Finding the cream of the Cat Laughs festival

An army of comics is descending on Kilkenny over the next few days. Here, BRIAN BOYDselects five acts that could steal the show

WITH A new festival director on board (Australian Rebecca Austin), this year’s Carlsberg Cat Laughs (the 16th, would you believe) has been shaken up a bit, with less of an emphasis on straight stand-up and more variety acts added to the programme. There’s the usual small army of Irish comics (making up about 50 per cent of the 47 acts performing this weekend) but there are some hitherto unknown acts making their debut at the festival this year who may well become the big talking points. Here are five that will certainly not let you down:

1 TIM KEY

Key became the first ever poet to win the Edinburgh Comedy Award (formerly the Perrier) last year and his great skill is how he weaves his poetry into beautiful comedic shapes. Key began on the mainstream poetry circuit but soon tired of “reading poetry in suburban front rooms to people sitting on bean bags” and went running into the welcoming arms of the comedy circuit. You may recognise him from being the resident poet on Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe on BBC.

2 IDIOT OF ANTS

An offbeat sketch comedy group who have built up quite a cult reputation over the years. Always huge draws at the Edinburgh Fringe, Idiot Of Ants specialise in honing in on contemporary issues and treating them with a sardonic sense of incredulity. Best known for their very well executed “Facebook In Real Life” sketches.

3 PAJAMA MEN

A physical comedy duo from the US, Pajama Men mix theatre, mime, improv and incredible vocal performances to come up with very intricate comedy shows. Fresh from breaking the box office record at London’s Soho Theatre, this is real tour-de-force stuff. Think League Of Gentleman coupled with an old style Vaudeville act. Highly recommended.

4 MOSHE KASHER

“Comedian. Child Genius. Jew” is how Kasher describes himself. Looking a bit like Jarvis Cocker’s weirder younger brother – he describes himself as looking like a “gay Hitler”, this US comic is one of this year’s big breakout acts. He’s quick talking, very smart and a deft observer of all that is wrong, profoundly wrong, with today’s society. Strap yourself in – once he’s out of the traps this is a non-stop, furiously-paced torrent of scabrous material.

5 ARJ BARKER

You'll recognise him as Dave from his recurring role in the Flight Of The Conchords.

The American-Indian comic has just completed a sold-out four-month tour of Australia which saw him achieve a whole new level of solo fame. A regular on the Lettermanand Lenoshows, Barker is razor shop. He comes across as a nice, reasonable sort of fellow but soon reveals a brilliantly-executed impassioned rage. A real growing comedy star in the making.

The Carlsberg Cat Laughs Festival runs until Monday. See carlsbergcatlaughs.com