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Altarslan Bali |
Red Rose laughs are stifled again
Legendary venue’s revival hits problems
WANTED: an energetic promoter to retore laughter to a once legendary comedy club.
Promoter Sean Brownson, who had promised to resurrect the Red Rose comedy club in Finsbury Park which closed last year, has quit after just four weeks.
Now Altarslan Bali, the club’s new landlord, has launched a search for a talented promoter to help revive it.
Mr Bali said: “Sean was living out of London so he couldn’t manage it. I’m looking for an energetic promoter who will organise it and advertise it properly.”
During 20 years of stand-up nights, The Red Rose, in Seven Sisters Road, became the home of radical comedy, attracting future household names including Eddie Izzard, Mark Thomas and Jimmy Carr.
It ended in a four-hour marathon show in January last year when the venue’s owner decided to turn it into a snooker club.
Then, last month, Mr Brownson approached new owner Mr Bali with the hope of restoring the venue to its former glory.
Comedy veterans including Milton Jones, Dan Antopolski and Martin Coyote tried to bring the laughs back to the club, but found themselves playing to depleted audiences of just five or six people.
So, after just four weeks, Mr Brownson decided to call it a day.
He said: “We’ve decided to stop the club. Basically nobody was turning up. I’ve got other clubs and I’ve been too busy with those so we’ve decided to knock it on the head. I definitely won’t be doing anything back there.”
Mr Bali enlisted another promoter, who roped in Johnny Armstrong, Claigh Murray, Jane Hill and Rob Coleman to perform.
But Mr Bali is still looking for a permanent promoter to resurrect the comedy club for good.
The weekly events will be followed by Club Imperial, a night of techno, R’n’B, trance and bashment, open until 4am.
Comedians had high hopes when they heard the club was opening last month. Mark Thomas, who played many gigs there in his early days, said: “Hurrah, that’s very good, I’m happy,” while Alexei Sayle said he hoped the venue would continue its left-wing tradition. |
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