Digging up religious roots

Katy Brand wanted to be an astronaut, but she didn’t have the maths, so instead she launched herself into comedy.

On Saturday, June 3, she is heading for Swindon’s Arts Centre with her hit Edinburgh Festival show, I Was a Teenage Christian.

The show is a stripped back, honest, and funny exploration of her self-imposed conversion and total immersion into evangelical Christianity.

Katy said: “One Sunday, aged 13, I went to a local church service and became a fundamentalist Christian. From then on I attended church four times a week. I was an obnoxious, self-important d***, but at least I knew I was going to heaven. Now I’m not so sure.’’ The comedian performed her first professional gig in a London pub in 2004, before joining the comedy sketch troupe Ealing Live!

She toured the country with her own show and won a British Comedy award for the TV sketch series Katy Brand’s Big Ass Show. That was in 2008 and since then she has been part of many films, TV programmes and radio shows.

Katy had her first novel, Brenda Monk is Funny, published in 2014, but she said her main claim to fame was dressing as Beyonce on national TV and nearly getting away with it… Katy will be performing at the Old Town theatre in Devizes Road from 7.30pm and tickets are £15.50 from 01793 524481 or visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk

Honesty and satire by daring comedian

Reginald D Hunter did his first stand up comedy gig for a dare and scooped himself £100.

Today the comedian is hugely popular with all generations, appealing across the board both for his stand up and his television appearances including 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and Have I Got News For You.

But it is his most recent foray into the land of TV that has really put Reginald on the map – the three-part BBC2 series Reginald D Hunter’s Songs Of The South, which documented Reginald’s epic road trip from North Carolina to New Orleans through 150 years of American popular song.

Tonight he is making another pilgrimage to Swindon, bringing his new show to the Wyvern Theatre.

In the past 12 months he has appeared in a critically acclaimed tour of Ireland as well as performing across Europe. He was born in Georgia, USA, the youngest of nine children, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and has scooped numerous awards including the Writers’ Guild Award for Comedy in 2006 for his show Pride and Prejudice...& N*****.

Reginald has attracted not only plaudits but criticism brimming over into controversy for some of his work.

He said: “It’s amazing how many people go out of their way to be offended by what you’re saying. There is also a group of people who believe that misrepresenting what you say is a weapon of debate. I hate wilful misconstruction generally, but I’m even less of a fan of it when it’s done to me.’’ The comedian specialises in social satire and observational comedy focussing on society, culture, human interaction and race with a refreshing honesty which he captures in his new show.

He said: “Every time something new works on stage, it’s definitely a great high. It’s really satisfying.”

Tonight from 8pm at the Wyvern, Reginald will be supported by Glenn Wool, who has appeared on The John Bishop Show, Russell Howard’s Good News and numerous other UK stand-up shows.

Tickets are £26.50 from 01793 524481 or visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk

Stepping out for summer

Teresa’s School of Dance has been teaching and encouraging young dancers for more than 10 years in Swindon and this week the students perform in their summer show.

The experienced teachers provide classes for all ages in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre and break dance. Each year the school puts on two shows, with the main Wyvern show in the summer.

This year’s summer show is dedicated to the West End, showcasing a variety of dance pieces, performed by students from as young as three recreating the magic of shows such as Dirty Dancing.

Teresa’s School of Dance is based in The Croft Sports Centre, Marlborough Lane and the 24 Hour Gym, on the Hillmead industrial Estate.

Tickets to the Wyvern show are £10.50 from 01793 524481 or visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk