The Pin (comedy act)
The Pin | |
---|---|
Alex Owen (left) and Ben Ashenden (right) | |
Medium | Theatre; Radio; Television |
Nationality | British |
Years active | 2013 – present |
Genres | Double-act; sketch comedy; surreal humour |
Influences | The Mighty Boosh, Lee and Herring, Fry and Laurie, Cowards, The Office, Mitchell and Webb, Morecambe and Wise, Reeves and Mortimer, Chris Morris, Armando Iannucci, Big Train |
Website | http://www.thepincomedy.com |
The Pin is a comedy double-act composed of Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen.[1]
They write and star in their BBC Radio 4 show of the same name.[2]
Background
The double act met at the University of Cambridge, where they joined the Cambridge Footlights. Whilst members they co-wrote and performed in two international tour shows: 2010's 'Good For You,'[3] directed by Liam Williams and Daran Johnson, and 2011's 'Pretty Little Panic'[4] directed by Keith Akushie and James Moran.
The Pin was formed when the pair left Cambridge in 2012, initially alongside fellow Footlights member Mark Fiddaman. In 2013 the act became a duo, and Ashenden and Owen started developing shows at the Invisible Dot comedy club[5][6][7] to take to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Works
Their shows at Edinburgh have garnered great critical acclaim from the likes of The Guardian,[8][9] The Sunday Times,[10][11] The Daily Telegraph,[12][13][14] and more.[15][16][17][18][19][20]
In 2015 the pair's debut BBC Radio 4 series aired, attracting praise from the likes of David Walliams,[21] Ben Stiller,[22] and Arthur Matthews.[23]
In February 2016 the BBC announced that the "highly acclaimed"[24] show would be returning for a second series.
In August 2016 they announced that the "much-loved"[25] show would return for a third series, and this time in the 6.30 pm slot, and with half-an-hour long episodes.
Awards
The Pin were the 2013 winners of London Sketchfest's prize for 'Best Act,'[26][27] and the first series of their Radio 4 show won them the award for 'Best Comedy' at the 2016 BBC radio awards.[28]
References
- ↑ "The Pin introduce their Edinburgh fringe show". The Guardian. 12 August 2014. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ Guide, British Comedy. "The Pin – Radio 4 Sketch Show". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "Edinburgh Review: Footlights in Good For You". 16 August 2010. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "Theatre: Pretty Little Panic". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "The Invisible Dot: How has one of the country's smallest comedy venues". 11 June 2013. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ Developpando. "The Invisible Dot Ltd – Archive Events – id:151 The Pin". www.theinvisibledot.com. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ Logan, Brian (27 May 2013). "The Invisible Dot: a hand up for standup". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ Logan, Brian (24 August 2015). "The Pin at Edinburgh festival review – clever-clever sketch-bending". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ Logan, Brian (20 August 2014). "Edinburgh comedy awards 2014 shortlist: why Liam Williams should win". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "Edinburgh: This woman works | The Sunday Times". www.thesundaytimes.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "Crowning glories | The Sunday Times". www.thesundaytimes.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "Edinburgh comedy 2014: what to see". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "Edinburgh comedy 2015: what to see". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2014: 'quirky and unpredictable'". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "The Pin – Edinburgh Fringe review". 18 August 2013. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "The Pin". 11 August 2013. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "The Pin at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh | The Times". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "The Pin". 5 August 2014. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ Solutions, Powder Blue Internet Business. "The Pin: Ten Seconds with The Pin's description : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "The Pin: Ten Seconds With The Pin". 24 August 2015. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "David Walliams on Twitter". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "Ben Stiller on Twitter". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "Arthur Mathews on Twitter". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "BBC – Radio 4's Comedy Commissioner announces a raft of new commissions – Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "BBC – From rising stars to leading lights: BBC Radio 4 raises the curtain on new comedy commissions – Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "London Sketchfest, Victorian Vaults, review". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ "London Sketchfest Archive". www.londonsketchfest.com. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
- ↑ ""Everyone" wins Gold at the BBC Radio Awards". Retrieved 2016-09-10.