Pippa Evans
Encyclopedia
Pippa Evans is a British
comedian
, known for her work in character
and improvisational comedy.
Having studied Drama and Theatre Arts at Birmingham University, she became a member of Scratch improvisation comedy troupe, and appeared in Newsrevue
, a topical comedy show at London's Canal Cafe Theatre
. In 2008, she gained second place in the annual Hackney Empire New Act of the Year
competition.
Her major breakthrough came as she made her solo debut at the 1998 Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Pippa Evans and Other Lonely People, playing a number of different characters at a self-help group meeting. Evans received positive reviews from the press, with the Scotsman citing her as "wicked and dark, with few gimmicks". She subsequently gained a nomination for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, before performing the show at London's Soho Theatre
for a limited season.
Evans best known stage character is Loretta Maine, a disturbed American singer-songwriter described by The Guardian newspaper as "Dolly Parton seen through the lens of Mike Leigh". The character of Maine has established Pippa Evans as a popular headliner on the London comedy club circuit. In 2009 she performed on the BBC Radio 4
series Arthur Smith's Balham Bash
as Loretta Maine.
She returned to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2009 with another show titled Pippa Evans: Your Evening's Entertainment, a variety show for an audience of conference delegates where Evans plays all the characters. In an interview with The Scotsman, Evans revealed "I was brought up with old time music halls and doing pantos in church halls... it was a big part of my background that always appealed to me". The show was again warmly received but it was the character of Loretta Maine which critics highlighted unequivocally. In November 2009 she curated and hosted Pippa's Old Time New Time Music Hall at the Canal Cafe Theatre, introducing audiences to her contemporaries Angelos Epithemiou, the Penny Dreadfuls
and Wilfredo
in a satire on the tradition of music hall
.
In 2010 she presented an entire show at the Fringe as Maine in I'm Not Drunk, I Just Need To Talk To You. The Independent's critic observed "Maine belongs to a recognizable stable of bitter songstresses and swigs on a screw-topped bottle of wine, while spewing out her vitriol any which way", while the comedy industry website Chortle noted that "Psycho-intense singer-songwriter Loretta Maine makes Courtney Love
look well-balanced. This pill-popping, booze-abusing, bunny-boiling car-crash of a rock star has been the most memorable creation of talented character comic Pippa Evans to date".
Pippa Evans is a core member of the award-winning improv team behind the stage show Showstopper! The Improvised Musical
. With the cast of Showstopper, Evans has toured the UK and abroad. In February 2011 the show opened at the Ambassadors Theatre in London's West End, coinciding with the broadcast of a series for BBC Radio Four.
She is a series regular on the BBC2 television improv show Fast and Loose
which aired in January 2011. She was also a regular in Newsjack
in October 2011 on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, known for her work in character
Character comedy
Character comedy is a method/genre used by some comedians. In character comedy the comedian performs as though he was a character created by him/her...
and improvisational comedy.
Having studied Drama and Theatre Arts at Birmingham University, she became a member of Scratch improvisation comedy troupe, and appeared in Newsrevue
Newsrevue
NewsRevue is a topical, satirical song and sketch show based at the Canal Cafe Theatre in Maida Vale, London and annually at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-running live comedy show...
, a topical comedy show at London's Canal Cafe Theatre
Canal Cafe Theatre
The Canal Cafe Theatre is a 60-seat fringe theatre venue in Little Venice, London, specialising in comedy performances.-Location:The theatre is above the Bridge House pub in Little Venice, on the corner of Westbourne Terrace Road and Delamere Terrace, at the meeting point of the Grand Union and...
. In 2008, she gained second place in the annual Hackney Empire New Act of the Year
Hackney Empire New Act of the Year
The Hackney Empire New Act of the Year was a long-running annual competition that ran at the Hackney Empire theatre in London in order to encourage, discover and promote new stand-up comedy and New Variety talent...
competition.
Her major breakthrough came as she made her solo debut at the 1998 Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Pippa Evans and Other Lonely People, playing a number of different characters at a self-help group meeting. Evans received positive reviews from the press, with the Scotsman citing her as "wicked and dark, with few gimmicks". She subsequently gained a nomination for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, before performing the show at London's Soho Theatre
Soho Theatre
Soho Theatre is a theatre in the eponymous Soho district of the City of Westminster. It presents new works of theatre, together with comedy and cabaret....
for a limited season.
Evans best known stage character is Loretta Maine, a disturbed American singer-songwriter described by The Guardian newspaper as "Dolly Parton seen through the lens of Mike Leigh". The character of Maine has established Pippa Evans as a popular headliner on the London comedy club circuit. In 2009 she performed on the BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
series Arthur Smith's Balham Bash
Arthur Smith's Balham Bash
Arthur Smith's Balham Bash is a comedy and music show hosted by Arthur Smith and recorded at his own house in Balham, London. It was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2009,It features both stand-up comedy and musical acts. Other than Smith, the only other regular on the show is Pippa Evans,...
as Loretta Maine.
She returned to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2009 with another show titled Pippa Evans: Your Evening's Entertainment, a variety show for an audience of conference delegates where Evans plays all the characters. In an interview with The Scotsman, Evans revealed "I was brought up with old time music halls and doing pantos in church halls... it was a big part of my background that always appealed to me". The show was again warmly received but it was the character of Loretta Maine which critics highlighted unequivocally. In November 2009 she curated and hosted Pippa's Old Time New Time Music Hall at the Canal Cafe Theatre, introducing audiences to her contemporaries Angelos Epithemiou, the Penny Dreadfuls
The Penny Dreadfuls
The Penny Dreadfuls are a British sketch-comedy troupe consisting of comedians Humphrey Ker, David Reed and Thom Tuck. The sketch team perform regularly on the London comedy circuit.-History:...
and Wilfredo
Matt Roper
Matt Roper is a British comedian, writer and musician who made his stand-up debut in the mid-1990s.He is an alumnus of the young people's theatre company Oldham Theatre Workshop, where his contemporaries included the actors Anna Friel and Suranne Jones....
in a satire on the tradition of music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
.
In 2010 she presented an entire show at the Fringe as Maine in I'm Not Drunk, I Just Need To Talk To You. The Independent's critic observed "Maine belongs to a recognizable stable of bitter songstresses and swigs on a screw-topped bottle of wine, while spewing out her vitriol any which way", while the comedy industry website Chortle noted that "Psycho-intense singer-songwriter Loretta Maine makes Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
look well-balanced. This pill-popping, booze-abusing, bunny-boiling car-crash of a rock star has been the most memorable creation of talented character comic Pippa Evans to date".
Pippa Evans is a core member of the award-winning improv team behind the stage show Showstopper! The Improvised Musical
Showstopper! The Improvised Musical
Showstopper! The Improvised Musical is an improvised comedy show founded in London in 2008.The objective of the show is to create a musical based on suggestions from the audience...
. With the cast of Showstopper, Evans has toured the UK and abroad. In February 2011 the show opened at the Ambassadors Theatre in London's West End, coinciding with the broadcast of a series for BBC Radio Four.
She is a series regular on the BBC2 television improv show Fast and Loose
Fast and Loose (2011 TV series)
Fast and Loose is a BBC television series on BBC Two. Guests take part in numerous improvised sketches in which each comedian inhabits a certain character or movie genre...
which aired in January 2011. She was also a regular in Newsjack
Newsjack
Newsjack is a satirical sketch show hosted by Justin Edwards. Until September 2011, it was presented by Miles Jupp, and first broadcast on BBC Radio 7 on 4 June 2009. The series is notable for having an "Open door" policy on writing, meaning that unsolicited writers without contract to the BBC can...
in October 2011 on BBC Radio 4 Extra.