The Pin (comedy act)

The Pin is a comedy double-act composed of Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen.^[1] They wrote and starred in a BBC Radio 4 show of the same name from 2015 to 2019.^[2]

The Pin
Alex Owen (left) and Ben Ashenden (right)
Medium	Theatre; Radio; Television
Nationality	British
Years active	2013 – present
Genres	Double-act; sketch comedy; surreal humour
Website	http://www.thepincomedy.com

Background

The double act met at the University of Cambridge, where they joined the Cambridge Footlights. Whilst members, they co-wrote and performed the sketch show ‘Good Clean Men’ with Joey Batey, Joe Bannister, Mark Fiddaman and Simon Haines,^[3][4] and they co-wrote and performed in two international tour shows: 2010's 'Good For You,'^[5] directed by Liam Williams and Daran Johnson, and 2011's 'Pretty Little Panic'^[6] directed by Keith Akushie and James Moran.

'The Pin' was originally the title of a show written and performed by Ashenden, Owen, and original member Mark Fiddaman in their final year at Cambridge in 2011.^[7] After graduating, the three moved to London and started developing shows at the Invisible Dot comedy club^[8][9][10] to take to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.^[11] The Pin became a duo when Fiddaman left to pursue graduate studies at the University of Oxford.^[12]

Works

Their shows at Edinburgh have garnered great critical acclaim from the likes of The Guardian,^[13][14] The Sunday Times,^[15][16] The Daily Telegraph,^[17][18][19] and more.^{[20][21][22][23][24][25]}

In 2015 the pair's debut BBC Radio 4 series aired, called "The Pin", with four 15-minute episodes. It is characterised by self-referential humour and breaking the fourth wall, with each sketch followed by brief commentary. It was followed by a second series in 2016, and a third series in 2017, this time in the 6.30 pm slot, with half-hour long episodes. A fourth series was broadcast in 2019.

In 2021, they guest starred in an episode of BBC comedy Ghosts.^[26]

The Comeback

Main article: The Comeback (play)

The pair wrote and starred in a new play The Comeback at the Noël Coward Theatre in London's West End which opened on 8 December 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic (with a socially distanced audience). The run was due to end on 3 January 2021, however due to the London Tier 3 restrictions announced by the government, the run was paused after 16 December 2020. It reopened on 7 July 2021 and ran until 25 July 2021.

Awards

 

Alex Owen and producer Sam Bryant at the BBC radio awards

The Pin was the 2013 winner of London Sketchfest's prize for 'Best Act,'^[27][28] and the first series of their Radio 4 show won them the award for 'Best Comedy' at the 2016 BBC radio awards.^[29]

There were nominated for the South Bank Sky Arts Award 'Breakthrough Act' 2021.^[30]

References

1. "The Pin introduce their Edinburgh fringe show". The Guardian. 12 August 2014. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
2. "The Pin – Radio 4 Sketch Show". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
3. "Good Clean Men". Retrieved 16 June 2020.
4. Reynolds, George (6 November 2009). "Good. Clean. Men". Varsity. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
5. "Edinburgh Review: Footlights in Good For You". 16 August 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
6. "Theatre: Pretty Little Panic". Retrieved 10 September 2016.
7. "Comedy: The Pin". Varsity Online.
8. "The Invisible Dot: How has one of the country's smallest comedy venues". Independent.co.uk. 11 June 2013. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
9. Developpando. "The Invisible Dot Ltd – Archive Events – id:151 The Pin". www.theinvisibledot.com. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
10. Logan, Brian (27 May 2013). "The Invisible Dot: a hand up for standup". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
11. "The Pin". Edinburgh Festival. 11 August 2012.
12. "Mark Fiddaman | University of Oxford - Academia.edu". oxford.academia.edu.
13. Logan, Brian (24 August 2015). "The Pin at Edinburgh festival review – clever-clever sketch-bending". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
14. Logan, Brian (20 August 2014). "Edinburgh comedy awards 2014 shortlist: why Liam Williams should win". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
15. . www.thesundaytimes.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
16. . www.thesundaytimes.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
17. "Edinburgh comedy 2014: what to see". Retrieved 10 September 2016.
18. "Edinburgh comedy 2015: what to see". The Telegraph. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
19. "Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2014: 'quirky and unpredictable'". Retrieved 10 September 2016.
20. "The Pin – Edinburgh Fringe review". 18 August 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
21. "The Pin". 11 August 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
22. "The Pin at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh | The Times". The Times. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
23. "The Pin". 5 August 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
24. Solutions, Powder Blue Internet Business. "The Pin: Ten Seconds with The Pin's description : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2016. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
25. "The Pin: Ten Seconds With The Pin". 24 August 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
26. @JimHowick (9 August 2021). "in tonight's opener we're joined by the excellent @thepincomedy @chloedelanney and Sujaya Dasgupta" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
27. "London Sketchfest, Victorian Vaults, review". Retrieved 10 September 2016.
28. "London Sketchfest Archive". www.londonsketchfest.com. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
29. ""Everyone" wins Gold at the BBC Radio Awards". 10 May 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
30. Bennett, Steve. "The Pin nominated for Southbank Award : News 2021 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk.