My first evening at a comedy night was in New Yorks' Time  Square some years back where the highlight of the night was 30 minutes spent slagging off the British. It was an uncomfortable moment for my American friend I can tell you, who was nervously trying not to laugh and trying to gauge my offense-o-meter as to whether this was indeed a bad idea. Don't get me wrong I love gags that poke fun at the British or any other culture as long as it is well meant and funny, but humour based on the ridiculous assumptions that we all live in fog, wear top hats and have bad teeth is what I object to.

So when I was invited to the comedy Cafe tucked away in Shoreditch I thought maybe it was time to test the latest British humour in vogue and venture out on one of the coldest nights this season and clear away some of the cobwebs from the cold winter nights.

I arrive into a lovely cosy bar with ample seating and tables in a low lit environment- I'm not a fan of bright lights so I was relieved. I grab a drink from the reasonably priced bar and look around at the coats left on the seats to "bagsy" the best view. The venue has another area at the back and a smoking terrace so its deceptively larger than the impression given from the outside. I have a quick chat to some other first time punters and realise I am surrounded mainly by students and birthday groups. Suddenly the lights go up and compere Cole Parker makes his way to the stage with whoops and cheers from the audience and the fun really starts. I haven't laughed this much since I was a student (seriously!) Cole was hilarious and the audience was entertained all night by a variety of international comedians from around the world-each with their own unique style. First up was Tobias Paschant from Sweden who had the audience cracking up at his own version of Swedish stereotypes while Aussie Kent Valentine shared his bizarre story of making napalm (yes really!) So by the time Craig Hill the gay Scotsman took to the stage in his latex kilt I was almost in agony from laughing he was funnier than any other lame camp act on TV and his fast-wit and audience interaction was absolutely superb.

But the star of the show was undoubtedly Cole Parker who not only delivered a first-class warm up act but his casual and professional improv' style in-between acts was simply brilliant, watch out for this bloke because he really is a star in the making with audiences both in UK and US loving his unique style of dark humour and sharp wit. In addition he is also a talented actor and presenter appearing both on film and television.

After the show the venue came alive with US style kareoke with a live band inviting guest vocalists on-stage to "sing" or should I say wail their hearts out, rest assured I wasn't one of them. I preferred to watch the two drunken punters who strolled in later after the show and were both so inebriated they couldn't even get the words out to order a drink and ended up on the floor-now 'that's entertainment!'

For more Comedy Café hilarity check out the site at Comedy Cafe

© Words – Tracey Wilmot


Cole Parker Forthcoming Gigs

FEBRUARY
Thursday 23rd Up The Creek Greenwich - Compere
Thursday 23rd Kempinskas - Bride Lane - Fleet Street - Central London - Headline
Friday 24th Glasgow Jongleurs
Saturday 25th Glasgow Jongleurs
Tuesday 28th Licensed Fools, The Garage, Highbury & Islington

MARCH
Friday 2nd Milton Keynes Jongleurs
Saturday 3rd Milton Keynes Jongleurs
Monday 6th - Wednesday 21st - Various venues in Los Angeles
Thursday 22nd Funny Side of St Pauls - London
Friday 23rd Newbury Jongleurs On The Road
Saturday 24th Jongleurs Watford
Friday 30th Chatham Kent - Jongleurs On The Road
Saturday 31st Kingston Jongleurs

APRIL
Monday 2nd Borough Green Kent - Out Of Bounds Comedy - Headline
Thursday 12th Up The Creek - Greenwich - Compere
Friday 13th Bristol Jongleurs
Saturday 14th Bristol Jongleurs
Sunday 15th North Devon
Friday 20th Wellingborough Jongleurs On The Road
Saturday 21st Croydon Jongleurs
Wednesday 25th Dorking - Out Of Bounds Comedy - Headline
Thursday 26th Kings Lynn
Saturday 28th Portsmouth Jongleurs

May
Thursday 10th Dewsbury Jongleurs On The Road
Friday 18th Glasgow Jongleurs
Saturday 19th Glasgow Jongleurs

JUNE
Friday 15th Watford Jongleurs
Saturday 16th Watford Jongleurs
Friday 29th West Malling Kent - Out Of Bounds Comedy - Compere

JULY
Friday 13th Sevenoaks Kent - Out Of Bounds Comedy - Opening Set
Saturday 14th - Covent Garden Comedy Club
Friday 20th Edinburgh Jongleurs
Saturday 21st Edinburgh Jongleurs
Friday 27th Kempinskas - Bride Lane - Fleet Street - Central London
Saturday 28th Croydon Jongleurs

AUGUST
Friday 3rd Newcastle Hyena Cafe
Saturday 4th Hyena Cafe
Friday 10th Nottingham Jongleurs
Saturday 11th Nottingham Jongleurs
Friday 17th Leeds Jongleurs
Saturday 18th Leeds Jongleurs

SEPTEMBER
Friday 7th Milton Keynes Jongleurs
Saturday 8th Milton Keynes Jongleurs
Saturday 22nd Huddersfield Jongleurs On The Road
Friday 28th Kempinskas - Bride Lane - Fleet Street - Central London