BLAND - Bizarro’ Variety Presents John Osborne, Dan 'Magic', Adam Maric-Cleaver, & Nancy Dunnell
Leave your problems at the door and be part of something eyebrow raising and smirk jerking. BLAND is a show that has all the grandeur of something extraordinary but still feels like something you can wrap yourself in. It’s a hangout, it’s a show, it’s a night out where familiarity meets the thrill of uncertainty. A cocktail of four acts, live music, poetry, stand up, sketch and everything else that entertains. Also – vinyl bingo. Support emerging talent.
Hosted by Jack Garden.
Tickets
Additional Information
This is our first Second-Hand Bland show. Get your stamp card off one of our staff members. Loyal Second-Hand Bland supporters who come to all 3 of our shows will receive 25% off our Second-Hand Bland merch, at our December show. To avoid contributing to fast fashion, we use second-hand clothing and creatively redesign them, making each item sustainable and one of a kind. (1/3).
John Osborne
‘His work has a winning gentleness, a seductive voice that draws you in, ensnares you and captivates you.’ – Ian McMillan, Poet and host of Radio 4’s The Verb.
John’s poetry has appeared in The Guardian, The Spectator, The Rialto and The Big Issue and broadcast on BBC Radio 3, 6Music and Radio 1. He was a member of the poetry collective Aisle 16 who co-organised Homework, a monthly night of literary cabaret at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club. He does the poetry show Stress Test on Soho Radio with Martha Sprackland and Joe Dunthorne. John is currently Writer-in-Residence at Norwich Market. He is working with local community theatre company The Common Lot and the National Centre for Writing on a project to celebrate the market’s 900-year anniversary…. Quite old dat.
John’s brand-new anthology for 2026, celebrating the British seaside “Sandy Arse” picks its way lightly across Britian's shorelines. Featuring the work of poets including Luke Wright, Inua Ellams, Ella Frears, Henry Normal, Phill Jupitus and Salena Godden, it celebrates our seaside’s. Available to purchase on John’s website.
Adam Maric-Cleaver
Adam will be presenting his interactive PowerPoint show, "can we go outside"? He truly is the last bastion of true dignity and morality in a dying world. Mourners of the old society are welcome to praise him just as the whistle-blowers of the new may surely spit upon his person. 30 years, 82kg, single, lives at mums house.
Dan 'Magic'
Prepare to be amazed as local magician Dan brings a captivating blend of close-up and stage magic to the event. Combining modern illusions with timeless classics, his performances are packed with astonishing moments, plenty of laughs, and just the right touch of mystery. There's something for everyone to enjoy!
If we can all chant, "IT CAN'T BE DONE!" while Dan performs, I'd hugely enjoy that.
Nancy Dunnell
Nancy is a singer-songwriter from Norwich whose music explores emotion through a blend of soul, folk, country, and blues-inspired storytelling. With themes of heartbreak and revelation, her sound sits within modern folk. I first heard Nancy at Harlequin Fayre and was struck by her raw voice, full of emotion and history. Her music is best experienced in an intimate space, where it can truly resonate, an ideal setting for a future star like Nancy.
Ross Pearson
You know it. He shows it. We love it. He’s a veteran in this game, and by the love of gawd, the way he looks both ways when crossing the road, proves it. Vinyl Bingo is proudly sponsored by @rosspearsonart this month. Here’s hoping he takes on the banks this time! It’s a time when we gather to see what bugs are still crawling around in Ross’s brain… I’m expecting a Fire Gall Wasp (Shazam it).
Ross is an artist and filmmaker from Edinburgh based in Norwich. For roughly 18 years he has been producing videos assembled from fragments of existing television, film and assorted video ephemera with surreal, satirical or scatological intent. Previous video work has been described as “The kind of dream you might have if you spent the day drinking Red Bull and reading Private Eye and then fell asleep watching an Adam Curtis documentary”. He has exhibited work across the UK and in mainland Europe. He is our inhouse artist and sponsor of Vinyl Bingo, and we adore him very much. Altogether now, “we adore him very much!”
Frequently asked questions:
Are tickets sold on the door? For a pound extra yes!
I don't have PayPal, what do I do? Reserve a ticket in our insta' DM's (@bla.n.d) or risk it & BOD.
Is this professional? Yes, sir.
Where do the ticket proceeds go? (1) The acts. (2) The venue. (3) The next show. (4) Never you mind.
Why should I come? Because supporting emerging talent & having a bloody good time makes a hell of lot of sense to me.
Are alcoholic beverages available? Yes, ma'am.
When does it start start? 19:00(ish).
When does it end end? 22:30(ish).