David Reed (born 26 May 1982) is a British actor, writer and comedian and one third of comedy troupe

The Penny Dreadfuls The Penny Dreadfuls are a British sketch comedy troupe consisting of comedians Humphrey Ker, David Reed and Thom Tuck, often supported by Margaret Cabourn-Smith. The troupe are best known for writing and performing ''The Brothers Faversham'' a ...

Career

Reed studied at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

. During his studies he performed with the

Edinburgh University Theatre Company Edinburgh University Theatre Company (EUTC) is a student theatre company at the University of Edinburgh. The EUTC was founded in 1871 as the ''Edinburgh University Amateur Dramatic Club'' and adopted its current name in the 1970s. Since 1980 it ha ...

, acting in, writing and directing two pantomime productions, and was a member of acclaimed

improvisational comedy Improvisational theatre, often called improvisation or improv, is the form of theatre, often comedy, in which most or all of what is performed is unplanned or unscripted: created spontaneously by the performers. In its purest form, the dialogue, a ...

troupe ''

The Improverts The Improverts is a improvisational comedy troupe from the Edinburgh University Theatre Company, which primarily performs at the Bedlam Theatre, Edinburgh. They perform weekly during Edinburgh University's term time and every night during the ...

''. It was with

that he first met and performed with fellow comedians

Humphrey Ker David Humphrey Rivers Ker (; born 11 October 1982) is a British actor, writer and comedian who is a member of the sketch comedy troupe The Penny Dreadfuls. Early life and education Ker was born to David Peter James Ker, a fine art dealer, ...

and

Thom Tuck Thomas Tuck (born 28 March 1982) is a British actor and comedian known for being one third of comedy troupe The Penny Dreadfuls and as a stand-up comedian. He was nominated for the Best Newcomer award at the 2011 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Earl ...

. He was also a frequent performer in the local comedy circuit and at

The Stand ''The Stand'' is a post-apocalyptic dark fantasy novel written by American author Stephen King and first published in 1978 by Doubleday. The plot centers on a deadly pandemic of weaponized influenza and its aftermath, in which the few surv ...

. In 2008, Reed became the drummer for

Karaoke Circus Karaoke Circus is a British Karaoke night where guest singers from the world of comedy compete alongside members of the public for a coveted prize. Sometimes called 'Ward & White's Karaoke Circus', the show was started by composer Martin White and ...

, a show where comedians perform songs with an accompanying live band. Since October 2011 he has co-hosted a weekly film podcast for

Absolute Radio Absolute Radio is a British National radio station owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Absolute Radio Network. It broadcasts nationally across the UK via Digital audio broadcasting and on 1215 kHz MW. History 1993–1997: Virg ...

with Karaoke Circus bassist

Danielle Ward Danielle Ward (born 9 October 1978) is a British stand-up comedian and writer. Career Ward worked as an economic researcher at London's South Korean Embassy before she became a comedian. In 2006, Ward won the '' Time Outs Critic's Choice aw ...

. In 2011 he performed his debut solo show Shamblehouse at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe. in 2022, Reed's play ''Guy Fawkes'' was staged at

York Theatre Royal York Theatre Royal is a theatre in St Leonard's Place, in York, England, which dates back to 1744. The theatre currently seats 750 people. Whilst the theatre is traditionally a proscenium theatre, it was reconfigured for a season in 2011 to offer ...

from 28 October to 12 November.

The Penny Dreadfuls

Reed is probably best known for writing and performing alongside

and

in sketch comedy team ''The Penny Dreadfuls''. They performed their Victorian sketch show across Britain, including at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with ''Aeneas Faversham'' in 2006, ''Aeneas Faversham Returns'' in 2007 and ''Aeneas Faversham Forever'' in 2008. Their radio series The Brothers Faversham was first broadcast on

BBC 7 BBC Radio 4 Extra (formerly BBC Radio 7) is a British Digital radio in the United Kingdom, digital radio broadcasting, radio station from the BBC, broadcasting archived repeats of comedy, drama and documentary programmes nationally, 24 hours a ...

in early January 2008. The second series, More Brothers Faversham, was aired in October 2008 and later repeated on Radio 4. In 2009 they presented a broadcast for BBC Radio 4's Afternoon Play slot, Guy Fawkes. This covered the life of Guy Fawkes, his failed attempt to blow up Parliament and his subsequent interrogation in the Tower of London. Guest starring Kevin Eldon as Guy Fawkes, and also featuring

Miles Jupp Miles Hugh Barrett Jupp (born 8 September 1979) is an English actor, singer, and comedian. He began his career as a stand-up comedian before playing the role of the inventor Archie in the children's television series ''Balamory''. He also played ...

and Andrew Pugsley. In 2011 they produced another radio play, ''Revolution''. This time for the prestigious Saturday Play slot. Set in the aftermath of The French Revolution, it starred

Sally Hawkins Sally Cecilia Hawkins (born 27 April 1976) is an English actress who began her career on stage and then moved into film. She has received several awards including a Golden Globe Award and the Berlin International Film Festival's Silver Bear for ...

as Marie-Therese, the only surviving daughter of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, and

Richard E. Grant Richard E. Grant (born Richard Grant Esterhuysen; 5 May 1957) is a Swazi-English actor and presenter. He made his film debut as Withnail in the comedy ''Withnail and I'' (1987). Grant received critical acclaim for his role as Jack Hock in Marie ...

as the villainous

Robespierre Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre (; 6 May 1758 – 28 July 1794) was a French lawyer and statesman who became one of the best-known, influential and controversial figures of the French Revolution. As a member of the Esta ...

Film Fandango

Since October 2011 he has co-hosted a weekly film podcast called

Film Fandango ''Film Fandango'' is a weekly film discussion podcast hosted by comedians David Reed (comedian), David Reed and Marek Larwood. In its initial incarnation (October 2011 – January 2013), the podcast was hosted by Danielle Ward alongside David ...

for

with fellow comedian and partner

Shows

2006 Edinburgh Festival Fringe The 2006 Edinburgh Festival Fringe was the 59th Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Events 2006 was the first Fringe following the introduction of the new legislation banning smoking indoors. During a photocall at the Assembly Rooms for a play in which ...

*''Aeneas Faversham''

2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as The Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, or Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest arts and media festival, which in 2019 spanned 25 days and featured more than 59,600 performances of 3,841 dif ...

*''Aeneas Faversham Returns''

2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as The Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, or Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest arts and media festival, which in 2019 spanned 25 days and featured more than 59,600 performances of 3,841 dif ...

*''Aeneas Faversham Forever''

2009 Edinburgh Festival Fringe The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as The Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, or Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest arts and media festival, which in 2019 spanned 25 days and featured more than 59,600 performances of 3,841 dif ...

*''The Never Man''

2010 Edinburgh Festival Fringe The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as The Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, or Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest arts and media festival, which in 2019 spanned 25 days and featured more than 59,600 performances of 3,841 dif ...

*''The Penny Dreadfuls''

2011 Edinburgh Festival Fringe The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as The Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, or Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest arts and media festival, which in 2019 spanned 25 days and featured more than 59,600 performances of 3,841 dif ...

*''David Reed Shamblehouse''

Television

*''Comedy Shuffle'' *''

The Wrong Door ''The Wrong Door'' is a comedy sketch show, that first aired on BBC Three on 28 August 2008. The programme is the first comedy show in which the majority of the sketches include CGI elements. As such, it was produced under the working title of ...

'' *

Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a four ...

Comedy Lab ''Comedy Lab'' is a British television series which showcases pilots of experimental comedy shows. Series have been aired irregularly on Channel 4 and E4 since 1998. Several pilots first shown on ''Comedy Lab'' have gone on to spawn full serie ...

''Ain't It Funny Being Coloured'' *As

Peter Cook Peter Edward Cook (17 November 1937 – 9 January 1995) was an English actor, comedian, satirist, playwright and screenwriter. He was the leading figure of the British satire boom of the 1960s, and he was associated with the anti-establishme ...

in the

BBC's #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board ex ...

''Frankie Howerd: Rather You Than Me'' *As dodgy builder in '' Transmission Impossible with Ed & Oucho'' alongside

Ed Petrie Edward Oliver James "Ed" Petrie (born 22 August 1978) is an English actor, comedian, and television presenter. Early life Petrie was born and raised in Rustington, West Sussex. He was educated at Broadwater Manor in Worthing, West Sussex, and ...

and

Warrick Brownlow-Pike Warrick Brownlow-Pike (born 28 January 1985) is a British puppeteer. He is best known for performing the character "Gonger" on ''Sesame Street'' and its spinoff series ''The Furchester Hotel'' and Dodge the Dog on the CBeebies Channel. CBBC p ...

. *As Rupert Fanshaw in Gary: Tank CommanderGary Tank Commander (TV Series 2009)
imdb.com *'' Fast and Loose'' *''

It's Kevin ''It's Kevin'' is a British television comedy show, created by and starring the actor and comedian Kevin Eldon. It was screened on BBC Two between March and April 2013. Reception Following the first episode, Serena Davies writing for The Tele ...

'' (2013) *As Brendan in ''

Father Figure A father figure is usually an older man, normally one with power, authority, or strength, with whom one can identify on a deeply psychological level and who generates emotions generally felt towards one's father. Despite the literal term "father ...

'' (2013) *''

Father Brown Father Brown is a fictional Roman Catholic priest and amateur detective who is featured in 53 short stories published between 1910 and 1936 written by English author G. K. Chesterton. Father Brown solves mysteries and crimes using his intuiti ...

'' (2017) as Giles Foster in episode 5.11 "The Sins of Others" *''

Ghosts A ghost is the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that is believed to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to rea ...

(2022)''

References

External links

Official David Reed website
*
Official show page for ShamblehouseOfficial Penny Dreadfuls websiteFilm Fandango on Absolute RadioOfficial Karaoke Circus websiteInside the Comedian Podcast on acast
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reed, David Living people 1982 births English male actors English male comedians English podcasters Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Male actors from York Comedians from Yorkshire