Bill Bailey, Wyndham's Theatre

Surreal and subtle, a comic who can mix girly songs with discourses on creationism

by Veronica LeeWednesday, 10 November 2010

Bill Bailey: An accomplished musician, and a surreal and subtle comic

By chance, two comics with a penchant for rock‘n’roll have been strutting their stuff at opposite ends of the capital in the same week. First, Bolton funnyman Peter Kay was giving it his all on stage at the O2 on the Greenwich peninsula, and now Bill Bailey begins a two-month-long residency at the Wyndham’s Theatre in the West End. Music buffs both - but in Bailey’s case there are no air guitars as he’s an accomplished musician, and the stage is filled with stringed instruments and keyboards.

His lament for the death of punk (Johnny Lydon doing butter commercials, oh the pain of it) is particularly memorable

Buy

Explore topics

Share this article

The future of Arts Journalism

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

more Comedy

Help to give theartsdesk a future! Support our GoFundMe appeal

Kemah Bob, Soho Theatre review - Thailand, massage and mental health Texan's full-length debut is a personal story

Natalie Palamides: Weer, Soho Theatre review - a romcom of two halves Comic plays male and female roles simultaneously

Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Brighton Dome review - a foster carer's tale Comic skilfully melds a personal story with sharp social commentary

Rose Matafeo, Arcola Theatre review - Starstruck star muses on love Kiwi comic on dating, phone apps and Taylor Swift

Ellen DeGeneres, Netflix Special review - no mea culpa and few jokes Former chatshow host’s bizarre take on cancellation

Joe Rogan, Netflix Special review - US podcaster leaves the controversy - and the jokes - at home Nothing edgy about this hour

Zoë Coombs Marr, Soho Theatre review - stock checks and spreadsheets Australian comic's autobiographical show

Adam Sandler, Netflix Special - songs, silliness and deconstructing stand-up The comic and director Josh Sadie have fun with the form

Blu-ray: Laurel and Hardy - The Silent Years Always watchable, occasionally hysterical collection of silent shorts

Edinburgh Fringe 2024 review: Joe Kent-Walters Spoof of old-school entertainment

Edinburgh Fringe 2024: Edinburgh Comedy Awards winners Amy Gledhill wins main award

Follow @theartsdesk