Lee & Long are first releases

Stewart Lee’s 41st Best Stand-Up Ever and Josie Long’s Trying Is Good will be the first two titles released under the Real Talent/Pias banner – a company set up by Ross Noble’s former manager Colin Dench.

It follows the success of Cardiff-based Go Faster Stripe, which produces low-cost DVDs from stand-ups who have a strong cult following, but not a big enough fanbase to interest the major labels.

Their first release was Stewart Lee’s previous show – 90s Comedian – and the company has gone on to produce further titles by Richard Herring and Simon Munnery. Shows by Lucy Porter, John Hegley, Wil Hodgson, Robin Ince and Paul Sinha have also been filmed at Cardiff’s Chapter Arts Centre in recent months, but not yet published.

41st Best Stand-Up Ever and Trying Is Good – both hits at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe – will be released on July 28.

Lee’s 75-minute show was recorded for DVD at the Stand in Glasgow, and the release includes a 45-minute interview with Lee conducted by Johnny Vegas, plus footage of a set he performed at a conference of insect scientist.

The DVD has a recommended price of £15.99 – but is available for £10.98 from Amazon here.

Long’s show was recorded at the Comedy Box in Bristol, and the DVD also includes the full hour-long show Kindness Exuberance, that was nominated for the if.comedy award at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe.

The first 1,000 copies sold will also include a personalised postcard drawn by Long herself.

This title is priced £12.99, but Amazon has it for £9.74 here.

And here are clips from both shows:

Published: 15 Jun 2008