May 17, 2016

Our Woman in Moscow: Abi Roberts

After last year’s sellout Show at Guildford Fringe, Ms Roberts comes back to her favourite Fringe to perform her new show about living in the Soviet Union in the mid-1990s, becoming an opera singer, talking into lightbulbs and narrowly escaping Russia!

Acclaimed and in-demand act Abi Roberts became the first UK comedian to perform in Russia – in Russian earlier this year and her new show is about going back to Russia after 15 plus years and tells the story of what it was like living in the former Soviet Union during the Cold War!

Helping to underline that comedy is a universal language, Abi Roberts joins the likes of Eddie Izzard in exporting the ‘internationality’ of stand up with her latest show ANGLICHANKA which she performed in Moscow in February 25 -27 and which she brings to Guildford on Friday 8^th and Saturday 9th July.

ANGLICHANKA (meaning ‘Englishwoman’) is the story of Abi’s adventures in the Russian capital during the 1990s, her love affair with the country as a whole and her overwhelming desire for Smetana and Tvorog (cottage cheese and creme fraiche)!

Abi’s many visits to Moscow saw her become an opera singer at the Moscow Conservatoire and a fluent Russian speaker. Having noted down all of these experiences and more in her journals, Abi is looking forward to finally sharing her unique material on various aspects of Russian life. Equally she knows that her English audiences will find some aspects of Russian culture entirely bizarre, as well as discover some surprising and funny similarities between the two countries.

“I last visited Russia in 1998” says Abi, “this show charts my first visit to my beloved Moscow since then – I was in for a few surprises when I went back! In this show you will find out what it was like living in the Soviet Union, what has changed and what we need to know about this enigmatic country and its leader Vladimir Putin.  Expect some Russian, Coassack dancing, opera and there will definitely be MORE MOZART!”

‘Raucous and incredibly funny’ -Daily Telegraph

 

Abi Roberts and her big hair exploded onto the stand-up comedy scene in 2011, after a number of years as a session vocalist and cabaret performer. In her four years in professional stand-up comedy, Abi has supported household names such as Michael McIntyre, Sarah Millican, Jack Whitehall and Tom Stade and is to be found performing at many of the UK’s leading comedy clubs, such as The Glee Club, Komedia and The Stand.
Abi was a Finalist and Runner-Up in the London Comedy Store’s Costa Light Comedy Competition in 2012, a Finalist and Runner-Up In the 2012 Harrogate Theatre’s Comedian of the Year and took the Audience Award at the same festival.

Abi has recently starred in SquareCat Films “One Under” movie, due for release later this year, plus a comedy series for Sky One called “Bucketless” (due for air next year).

Abi is also touring a character show called “FRANKLY ON TUESDAY” with ITV’s GAYLE TUESDAY (Harry Hill’s TV Burp, Paul O’Grady Show, Saturday Night Live (C4) and star of new sitcom, The Mayoress with Romesh Ranganathan, Jack Dee and Harry Hill).  The show is a book festival spoof whereby BBC Radio Culture Presenter Ginny Frankly interviews Gayle about her new book, “They Call Me A Woman, Because I am One”.

Abi also hosts her own chat show MUSICAL CID where well-known comedians talk about their music collections, which featuring comedy stars such as Al Murray, Romesh Ranganathan, Seann Walsh, Mark Dolan, Jo Caulfield and Jarred Christmas.

 

Friday 8th & Saturday 9th July

9pm

The Back Room of The Star

BOOK TICKETS HERE