Artist Profile
Gordon Southern
Follow Gordon on Twitter @GordonSouthern
WINNER TIME OUT COMEDY AWARD 1995
With years of comedy experience under his belt Gordon Southern is one of the most sought after headline acts on the UK and international circuit. Gordon regularly plays to sell out audiences at the most prestigious clubs in the country including the world famous Comedy Store. His upbeat and energetic delivery combined with his fantastically funny observational comedy & quick witted improvisation has secured his place as an audience favourite.
Famous for his globetrotting, Gordon (AKA "INTERNATIONAL WORD CLOWN") he's been a feature at festivals in Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane since 2004 and this year New Zealand too. He's also performed highly acclaimed solo shows in India, Singapore, Indonesia and South Africa, and headlined all over the world.
An award winning writer with critical acclaim for numerous projects that he has worked on, Southern has written for some of the most memorable comedy shows of the last decade.
Not content with mastering stand-up and writing, Gordon is also a brilliant actor with praise from The British Theatre Guide for his debut acting role in Moon The Loon. His acting skills are not just confined to the stage however, he was the very memorable voice of the Admiral Insurance Parrot on their national TV and Radio ad campaigns.
LIVE WORK
Gordon is a regular headlining comedian on UK and International circuit. He spends at least 2 months every year performing in Australia. A highly regarded international act, he's worked in many exotic & challenging places, including Afghanistan, The Arabian Desert, Falkland Islands, Kosovo & Liverpool.
Gordon made his Edinburgh debut in the highly respected Comedy Zone in 1997 and has since gone on to take up several successful and acclaimed solo shows, as well as winning the Time Out Comedy Award '95 (The Cheese Shop- Most Surprising Discovery)
SOLO SHOWS
2011 - Free Range - Adelaide Fringe Festival, Melbourne INternational Comedy Festival (SOLD OUT) and New Zealand Comedy Festival
2010 - Borders - Adelaide & Edinburgh Fringe Festivals
2009 - The Unofficial Gordon Southern Annual 2009 - Adelaide & Edinburgh Fringe Festivals
2007 - Stamp Stamp – Edinburgh Fringe Festival
2006 - The Solutions – Edinburgh Fringe & Manchester Comedy Festivals
2003 - My Drums Hell – Edinburgh Fringe Festival
2001 - Gordon Southern - Edinburgh Fringe Festival
FESTIVALS
New Zealand MC / Headliner for "The Big Show" Auckland 2011
Brisbane Comedy Festival 2011 "Best of The Edinburgh Fest"
Edinburgh Fringe Festival – Various, 2002-Present
Adelaide Comedy Festival 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 MC & Headliner“Best Of The Fest” & Solo Show
End Of The Road Festival 2010
Sydney Comedy Festival 2006 MC Best Of The Edinburgh Fest
Melbourne Comedy Festival 2006, 2009 MC & Headliner Best Of The Edinburgh Fest
Byron Bay Big Joke Festival 2008 – Headliner
Cambridge Comedy Festival 2008, 2011 Solo Show
Manchester Comedy Festival 2006 – Solo Show
Dubai Comedy Festival 2005
RADIO CREDITS
I Guess That's Why They Call It The News - BBC Radio 4 - 2009
The Cheese Shop Presents… - BBC Radio 4 – 97-99
Stand Up 2 – BBC Radio 2 – 1997
The Joy Of Sketch – BBC Radio 2 – 1998
Weekending – BBC Radio 4 1993-96
VOICEOVER WORK
Admiral Insurance – voice of parrot – TV and Radio campaign 2004-2008
Carex Washer/Walker campaign 2002-2003, 2011
TV CREDITS
Good News Week - CH10, Australia - 2010
Tonight With Trevor McDonald 2009 – Topical Standup
Standup Australia – Comedy Channel 2008
Mischief - BBC3 2007- Topical Standup
Time Gentlemen Please - Sky 2000
11 O’Clock Show – C4 2000
Edinburgh Comedy – BBC 2001
Comedy Nation – BBC 1998
Stand Up Show – BBC 2000
The Sunday Show - BBC2 1996
Paramount Presents…The Cheese Shop 1995
Komikasi – Paramount 1995
AS A WARM UP ARTIST
Have I Got News For You – BBC
QI – BBC
Never Mind The Buzzcocks – BBC
I'm Alan Partridge - BBC
11 O’Clock Show – C4
THEATRE CREDITS
Moon The Loon – Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh - 2006
WRITING CREDITS
The One Ronnie - BBC1
Mischief – BBC3
11 O’Clock Show – BBC3
Dead Ringers – BBC
Comedy Nation – BBC
Live Floor Show – BBC
Revolver – BBC
Jim Tavare – C5
Sunday Show BBC
Good Stuff – ITV
Gas – C4
The Big Breakfast – C4
Cheese Shop – BBC Radio 4
Other writing credits include work for shows on BBC2, C5, Sky One, BBC Radio 1,2,4,5 and stand-up material for other live acts.
CASTING INFO
Spotlight no: 6522
Casting Age: 36 – 45 years
Eye Colour: Grey/Green
Hair Colour: Dark Brown
Languages: English South East (native), English - Various Regional, Welsh, Scottish, Australian
Musical Skills: Bass (singing), Drums, Guitar
Press for Free Range
"As the title suggests, his stand-up act rambles loosely across subjects and his smooth, relaxed style is a joy. He feeds off the audience and his machinegun comebacks to crowd banter are bang-on… Southern is a gentle comic and his few digs at audience members were light-hearted. The butt of most of his jokes is himself. ****" The Sun Herald 3/4/2011
"To be honest, Gordon Southern could say or do almost anything and get away with it. His infectious smile, self-effacing and engaging manner just gets you immediately onside.... He's the best of both worlds - the best of British humour with a keen perception of this fair land's quirks. Great show. Final Word: Engaging." Michael Coghlan - RipItUpMagazine 5/3/2011
"Gordon Southern is one surprise packet who through a diverse routine, wry observations and an adorable chunk of self-deprecation manages to rise above the riff raff. 4 1/2 stars" The Adelaide Advertiser
Press for Borders
“...sharp gags... a very confident, likeable performer.” Edinburgh is Funny 16/08/2010
“This is the fourth Fringe show from the solid Gordon Southern I have seen and he never disappoints – unexpectedly sharp” Chortle 15/08/2010
Press For Unofficial Annual
"poetic, clever and joyfully freewheeling, performed by a man with more ridiculous ideas than an entire year's worth of Dragon's Den... Southern is not an act to experience without your wits close by, it would be rather like trying to play Bop It while stoned, but if you've got the stamina, he's certainly got the goods." **** Chortle
Press for Stamp Stamp
“A thoroughly enjoyable and easy going show” óóóó Edfest Magazine
“A likeable act, good company and skilled at creating a cheery atmosphere, incorporating bizarre audience interjections without missing a beat.” Chortle
“Really good and funny... His show is over far too soon for all.” óóóó One4Review
“The unscripted bits were brilliant... You cannot help but like his enthusiastic approach to stand up” Three Weeks
Press for The Solutions
“A hugely likeable performer… one of the funniest things I’ve seen so far this festival.” The Scotsman
“Simply a very strong stand-up set... His delivery is playful, upbeat and relentless. Southern might not be one of the bigger names at the festival, but he is one of the funniest.” óóóó Chortle
“Infectious enthusiasm and energy.” óóóó The List
“If you can make comedy from crosswords, then you’ve certainly got something. And whatever that thing may be, Gordon Southern has plenty of it.” The Herald
“Southern is an engaging comedian with a good line in material. His audience interaction is funny and non-threatening… an hour well spent.” óóóó One 4 Review
“Magical imagination.” Three Weeks Daily.
“Endearingly cheeky.” Fest Buzz
“Hilarious.” Broadway Baby
Press for Moon The Loon
“A good piece of writing, well performed.” The British Theatre Guide
“Strong performances from all three of the actors” 4.5 stars UK Theatre Network
Other Press
“Top class all round” The Sunday Times
“Razor sharp wit and cavernous imagination” Evening Standard
“Hugely talented… Very funny” Time Out
“Worth the admission price alone” City Life
“An energetic mirth making talent that would shame many comics with years more experience… A cracking night” The Scotsman
“Had the audience in stitches. He told damn fine stories… Personal experiences abounded through his routine and they introduced us to his absurd and sharp witted world. He clearly won many fans” Adelaide Fringe Magazine
“Top notch material…All quality stuff, making Southern well worth going out of your way to catch” Chortle
