The title is spot on. FERGUS CRAIG - winner of the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year 2009 and star of Channel 4’s hit comedy Star Stories - does indeed still watch Neighbours. In 1988 Scott and Charlene’s wedding was watched by 20 million UK viewers. 95% of them grew up and moved on. But FERGUS didn’t. If anything, his obsession has grown. For example when Barack Obama was elected, some said that his family would become the new Kennedys - but as far as FERGUS is concerned no one could replace Karl and Susan. Get ready for a debut solo show from one-half of the acclaimed duo COLIN & FERGUS (and Northumberland Under-13 Badminton Champion 1992) as he chronicles his relationship with the UK’s favourite Aussie soap.
Born a wimp to hippy, southern, middle class parents (who inexplicably chose to raise him in inner city Newcastle) FERGUS never quite fitted in, and sought refuge in the lives of Harold Bishop, Joe Mangle and Toadfish Rebecchi. As FERGUS grew older so did the Neighbours, but he stayed loyal through ever more ludicrous and unintentionally hilarious storylines: from Paul Robinson’s artificial leg, to Harold Bishop’s heart attack brought on by performing a rap. When Neighbours was accused of lacking non-white cast members they rallied by introducing the (token) Chinese Lin family. What was their biggest storyline? Julie Martin accused them of eating her dog.
Join FERGUS for a very personal guided tour around Ramsey Street which includes many classic clips from past series, as well as some of FERGUS’ own (no doubt equally embarrassing) childhood home movies. If nothing else, Jim Robinson’s death will be a hoot…
ends
What the press has said about Fergus Craig:
"Self-consciously playing with the conventions of stand-up comedy, his set was an inventive breath of fresh air, while never forgetting to be funny…with killer lines, great delivery and a delightful dollop of surprises, Craig was class."
Tony Cooke, The Stage
"Impressively witty and inventive writing. The off-kilter phrasing of his gags, the playfulness with which he attempts potentially racist accents and the general air of self-deprecation all make for a laugh-out-loud set."
Steve Bennett, Chortle
"Has a refreshingly different take."
Julian Hall, The Independent
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Venue: Pleasance Baby Grand
Date: 5th - 31st August 2009 (Except 17th August)
Time: 16:30
Box Office: 0131 556 6550
For more information and press tickets, please contact: Jo Cross, Ben Nolan, Jenny Stewart or Dan Lloyd. Tel: 020 7598 7222 [London office]. Email: joc@avalonuk.com, benn@avalonuk.com, jenny.stewart@avalonuk.com or danl@avalonuk.com
WHAT THE PRESS HAS SAID ABOUT COLIN AND FERGUS:
"Colin and Fergus are an energetic and oddly dark pleasure… their giddiness is contagious and their sweetness a curve ball to the surreal black humour so professionally showcased. As for the chemistry between the two - it’s like someone set up a lab rather than a comedy venue."
Mickey Noonan, Metro
"Colin and Fergus are self assured, pervasive, intelligent, cheeky, seductively subversive and downright weird."
Justin Tilbury, The Guardian
FERGUS CRAIG
FERGUS CRAIG is an experienced comedy writer-performer who recently appeared in Channel 4’s Star Stories. He has also appeared in Extras (BBC Two), Hey Hey We’re The Monks (BBC Two), Angelos (Five), Roman’s Empire (BBC TWO), After You’ve Gone (BBC ONE), Raging and Pulling (both BBC THREE), and Jonathan Creek (BBC ONE), He is set to star in the forthcoming series of the BAFTA nominated I’m Sorry I’ve Got No Head (BBC ONE). FERGUS’ radio acting credits include Hut 33 for BBC Radio 4 and he provides voiceovers for Mist: Sheepdog Tales (Five).
FERGUS is well-known as one half of the acclaimed double act COLIN AND FERGUS. They have written and performed a special for BBC Radio 2, Theatre Group with Peter and Sarah, and have performed in two series of their own show, Colin and Fergus’s Digi Radio for BBC7. They also appeared in Comedy Shuffle (BBC THREE), Edinburgh and Beyond (Comedy Central), Comedy Lab (Channel 4), The Milk Run (BBC Radio 1), 28 Acts in 28 Minutes (BBC Radio 4) and previously performed as regulars on the BBC Radio 2 comedy showcase Out To Lunch. They have written and performed in three sell-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, where they won the Writers’ Guild Award for Comedy with their debut show.
This year has seen him storm onto the scene as a solo performer, winning the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year, come second in the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Award, and third in the Laughing Horse New Act Final. His theatre credits include Philostrate in A Midsummer Night’s Dream on national tour with the RSC, and Alan Bennett in the West End hit Pete and Dud: Come Again.
AVALON PROMOTIONS
Avalon Promotions Limited is one of the leading promoters of live comedy in the UK. Productions include: NEWMAN & BADDIEL in the first comedy show ever to be staged at Wembley Arena; FRANK SKINNER’s record-breaking performance to an audience of 6,000 at the Battersea Power Station; Jerry Springer - The Opera at the National Theatre, at the Cambridge Theatre in London’s West End, on national tour and at New York’s Carnegie Hall; HARRY HILL at the Palace and Dominion Theatres in London; and Dave Gorman’s Googlewhack Adventure at the Sydney Opera House, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, on national tour and at the Village Theatre, New York (nominated for Drama Desk Award 2004).
The last 12 months has seen Avalon Promotions: present multi-award winning comics JENNY ECLAIR, RICHARD HERRING, RUSSELL HOWARD and FRANK SKINNER on sell-out runs; produce AL MURRAY, THE PUB LANDLORD live at the O2 and RUSSELL HOWARD at Wembley Arena; introduce some of the fastest-rising stars in comedy such as RUSSELL KANE, KRISTEN SCHAAL & KURT BRAUNOHLER and ISY SUTTIE; produce stage shows, such as Frank Skinner’s Credit Crunch Cabaret and Grumpy Old Women Live, which has toured the UK three times and performed a highly successful run in Australia; and present 23 acts at the Edinburgh Festival, where it has promoted a total of five Perrier Award winners and 17 Perrier Award/if.comedy Award nominees in just 20 years.
