AUSTRALIAN theatre maker Stuart Bowden plays The Burning Duck Comedy Club in York on Sunday night with his new show Wilting In Reverse.

"After presenting our debut City Screen show at The Basement with up-and-coming Norwegian comedian Daniel Simonsen on August 14, we're now hosting Stuart Bowden's strangely compelling story with live music, vigorous dancing, understandable words and a fair bit of profound and probably life-changing body movement," says Burning Duck promoter Al Greaves, who welcomes Bowden to York on the heels of a London run at the Soho Theatre.

Looking ahead, Greaves has booked Bowden's fellow Aussie, Brendon Burns, for The Basement on October 23. "Brendon is not your everyday comic. Older, wiser, calmer, and after being fitted with a hearing aid, infinitely quieter, his energy is still enticing," says Al.

"His turn of phrase is coarse yet oddly eloquent, while remaining fully accessible and intensely loveable. Often replicated but never matched, Brendon’s shows aren’t just extended sets, he specialises in creating experiences: forever experimenting with the form and throwing himself new challenges."

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On November 17, Buring Duck will play host to Beth Vyse's As Funny As Cancer. "Beth has just finished a run at the Edinburgh Fringe with this extraordinary look at her battle with breast cancer," says Al. "In this show, you hear the tale of her Stoke-on-Trent family; her time with Nelson Mandela; acting and thieving at the Royal Shakespeare Company; settling down with Michael Jackson and finding cancer, and all before the age of 30."

As he awaits Stuart Bowden's weekend arrival, Al says: "We're very excited to introduce Stuart to our new venue in York. He's one of our favourite acts, who we've seen several times at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and after last month's debut show with Daniel Simonsen was a near sell-out and went very well, we're very happy with our new second venue in York. We look forwards to booking lots more awesome comedy shows at the City Screen Basement, who have already made us feel very welcome.”

Meanwhile, Greaves is finalising the line-ups for Burning Duck's return to the Black Swan, in Peasholme Green, for the club's regular shows every second Tuesday from October 11. "That night will be our second birthday show," says Al.

Tickets for Stuart Bowden: Wilting In Reverse on Sunday at 8pm cost £8 from the City Screen box office, in Coney Street, on 0871 902 5726 or at thebasementyork.co.uk/ or £10 on the door from 7.30pm.