Comedy Night - Gein's Family Giftshop + Kiri Pritchard McLean

Gein's Family Giftshop

Fast paced and irreverent, Gein’s Family Giftshop have an enviable gag rate and a stage presence that other groups can only dream of. Their unique brand of gag heavy writing and gleeful live performances have given the group a core of loyal followers.

The group formed in 2012, exasperated with the sketch scene as they saw it, they got together with the intention of creating original and engaging sketch comedy that never forgets the punchline.

Gein’s Family Giftshop were nominees for the Best Newcomer Award at The Fosters Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2014. They are also winners of The Chortle Award for Best Newcomer 2015, London Sketchfest's Best New Sketch Act & The Audience Choice Award 2014.

Absurd in tone this quartet marry the tragic with the hilarious, as they apply their warped world vision to the hilarious subject matter of abject misery, and human tragedy.

Their stripped down approach to live performance, with minimal props and sound, allows the writing and the performances to take centre stage, just as it should be. A great appreciation for film, in particular horror, seeps into their recorded work, with sketches that are as beautiful as they are hilarious.

The group was invited to appear in the second series of BBC Drama Inside No. 9, after Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton saw their debut show in Edinburgh. Their writing talent also led to them being commissioned to write a three-part series for BBC Radio Wales, which were hugely popular when they were transmitted during the summer of 2015.

Most recently, Ed Easton & Kiri Pritchard-McLean wrote an episode of Crackanory for Dave TV, and the group have written and starred in a Sky TV Christmas comedy short, the series of which were nominated for the Best TV Award at the Chortle Awards 2016 – 'Gein’s Family Giftshop’s Christmas' - broadcast on sky.com, and on Sky Arts on Christmas Day.

What the press say about Gein’s Family Giftshop:

"GFG are largely one-step ahead of the audience and they employ nifty tricks to keep us guessing. You won’t see their punchlines coming, even when ‘coming’ is the punchline." – Time Out

"The hottest comedy ticket in Edinburgh… going from being largely unknown to feted by the famous…word-of-mouth has lead to five-star reviews and a clutch of fans, from Daniel Kitson to Tim Key." – The Sunday Times

"An hour of tense, inventive sketch comedy and enough psychosexual shenanighans to last an entire festival. … an experimental format that is by turns bold, intelligent and refreshingly prop free. Like the League Of Gentlemen before them, they also have a silent, fourth member. Memorably unsettling." – Mail on Sunday

“Pitch-perfect puerility… a fun hour of unpleasant comedy." – The Guardian 

Kiri Pritchard-McLean

Welsh Comedian Kiri Pritchard-Mclean has been making something of a name for herself in the short time she's being performing stand up comedy and has achieved further success as one fourth of multi-award winning sketch group Gein's Family Giftshop (in capacity as writer/director).

A unique and assured comic voice Kiri is whip smart with material to match, an apprenticeship on the North West comedy scene equips Kiri with a presence beyond her years and the rare ability to be challenging in her material without alienating her audience.

Kiri was nominated for a Chortle Award for Best Compere 2016, was a finalist for Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year in 2015 and the Amused Moose Laugh Off in 2014.

What the press say about Kiri Pritchard-McLean:

"Kiri was by far the funniest and quick witted, one to look out for in the future." - Leicester Mercury

"Not afraid to shock a few people – McLean probably had the hardest laughs of the night and impressed throughout.” - Giggle Beats

"The biggest lesson this smart, instantly likeable girl-next-door type from Anglesey will give you is in observational comedy. She balances affection with an acute eye for the ridiculous to bring you a stand up set of well delivered, increasingly funny anecdotes." - Three Weeks