The Comedy Café - 10/12/2010

He was crowned this year's Scottish Comedian of the Year but he hails from Australia! We catch up with comedian Ro Campbell about the impact Scotland's had on his career as a stand-up. Following sell-out shows this year at Glasgow's International Comedy Festival, Ali Park's unashamedly female-friendly gig, "COW" ("Company of Women") is heading to the Southside. Charting the highs and lows of being a "wumman" this is no ordinary "feminist man-bashing rant". Men are more than welcome to join Ali for a walk on the "udder side" in the company of this refreshing female comedian. 'Tis the season to be jolly and for many that means a trip to the theatre for some feel good entertainment in the form of a play or panto. But as you settle into your seats waiting for the curtain to rise on a production that promises laughs aplenty do you ever consider how hard it is writing a successful comedy stage play? Entertainment writer Brian Beacom was self-confessedly quite critical of others' efforts until challenged to pen a comedy play himself. While Johnny McKnight, Artistic Director of Random Accomplice, was tortured when he first tried to write funny theatre. Together, they share the secrets, and backstage dramas, of scripting successful comedy for the stage.