Common Varieties Night - 15th May

We're delighted to announce the launch of Otley Common Varieties — a brand-new fundraising event series right here at Otley Common.

Join us for a fabulous evening of comic and musical variety, raising vital funds to support the continued refurbishment of our much-loved building.

Otley Common Varieties is brought to you by Steve Huison and his team, the creative force behind the hugely popular Cabaret Saltaire — delighting audiences at Saltaire's Caroline Club for over 15 years. Expect the same winning blend of wit, warmth, and wonderful performances, now right on your doorstep.

Come along, laugh loud, and help us shape the future of Otley Common.

Doors from 7pm

MILES JUPP

One of Britain's most distinctive comic voices, Miles Jupp is an actor, comedian and writer whose career spans stand-up, television, film, radio and the printed page. He first won audiences over as Archie the Inventor in Balamory, before graduating to sharper fare with roles in The Thick of It and the BAFTA-winning sitcom Rev.  He also served as host of BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz for four years. More recent screen credits include The Full Monty (Disney+ series), The Crown, and SAS: Rogue Heroes. Affable, astute, and effortlessly funny, Jupp is a rare talent who makes intelligence look like the easiest thing in the world.

SERIOUS SAM BARRETT

Raised in the Yorkshire Dales village of Addingham, Serious Sam Barrett grew up steeped in folk music, American Delta blues and country, weaving them into something emphatically his own.  Playing 12-string guitar and banjo, he has performed at SXSW in Austin, Texas, toured the US extensively, and shared stages with the likes of Martin Carthy, Deer Tick and Karine Polwart.  As Uncut Magazine put it, his are songs that rattle with the ghosts of Appalachian folk and southern blues, yet sound emphatically English.

WAITING FOR WEDNESDAY

Anna Watkins and Laura Shackleton make up Saltaire-based duo Waiting For Wednesday, whose sweet and husky vocal harmonies weave together stirring songs about living, loving and losing. Drawing on the influence of Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin and Emmylou Harris, they craft stories in the folk tradition and deliver them with a rock passion and country twang. They have shared stages with Billie Marten, JP Cooper and folk legends Fotheringay, and show no signs of slowing down. Warm, honest, and utterly absorbing.

STEPHEN COOKSON

Stephen Cookson is one of the North West's most celebrated stand-up comedians, and a man who has turned the one-liner into an art form, winning the World One Liner Championship 2019, a title that tells you everything you need to know. His six-minute spot at Hot Water Comedy Club in October 2017 racked up over 1.4 million views on YouTube, announcing him to audiences far beyond the live circuit. Clean, deadpan and armed with quirky observations,  Cookson delivers laughs with the precision of a comedian who knows exactly what he's doing. Expect maximum impact, minimum fuss.

ACCESSIBILITY

We want everyone to feel welcome at Otley Common. If you have any access requirements or need any support to attend this event, please get in touch with us before the day and we'll do our best to help. hello@otleycommon.org