Playing age- 30-40
Height: 5.6
Hair Colour: Brown
Eye Colour: Green
Build: Stocky
Native Accent: North East, English
Experienced in: Stage, TV,
commercials,
Corporate Entertainment,
Improvisation, Stand Up Comedy.
Accents: North East, RP.
Driving License: Yes, full
“Original, genuinely unpredictable and very rewarding” Chortle
Brief Description
A quirky and disarming stage presence, John’s blend of sharp inventive wit and surreal stories are a sure-fire hit with audiences.
Biography
Having started stand up in 2003, John has quickly gained a strong reputation for his original perspective and quirky retorts. A talented improviser, he bounces off the audience like a comedic ping-pong ball, engaging and involving them so that his set becomes and experience rather than simply a set piece. This ensures that he is a firm choice as an MC and as a quality support act at many of the UK’s largest comedy nights.
“His audience interaction is flawless” The Skinny
His talent for improvisation is regularly showcased during his performances for the Comedy Sportz improvisation troupe. John shines in an environment where he is required to create quick-witted sketches, scenes and songs from suggestions thrown at him by the audience. Internationally acclaimed, the troupe have performed in Washington, Chicago Milwaukee and New York.
John is also a talented actor and writer, having recently finished a run as Terry Collier in a stage adaptation of ‘Whatever Happened to The Likely Lads’, hosted a set of BBC Comedy Workshops for new comedians and was chosen to have a BBC pilot developed as part of their ‘Jesting About’ comedy writers scheme.
John also performs as character act Danny Pensive.
Awards and Competitions
City Life Comedian of the Year Finalist – 2006
So you think you’re Funny Semi-finalist 2004
‘Best of British’ Finalist, The Frog & Bucket, Manchester Comedy Festival – 2003
Manchester Comedy Store ‘King Gong’ ( x3 )
Festivals:
Danny Pensive’s Work in Progress – Leicester 2013
Danny Pensive’s Map of Britain – Edinburgh 2011
The 30 Year Itch – Edinburgh Debut Show 2008
TV
BBC 2 – “The Speaker” 2009 (watch the video)
Cadbury’s Clusters – (TV ad)
Mrs Buchan – Ipso facto Films for Channel 4.
Radio
The Sam Walker Show, BBC Radio Manchester
Currently appearing at:
The Frog and Buckets,
Baby Blue,
The Stands,
Ha Ha comedy Clubs,
The Last Laugh Comedy Clubs
Buzz Comedy.
The Speaker Interview
In 2009 John participated in the BBC2 series ‘The Speaker’. Here he is discussing the use of storytelling in stand up comedy.
