Making his London debut US comic Michael Che, who recently was brought on as a full time writer of NBC’s ‘Saturday Night Live’, comes to the capital for 6 nights from 27th May – 1st June to the Soho Theatre Cabaret Space. This comes after a hugely successful Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year, that led to sold out shows and critical acclaim.
Critics and audiences agree both sides of the pond that NY-based writer and stand-up comedian Michael Che is a star on the rise and a shooting star at that. This year he has already been named as one of Rolling Stone’s ‘50 Funniest People in 2013’, Buzzfeed’s ‘50 Hottest Men in Comedy’ and Variety’s ‘Top 10 Comics To Watch.’
Michael Che made his Edinburgh Festival debut in 2013 with ‘Michael Che – Cartoon Violence’. His comedy uses humour to identify humanity in the most controversial actions. Whether it is a story about his friend “Homeless Dave,” or tackling relationship issues and why “like” is better than “love”: “People kill their loved ones all the time. Nobody ever kills people they like, though. Nobody’s watching you sleep through your bedroom window because you’re ‘pretty cool.’” Che’s act also digs deeper than the seemingly common topics he addresses by providing keen, yet jovial insight into larger issues like race relations, gay marriage and world hunger.
A native of lower Manhattan, Che applies street culture to world issues with a delivery that The New York Times describes as “a reflective, laid-back stage presence with jokes that draw as much from his city upbringing…as from blunt, insightful points that bring the abstract into focus.”
In March this year, Che was brought on as a writer for two instalments of NBC’s iconic Saturday Night Live, which led to him being a permanent recruit on the main writing team. His romantic comedy parody “She’s Got a D!%k,” starring that week’s host Justin Timberlake, was a highlight of the March 9th episode. Che appears weekly on Vh1’s Best Week Ever and was featured on John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show on Comedy Central, Money from Strangers on MTV and as a recurring contestant on IFC’s comedy game show Bunk. 2013 also saw him perform at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Comedy Central’s South Beach Comedy Festival, The Moontower Comedy Festival, and Bonnaroo.
At the end of last year Che made his Late Night television debut performing stand-up on CBS’s Late Show with David Letterman. Also in 2012, he created, wrote and starred in the original web series “The Realest Candidate” on Broadway Video’s YouTube channel, The Above Average Network. Che was crowned the winner of the New York’s Funniest Stand-Up competition at the 2012 New York Comedy Festival, and both Time-Out NY and Comedy Central have listed him as one of their “Comics To Watch.” He headlines comedy clubs and colleges nationally and internationally.
‘American comedy’s next best thing’ INDEPENDENT
‘Don’t be surprised if Michael Che ends up being one of America’s top comedians…his best material insightful, obtuse and damn funny…he will sure be a force to be reckoned with’ CHORTLE (Steve Bennett)
‘…one of the brightest names on the New York Scene’ OBSERVER (Stephanie Merritt)
‘…distinctive voice and raw talent’ SCOTSMAN (Jay Richardson)
‘…tough, young, sharp comic’ THE LIST
‘…an exciting talent’ EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS
‘…Che is a natural comedian, brimming with wit, sarcasm and an undeniable stage presence’ EDINBURGH FESTIVAL MAG
‘…this man is blessed with being naturally funny as well as funny on stage’ BROADWAY BABY
‘…he has confidence beyond his years and the jokes to back it up’ TIME OUT
‘…surprisingly insightful comedy’ GUARDIAN GUIDE
Tuesday 27th May – Sunday 1st June at 7:30pm.
SOHO THEATRE, LONDON
Age Restriction: 16 +