performed at the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh, in the So You Think You’re Funny heats and at the Liverpool Comedy Festival. Jonathan was also a finalist in the City Life North West Comedian of the Year Award 2002. "Imagine a Christmas tree has just exploded over the campest Bollywood star you know." - John Locke, Manchester Comedy Store "An incredible presence on the stage. Mesmerising to watch and an extremely articulate improviser. Fantastic." - XS Malarkey |
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