he Navan-born comedian and star of Black Books, Shaun Of The Dead and A Film With Me In It is known for his witty observational humour and in 1996 – listen up, fact fans – was the youngest ever recipient of the Perrier Comedy Award (which he won aged 24). He’ll perform his Yeah Yeah show for three consecutive nights (October 5 – 8) in Dublin’s Vicar St.

Up north, the West End production of Calendar Girls makes its way to Belfast’s Grand Opera House, where it runs until October 8. The show, based on a true story, sees a group of ordinary women spur each other on to get ‘em out and pose nude for a charity calendar. This production stars Anne Charleston, Gemma Craven and Hannah Waterman, and has sold out in every theatre it’s ever visited!
Meanwhile, English comic and TV personality Alan Carr’s Spexy Beast tour continues, with two Irish stop-offs this fortnight. The host of Channel 4’s Chatty Man will take to the O2 stage on October 12, before heading north for two Belfast Odyssey shows (17, 18).
Facing The Space: A One-Woman Show runs in the Mayfield Deli and Eatery, Dublin 6W ‘til October 31. Here, Amy de Bhrún incorporates song, poetry, theatre and a host of characters into a performance which “deals with the loss of human connection in a modern world of social networking”. The venue is running a deal for the show’s duration – get fed and watered while at the show for a mere €25.
Also in Dublin, Aidan Killian’s one-man show Take The Red Pill plays in the Odeon on October 6. Aidan, an ex-banker (boo), promises to share secrets about the financial sector, telling us his show “will make you think and feel as well as laugh.” He’s sold-out a recent Edinburgh Fringe run and is New York-bound shortly, so catch him while
you can.
Elsewhere around the country, Jarlath Regan plays Kilkenny’s Hole In The Wall (13), Brendan Grace is in Tipperary for a show in the Source Arts Centre (14), and The Nualas play in the Mill Theatre (15).