Anyone remembering Frank Skinner's highly regarded Credit Crunch Cabaret a couple of years ago may be overjoyed to hear something similar's coming to the Noel Coward Theatre in January - others can take the opportunity to see a mix of big names in a big theatre for not-so-big prices.
At £16 (plus inevitable booking fee) the run is a smidge pricier than the tenner credit crunch shows, but think of it as £4 per act with your host Skinner thrown in for free. A couple of dates leap out immediately - Richard Herring, Isy Suttie, Joe Lycett and swing band Jive Aces on 26th January, and Andy Zaltzman, James Acaster, Fitzrovia Radio Hour and Aaron Sparks on the last night, 4th February.
Looking at that list you've probably already clocked - because you're a wonderful, intelligent person - that it's not pure comedy. Nestling among the comedians (Al Murray, Roisin Conaty, Alun Cochrane, Phil Nichol, Zoe Lyons, Brendon Burns, Elis James and Tom Deacon to name but a few) are some cabaret and music acts: particularly look out for Frisky and Mannish, rapper/comedian Doc Brown and Tina C (alter-ego of Christopher Green, whose Ida Barr we were in fits over earlier this year).
This looks like the perfect way to blow away the January cobwebs, so we have no hesitation recommending you get in there fast when booking officially opens tomorrow at 9am on 0844 482 5141 (though, er, it looks like online booking is open already). And the fact he was so nice about us recently doesn't hurt a bit.
Frank Skinner and Friends is at the Noel Coward Theatre, St Martin's Lane, from Monday 23rd January until Saturday 4th February 2012. Tickets cost £16 + fees - you can see the full line-up for each night at the bottom of the seetickets online booking page.
