PRESS RELEASE

RBM presents

TOM ALLEN in WOMEN!
FRINGE FESTIVAL 2009
GILDED BALLOON – BALCONY
7.30pm (Ends 8.30pm)
5th – 30th AUGUST 2009 (not 17th) 

All the women he's ever loved…but not like that.

Winner of So You Think You're Funny and the BBC New Comedy Award , Tom Allen is back in Edinburgh with a new show about all the women that – for whatever reason – he has come to love. Or at least like. And always in a completely non-sexual way. Not to be mistaken for a show fit for a stag party, it comes from Tom's position as a gay man and the curious unique brand of love that he has for the women in his life.

From his first girlfriend – a brief relationship that lasted for a school trip to a Nuclear Power Station – to the flat mate obsessed with real life crime and fat people. The show takes in celebrities, historical figures, fictional characters, royalty, tramps and hookers. Each of them fabulous, strong minded and oddly fascinating. And Tom in the middle, struggling to understand who he is and how they've all come to be so important to him.

Suitable for queers, trannies, young people, old people, straight people, straight-laced people, their friends, their families, outsiders everywhere, and, of course, your mum. Tom Allen's most quirkily interesting, bizarrely fascinating, wonderful show to date!

Tom's career continues to go from strength to strength. This year has seen a second series of his celebrated The Correspondent for BBC Radio 4. In addition, Tom plays Pip in the ongoing radio saga Bleak Expectations with Celia Imrie and Richard Johnson and recorded The Wooden Overcoat with Julia Davies and David Tennant. Also last year he made his US debut including his own show at the Upright Citizens' Brigade Theater in New York City. Last year also saw his first documentary ‘Who Is Tom Allen?' – identity, past life regression and body building - for E4 which also formed part of the E4 Interactive Comedy Festival and he has recently been seen on TNT (Channel 4).

Tom has recently been seen in many TV shows including Channel 4's The Law of the Playground , BBC's Sensitive Skin, Fear of Fanny, and the Frankie Howerd biopic, Rather You Than Me and recent film credits include Colour Me Kubrick with John Malkovich and Starter for Ten with James McEvoy and Mark Gatiss.

Tom is currently 25. He was brought up in Bromley. As a teenager he was the youngest member of the Noel Coward Society. He did his first stand up gig at Bethnal Green Working Man's Club when he was 21.

He responds well to deadlines and strong women.

“Otherworldly...a delight of raconteurship” The Scotsman

“lively, charismatic....the cream of the crop” Time Out

“Beguiling...the sly dexterity of his delivery has you hooked. Definitely one to watch” Daily Telegraph

“One to Watch” The Times

“Classy elegantly told stories” Herald

“Affable and Clever” The List

LISTINGS INFORMATION – TOM ALLEN in WOMEN!

GILDED BALLOON – Balcony, Bristo Square, Edinburgh
Box Office: 0131 622 6552 www.gildedballoon.co.uk
Venue press office: press@gildedballoon.co.uk 0131 668 9483
Edinburgh Fringe Box Office: 0131 226 0000
Dates: 5th – 30th August at 7.15pm (ends 8.15pm).
Previews 5th – 7th Aug. No show 17th
Tickets: 5th – 7th Aug (previews): £5.00
Weekdays: £9.00 (£8.00 concs) Weekends: £10.00 (£9.00 concs)