Fest Best: Journeys into the absurd

Charlie Chuck

Woof. Bark. Donkey. Reeves and Mortimer TV legend Charlie Chuck (aka comedian David Kear) returns with an array of pork pie murders, comedy guests, falling donkeys and “a talent show that makes Britain’s Got Talent look like Gordon Brown’s armpit”. If it sounds inexplicable and certifiably insane, that’s because it probably is. Make sure you catch this shuffling homage to the House Of Mental.

 

Doctor Brown

The papers say it's Mr Bean meets Buster Keaton, but emerging cult hero Doctor Brown is quite simply in a league of his own. Often wordless, hugely physical, his sets have been known to include pouring two litres of cold water over a heckler in the middle of December. A truly bonkers hour of wayward anti-comedy. 

 

The Two Wrongies

Avis Cockbill and Janine Fletcher describe themselves as “the double act who dare to do the dirty.” Subverting the locker room mentality with a dollop of femininity, the pair are visual, visceral and very, very wrong. Benefitting from the direction of bygone avant-garde duo Noble and Silver, their choreographed, swimwear-clad comedy promises to baffle and delight. Strap in. [Stevie Martin]