The Noise Next Door’s Comedy Lock-In: Udderbelly, Southbank, London, 2015
The Noise Next Door’s Comedy Lock-In: Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, 2015
The Noise Next Door: Noise In The Hood: Leicester Square Theatre, London, 2016
The Noise Next Door’s Really Good Afternoon Show: Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh, 2016
Always Be Comedy: The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, London, 2017
The Noise Next Door: 10: Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, 2017
The Noise Next Door’s Comedy Lock-In: Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, 2018
The Noise Next Door’s Comedy Lock-In: Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, 2019
The Noise Next Door: Remix: The Old Firestation, Carlisle, 2019
Jason Manford Presents: The Weekly Stand Up: Online: 2020
The Noise Next Door: Run Wild! The Brighton Open Air Theatre, Brighton, 2021
The Noise Next Door: In Charge! Underbelly Festival, Cavendish Square, London, 2021
The Noise Next Door are Tom Livingstone, Matt Grant, Sam Pacelli and Robin Hatcher (previous members were Charlie Granville and Tom Houghton). They are the UK’s leading comedy ensemble who multirole to encompass the many characters in their many sketches based on audience suggestions, so that each show is different. They are a perfect and very popular Edinburgh Fringe act where I have seen them many times over the years. They perform a late show – The Comedy Lock-In which features comedy guests who perform routines and then join in with a sketch. They also have a day show – The Really Good Afternoon Show which is normally theme-based and aimed at families. The one I saw was All At Sea. The fast-paced, high energy nature of their shows were triumphant with their fast thinking and willingness to give even the most bizarre ideas a go. They are a very infectious and extremely clever and funny act.
I saw The Noise Next Door again finish a very busy day at the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2018. They were a perfect late-night sketch improvisation group to enjoy. As I sat in the audience, a member suggested that one of the four play a swashbuckler and when they asked where he lived, I yelled out Carlisle (which is my home city). They then proceeded to act out Carlisle characters which was genius and hysterically funny. As ever guests were included in the show, which the performance I saw featured Nick Page and Jenny Collier.
I saw them again at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2019 where more of the same enthused. Charlie have moved on as had Tom Houghton in 2016 and they remained a quartet. A highlight was a song they created from extremely unsexy things suggested by the audience. By the end of the night everyone was singing Damn, I’m Feeling Sexy! They were joined by Vikki Stone and Javier Jarquin who were brilliant guests and a great night was had by all. After both shows, I very kindly had photos with all of them and they were great.
After unexpectedly returning to Carlisle for what turned out to be a stressful weekend, I noticed that The Noise Next Door were in town for their new tour Remix. I immediately booked a ticket, went along and had a great time. I shouted out suggestions from the audience and they were a joy to watch making up silly routines on the spot as a group or performing solo. They were so very funny, and highlights included Robert De Niro as a sheep and a rock anthem about Carlisle which was worth the price of admission. I was cheered up no end and couldn’t recommend them highly enough.
I saw The Noise Next Door appear as guests for The Weekly Stand Up Show hosted by Jason Manford online in June 2020. They were brilliant again at making up on-the-spot routines including a story based solely from comments written by the audience as well as producing a rap based on fictitious and historical characters suggested by the audience.
I saw the family-based show Run Wild! At the Brighton Fringe in June 2021. Performing on an open air stage in a beautiful venue, The Noise Next Door really entertained the crowd with their extraordinary ability at improvisation. The games involved a Head Coach delivering an inspirational speech to his team (the audience) with the crowd suggesting words for the coach to say and a game where if the performers laughed then they would be sprayed with water from toy pistols given to the crowd (which the kids loved).
The adult show In Charge! That I watched in September 2021 as part of the Underbelly Festival in London featured more inspired games and improv including one where a made up story from the audience was told by one of the four providing all the voices as the other three acted out the narrative. It was incredible to watch.
The talented foursome that make up The Noise Next Door are so enthusiastic and infectious and work so hard on stage to give the crowd a brilliantly funny show that if I go to the Fringe and they are on or indeed anywhere else, I will always endeavour to see them and they are highly recommended.
