Mitch Benn - The Lehrer Effect

About

Musical comedian celebrates a legendary satirical songwriter

Preserving Tom Lehrer’s legacy whether he likes it or not – musical comedian Mitch Benn brings his show The Lehrer Effect to Norden Farm Centre for the Arts on Thursday 2 April at 8pm. Tickets are £19.50.

When, years ago, a teenage Mitch discovered American comic songwriting legend Tom Lehrer, the course of his life was changed forever.

Tom Lehrer was an American musician, singer-songwriter, satirist and mathematician who later taught mathematics and musical theatre. He recorded pithy, humorous and often political songs that became popular in the 1950s and 1960s. His songs parodied popular musical forms, often with original melodies.

Mitch Benn is a comedian, author, satirical songwriter, musician and actor. He is widely acknowledged as one of the best writers / performers of comedy songs in the UK and is perhaps best known as the resident comic songwriter on BBC 4’s The Now Show from 1999 to 2016.

Mitch began his comedy career in Edinburgh in the mid-1990s, becoming one of the most in-demand comedians on the UK comedy circuit. He has released many albums of comedy songs and performed all over the world.

In addition to his work on The Now Show, Mitch has presented several series of his own show on BBC radio. He has also appeared on celebrity editions of several TV quiz shows including winning Celebrity Mastermind in 2016.

Mitch looks at the legacy of the elusive Lehrer, the creative debt he had and all those who mix humour and melody, owe to him and performs some of the more Lehreresque of his own songs.

Since Mr. Lehrer recently placed his entire catalogue in the public domain and was still slogging obstinately along at the age of 97, expect a few Mitch benn-ified covers of some of Tom’s most famous creations as well.