Meet the comic: Juan D. Ablo

Juan D. Ablo appears just in ¿QUÉ? - The Movie. This sinister influence finds our pathetic quartet, sucked in, chewed up and spat out by Barcelona’s unforgiving streets. It may be beautiful but dreams die dramatically here too and life’s poachers are more than willing to exploit.
Blinded by the bling, the cool and the general flyness each character in turn succumbs and signs up for a trip that will be their last chance. Will they soar like comedy eagles or simply die on their arse and make D. Ablo´s day?

Meet the comic : Dan Ryan

Dan Ryan the crafty cockney with a swagger and comedy set to match the craftiest. Dan’s set is a gag fest that will trek the world with a backdrop that moves from Gaudi´s Barcelona to the North Korea of Kim Jong II and may even step into space at time. Dan has many talents of which music can feature so expect anything, but expect it cheeky.
In the film Ryan put in a showstopping performance as the lovable and ever misfortunate ‘Super Guiri*’, a much maligned character that has become a feature of the Barcelona landscape in recent years. Has to be seen!

(*) Guiri is the Spanish slang for foreigners.

Meet the comic: Lex Chapman

Lex Chapman originally from Stirling in Scotland and currently languishing on the old CB, that’s Costa Brava to you and me, where he operates under the moniker Latino Lex. He is a charm offensive who loves to mix it up with the crowd and will get the show off to a bang.
Renowned for his prowess, apparently, which is reflected in his onscreen character. Lex plays the last great Scottish Torero, likes a dram too many, had one fight, lost it and has ended up burnt out but still believing those tight pants are what makes the sexy grrrlls go crazy. Ladies beware!! (he thinks) (much like his off screen character!)

Meet the comic: Michael Kossew

Michael Kossew was born in South Africa and has been travelling since. In keeping with the best traditions of Jewish comedy, Michael’s style is provocative and not afraid to take risks. His well travelled background provides much of the inspiration for this hilarious set where he will explore themes as varied as Jewish holidays, Irish mysticism and golden showers.
Onscreen Michael plays that much loved and revered of Catalan characters, the Caganer*. A natural in the role we are wondering how long comedy can hold on to this talent as the Generalitat are sure to want to sign him up for future promotional projects. The future arse of Catalonia, who knows.

(*) The Caganer is a well loved figure in the typical Catalan Nativity scene. Literally translated from Catalan it means “The Shitting Man”. It’s believed that with his fertile depositions on the soil will become rich and productive for the coming year!

Meet the comic: Stephanie Figueira

Stephanie Figueira is a kick ass Cannuck whose colourful life led her to something of a quarter life crisis. Hers is a personal tale of a quest for change that has taken her from bizarre broken relationships in her native Toronto to a European adventure through Italy ending up in Barcelona and by turn thrust onto an Edinburgh stage.
In ¿QUÉ? - The Movie she plays the irrepressible and super positive Shirley Iglesias, a girl with a dream to become the greatest flamenco dancer of them all. Sometimes the world just dances to a different beat and ‘Learning Flamenco with apples’ is not as effective as they claim, it’s heart rending.

Comedy in Spain goes to the Fringe

ComedyinSpain is proud to present its first homemade stand-up comedy production - totally conceived and developed in Barcelona, involving long term residents - and take it to the Edinburgh Fringe festival 2009.

Actually, ‘¿QUÉ? - Four comics, Juan Vision’ is the first English language comedy show developed in Spain to be taken to the Fringe. It’s the culmination of a long term strategy of comedyinspain.com to develop comedy talent locally via workshops and logistical support and offer real opportunity to budding new comics.

What is ¿QUÉ?
A Jock, a Jew, a Canuck and a Cockney. A tap-ass comedy fiesta straight outta Barcelona. By turns engaging, disturbing, suave and sassy. ¿QUÉ? is what…

“Decadent leftist filth” Franco
“A real hoot! If a little surreal at times” Dalí
“A new dawn for comedy in Spain” The Catalansman

A Logan Murray Workshop last November 2008 got the ball rolling and a vibrant amateur scene with shows taking place in bars across Barcelona, inspiring many more to have a go. They have formed a group called the Barcelona Comedy Squad and ComedyinSpain has taken 4 of the brightest talents and shaped them into an Edinburgh show.

They are Dan Ryan from London, Lex Chapman from Stirling in Scotland, Michael Kossew South African born and on the move since and Stephanie Figueira from Canada, 4 completely different characters, drawn like thousands to make a life in the Catalan capital. This however is not a show about Barcelona. It is more a show with a Barcelona essence and default.

Opening with a 7 minute short film shot over 4 weeks of Guerrilla filming in the city, followed by 4 individual pieces of stand-up delivered by people with Barcelona under their skin and a musical finale that has absolutely nothing to do with this part of the world. It is a stand-up comedy show with a difference showcasing 4 of Barcelona’s best amateur comedy talents.

In Edinburgh ¿QUÉ? runs from the 16th until the 31st of August at The Tron as part of the FPF (Five Pound Fringe) programme.

Many people helped voluntarily in the creation of this first show and special thanks to: Drostyboy prooductions, Llantiol, Icon International and Framezero, Splat-photo, Go-Car BCN, camera operators Luigi and Malú and all the people who took part in the making of ¿Qué?, the movie.

David O’Doherty talks to In-Madrid

ORGAN TRANSPLANT
Edinburgh Fringe-winning musical comedian David O’Doherty talks to Jeff Wiseman about badgers, Spanish muggers and bringing his trusty kiddy’s keyboard to Madrid this month.

David O'Doherty Text Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAG18UUDPPI