They’re here, they’re earnest and…they’re here!

Sketch troupe, The Beta Males’ Picnic, began life in October 2008. Writer-performers Adam Blampied, Richard Soames, John Henry Falle and Jon Gracey enthusiastically spin comedies out of male insecurity and geeky detritus, all under the guidance of Director Robert Pirouet. Starting on the open-mike circuit, the group’s journey so far has seen them perform alongside such acts as Paul Foot, Jo Caulfield, Clever Peter and Adam Hills.

In August 2009, with the help of a grant from the Jersey Arts Trust, The Beta Males took their self-titled show to the Edinburgh Fringe as part of the Laughing Horse Free Festival. The show received 4-star reviews from both The List – who called it “brilliant” – andThree Weeks, who commended the show for “Fizzing with energy and a manic inventiveness”. The Scotsman’s Comedy Editor, Kate Copstick, described the performance as “fun, funny, accessibly clever humour performed with assurance and likeability”, even going so far as to lay down this challenge: “I really can’t imagine who would not enjoy it.”

Meanwhile Edinburgh Comedy Award judge and Entertainment Editor for Guardian.co.uk, Paul MacInnes named it among his favourite shows from the Free Festival: “after freefalling from 12,000 feet, discovering a cure for cancer and watching your twin children build a robot that will end poverty with its laser eyes, there’s nothing better than seeing something brilliant on the Free Festival.”

Gracing the front pages of YouTube and Funny Or Die UK and featuring in the cult B3ta newsletter has gained the troupe a significant online presence. Their video sketch, ‘Bale Begins’ managed to log over 50,000 views in just 24 hours.