In one of her first live performances since she was noticed by TV executives at her 2001 Edinburgh Fringe show, and her first tour ever, award winning comedian, actress and writer Catherine Tate will be performing in Cardiff this November as part of a 21 date tour around the UK. The Catherine Tate Show -Live revives characters, and introduces new ones, from her BBC sketch series that ran from 2004-2006. With never before seen sketches, the tour features some of her best-known characters, including ‘Nan’ Taylor, Irish nurse Bernie, Geordie Georgie, Essex girl Sam, and probably her most well-known creation, Lauren ‘Am I Bovvered’ Cooper (despite having been killed off in a kayaking trip 2007 special).
The series, which entertained some, and annoyed the hell out of many others with its frequent use of formulaic catchphrases that were the preferred ringtone and text alert choices of the more sonically insensitive among us, was a cult favourite nonetheless. The show, written by Tate and Aschlin Ditta, which also starred Tate as a wide range of characters, was nominated for six BAFTA Awards, and an Emmy Award, and won two Royal Television Society Awards, two British Comedy Awards, and a National Television Award with just three series. People that haven’t seen the series may well know her for her early comic appearances in the 1998-2002 comedy sketch series Big Train.
After the series, Tate then had a main role as Donna Noble in Doctor Who, Nellie Bertram in The Office (US), revived her Nan character, and worked on films like Monte Carlo and Gulliver’s Travels. She also recently played a fashionista in the West End musical Miss Atomic Bomb, and co-presented the RSC’s Shakespeare Live! broadcast, which may well have infected her once again with the live performance bug. Joining her will be Matthew Horne (Gavin and Stacey), who featured in the award winning series.
The Catherine Tate Show – Live, Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. Thurs 17 Nov. Tickets: £4130. Info: 029 2023 4500 / www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk
words LUKE OWAIN BOULT