Nina Conti
Downstairs at the King's Head
Crouch Hill, Crouch End
Sunday, January 30, 8pm

If you thought ventriloquism went out with mother-in-law jokes and Barbra Streisand, think again. Not only is it back, but its image is being turned on its head as one of the people with a hand up a puppet is a woman.

Nina Conti has not departed from obvious gags about where her hand goes, but the act still feels fresh. It is its self-referential nature which keeps it thoroughly modern.

We all know Nina is doing the talking rather than the monkey. But Monk, a sexist, eastern European primate, has got the bluest tongue in history. And he is not ashamed to use it.

To pay him back, she makes Monk use words beginning with b', an obvious stumbling block if you can't move your tongue.

Another difference between Conti and traditional ventriloquists is her utter deadpan style. Surprisingly for a RADA-trained actress, she has a shyness when she plays herself, which is in stark contrast to the lewd, dirty-old-man style Monk has.

It is almost as if the monkey is making her get out there and do the gig, when, in fact, she would rather stay at home with a nice cup of tea.

Nina, who went to school at King Alfred's in Golders Green, spent two years with the Royal Shakespeare Company before deciding to do her own thing with comedy. Then she was sent a career-changing How to be a ventriloquist' kit', complete with a music hall mannequin, by her friend Ken Campbell.

After initially thinking the idea was revolting', Conti soon became hooked. She recalls: "At first I was ignorant about ventriloquism, and probably a little scathing. If it had been difficult, I would have probably have given it up, like I did with the piano, the violin and all the other things I was supposed to learn.

"I gave it a go by videoing myself. I sent the tape to Ken to show that I was at least trying it, and he said he liked it. When I watched it back it made me laugh.

"From there, I started to study different acts and I would be in comedy clubs most nights."

Tickets are priced £7 (£5 concessions). For further information contact the venue on 020 8340 1028.