Abi Roberts
Encyclopedia
Abi Roberts is a British
comedian
, actress and singer songwriter.
Educated at Swansea University
, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
and later the Moscow Conservatoire, she gained prominence in a series of sketch shows on the London stage and at the Edinburgh Festival
; appearing firstly in the satirical comedy Newsrevue
, followed by Bleeding Arts and A Touch of Roberts and Roper, the latter co-written with the British stand-up Matt Roper
at Jermyn Street Theatre
.
Her notable stage credits include a UK tour of Eve Ensler
's The Vagina Monologues
, and the debut of Jonathan Harvey
's Taking Charlie at the Edinburgh Festival in 2004. Harvey was inspired to write the comic musical after seeing Roberts perform. She co-wrote the score with the author.
Abi Roberts has toured the UK and the United States with her one-woman show, and in 2008 filmed a comedy short documenting her journey in the States searching for the American entertainer Bette Midler
, a performer to whom Roberts herself has been compared. The resulting film, Beached, has won critical acclaim at several independent film festivals.
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...
, actress and singer songwriter.
Educated at Swansea University
Swansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, opened by Laurence Olivier in 1946, is an affiliate of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama, an organisation securing the highest standards of training in the performing arts, and is an associate school of the Faculty of Creative Arts of the University of the...
and later the Moscow Conservatoire, she gained prominence in a series of sketch shows on the London stage and at the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
; appearing firstly in the satirical comedy 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...
, followed by Bleeding Arts and A Touch of Roberts and Roper, the latter co-written with the British stand-up Matt Roper
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....
at Jermyn Street Theatre
Jermyn Street Theatre
Jermyn Street Theatre is a performance venue situated in Jermyn Street, London.Formerly a restaurant, under the leadership of Howard Jameson, it was transformed into a 70-seat studio theatre right in the heart of London's West End...
.
Her notable stage credits include a UK tour of Eve Ensler
Eve Ensler
Eve Ensler is an American playwright, performer, feminist and activist, best known for her play The Vagina Monologues.- Personal life :...
's The Vagina Monologues
The Vagina Monologues
The Vagina Monologues is an episodic play written by Eve Ensler which ran at the Off Broadway Westside Theatre after a limited run at AFRICA in 1996. Ensler originally starred in the production which was produced by David Stone, Nina Essman, Dan Markley, The Araca Group, Willa Shalit, Mike Skipper...
, and the debut of Jonathan Harvey
Jonathan Harvey (playwright)
Jonathan Harvey is a British playwright whose work has earned multiple awards. He is also a former secondary school English teacher.-Life and works:...
's Taking Charlie at the Edinburgh Festival in 2004. Harvey was inspired to write the comic musical after seeing Roberts perform. She co-wrote the score with the author.
Abi Roberts has toured the UK and the United States with her one-woman show, and in 2008 filmed a comedy short documenting her journey in the States searching for the American entertainer Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
, a performer to whom Roberts herself has been compared. The resulting film, Beached, has won critical acclaim at several independent film festivals.