About Helen Arney
Helen Arney is a musical comedian based in London, performing original and unusually funny songs on ukulele or piano. She’s also one third of science comedy phenomenon Festival of the Spoken Nerd, and half of the greatest comedy girlband you’ve never heard of: The Balconettes.
“Champion of musical whims” (Evening Standard)
One of Dave TV’s “Top 10 stand-ups to catch in 2011“
**** ”Charming, witty and warm, with great one-liners” (The List)
A prolific writer of comedy songs with a geeky edge, she recently toured the UK in “Uncaged Monkeys” alongside Robin Ince, Prof Brian Cox, Simon Singh, Dr Ben Goldacre, and Tim Minchin. In 2011 she appeared on BBC Radio 4 as a guest in The Infinite Monkey Cage and Wondermentalist Cabaret. Helen performs in comedy clubs and theatres all over the UK, from Manchester Apollo to Shakespeare’s Globe, and her songs are available to download at Bandcamp.
In 2010, Helen performed her first musical comedy hour Songs for Modern Loving at the Edinburgh Fringe, to critical acclaim. In December that year, she also released a festive studio album, It’s going to be an awkward Christmas, darling with drummer and playwright Paul Richards. Wry, humorous, lyrically intelligent and unashamedly poignant, the track “Office Party” was played on BBC 6 Music. In 2012 she’ll be in the studio again to record more tracks that touch on her past as a Physics degree student Imperial College London, for a new album that will include the Geek Pop hit Animals featuring gentleman rapper Professor Elemental, and cryogenic love song You & Me & Walt Disney as seen on b3ta.com.
Helen currently hosts two comedy nights in London: The London Air-Accordion Society, recommended by Time Out, London Is Funny and the Independent; and Festival of the Spoken Nerd, a consistently sold-out night of science, maths, music and comedy with stand-up mathematician Matt Parker and guerilla scientist Steve Mould.
Over the last few years Helen has become a festival favourite, appearing at Latitude, End Of The Road, Green Man, Greenbelt and Geek Pop music festivals, Machynlleth, Newport and Cambridge comedy festivals, Cheltenham, Edinburgh and Cambridge Science Festivals, and Tate Britain.
Helen’s upcoming projects include more performances as comedy girlband The Balconettes with Rachel Parris, and co-writing a new experimental sketch show, Domestic Science, with fellow geek comedian Rob Wells. Festival of the Spoken Nerd will also be appearing at science and comedy festivals all over the UK, from Cheltenham Science Festival to the Theatre Royal Haymarket and the Edinburgh Fringe.
In case you’re wondering, she is indeed the younger sister of Kat Arney.
Full press quotes:
“Champion of musical whims” (Evening Standard)
One of Dave TV’s “Top 10 stand-ups to catch in 2011“
**** ”Charming, witty and warm, with great one-liners” (The List)
**** ”Harnesses the spirit of Ben Folds and the Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon… delightful” (Chortle)
**** ”High-class musical comedy with soul, intelligence and wit” (Broadway Baby)
“A combination of the literal and whimsical; she has a gift for writing clever lyrics” (British Comedy Guide)
“One to watch” (Edinburgh Festivals Magazine)
“Rising star of 2010″ (spoonfed.co.uk)
“Irreverent and heartfelt” (British Theatre Guide)
“Geeky” (Time Out)
“Lots of distinctive laughs. Classy stuff” (Chortle)