Tuesday, December 17th at The Bell was G&B’s Christmas Fundraiser Show. This year it was in aid of FCENS (Forest Churches Emergency Night Shelter). As well as some fabulous comedy, we also had an auction throughout the evening, auctioning off various items and services G&B members had donated. The evening was a great success with the charity finally landing a not too shabby £815.00. On top of this we also had some cracking comedy, all kicked off by the wonderfully funny, festive songstress Barbara Fernandez and her Christmas cheer for all the family, even her most redneck of relatives. The glitzy fabulousness of Amber Phillips was next with just how much she loves her brother: £1.25, as it turns out. It was then over to Archie Keen and the interesting linguistic choices that can be found on Duolingo. After Archie was Ben Marciano, whose nan is a bit of a character…which is why he’s blocked her on Facebook. We then had Connor Bell and just how price comparison can drive a man to relocate all the way across the globe. It was then over to Tony Carr, a man who celebrates the dignity of socks in an NHS gown. Hot on Tony’s heels was Sam Mullen and the best mate pact sworn by those with something best hidden from prudish eyes. Closing the first half was David Ferguson. When we originally asked for suggestions as to which charity might be the best beneficiary of our fundraiser evening, it was David that immediately proposed FCENS. David gave us a brilliant set that also explained just why organisations like FCENS are such incredible, and sadly essential, charities.
After the break it was the musical hilarity of Stew Simpson (pictured) that got the crowd going with a little ditty dedicated to Santa’s sack and its impressive contents. After stew was Mac O’Donnell, who was celebrating his 100th gig (on a side note here. It has been amazing real privilege to watch Mac’s comedy go from strength to strength over the past year. He’s worked hard at his comedy and it’s really beginning to pay off now. One to watch in 2025). Despite 100 gigs behind him, it’s one in particular that still seems to haunt him. After Mac was Nick Morey, who happily admits the only gym he’ll ever enter would be one short for James. Chris Cowan then gave us a quite literal Christmas Ted talk, c complete with Ted. The brilliant Adam Dorr was next with the confession he got into comedy to make his social skills even worse. It’s really not working, though, because the crowd bloody loved him. Lenny Consolo then gave us “the real” story of Christmas, complete with his take on the manger. It was then over to Andrew Norwood whose dreams of running while going nowhere have come to fruition thanks to his gym membership. No, not a James membership. The evening’s penultimate act was Nick Bain, who educated the crowd on the complex logistics of living in a polyamorous relationship. There’s a lot more admin that you’d expect. Closing the show was the mind bending hilarity of the magical Stuart Turner. From watch smashing to card tricks and a big budget pyrotechnic finish with a performing horse, Stuart gave the audience everything it didn’t know it desperately wanted. This was the perfect ending to an incredible evening. And if you want to see more of Stuart, and indeed my own, weird and wonderful magic, you can catch us both in Jitters, the deliciously dark and fabulously funny magic show at Network theatre on December 28th.
If you couldn’t make it to the show, but would still like to donate to this incredible charity, you can do so via their website at: