Funny Cow charts the rise to stardom of a female comedienne through the 1970’s and 1980’s. It is set against the backdrop of working men’s clubs and the stand-up comedy circuit of the North of England.
From her troubled childhood to her turbulent adult relationships, the Funny Cow uses the raw material of her life experiences to bring her unique style of comedy to the stage. A stand-up comedienne in an all-male world, ‘Funny Cow’ delivers tragedy and comedy in equal measure.
Maxine Peake plays the role of a lifetime as ‘Funny Cow’ with Tony Pitts as her violent soul mate ‘Bob’, Paddy Considine acts as her middle class lover ‘Angus’ and Stephen Graham plays her brother ‘Mike’.
‘Funny Cow’ premiered at the British Film Institute London Film Festival in October 2017 with an April 2018 UK general release.
Director: Adrian Shergold
Executive Producer: Peter Dunphy
Executive Producer: Charlotte Arden
Producer: Kevin Proctor
Producer: Mark Vennis
Starring:
Music:
Maxine Peake dominates the screen as producer and star of this painful, angry film written by Tony Pitts and directed by Adrian Shergold, about a fictional female club comedian fighting her way to the top, or at least the middle, in 1970s Britain.
Funny Cow is a wickedly funny film, with a self-aware streak, capturing the zeitgeist of the era perfectly thanks to the fantastic attention to detail and set dressing.
Funny Cow is literally Maxine Peake’s show, as she narrates her tough life – and the film – from a later point of success through a televised monologue. Her no-nonsense honesty is reminiscent of a Victoria Wood piece or Julie Walters role, which puts the audience in the right headspace for the chuckles and struggles that lie ahead.
Maxine Peake Triumphs in this Bleakly Hilarious Slice of Northern Comedy
Adrian Shergold’s edgy comedy Funny Cow exudes a certain vintage Britishness. Taking place in the 70s and 80s, atmospherically there is a tinge of East Enders and classics like Alfie.