Comic Austin set to hit the heights at comedy festival

Mar 12 2009 By Peter Carroll

Austin Low

A FORMER science centre worker will be on top of the world, well, the city this weekend when he performs his comedy show in a unique venue - the top of the Glasgow Tower.

Comedian Austin Low, 24, will go back to his roots at the Clydeside attraction to perform his 'High Jinx at the Tower' gig 105 metres up as part of this year's comedy festival, which starts today.

Partick man Austin, who worked as a science guide at the centre for 18 months before turning his hand to comedy, said that in terms of picking strange venues for shows in Glasgow the troubled tower was top of the list.

He said: "Working at the top of the Glasgow Tower was always inspiring so when thinking of a unique venue I thought, 'where else but the highest stage in Scotland'. It is stand up, and up and up!"

Glasgow Tower is Scotland's highest freestanding building and dominates the city landscape, but it has been plagued by problems since opening in 2001 and has been closed on various occasions.

In January 2005 a group of visitors, including four children, had to be rescued by firefighters from the top of the tower after being stranded at the top for more than five hours.

"Even if the tower was to get stuck again I've got enough material to keep punters entertained for at least six hours," said Austin.

The Glasgow Tower was re-opened in December 2006 and now only closes during the winter months and in high winds.

Ian Wilson, communications manager at the Glasgow Science Centre said: "We're happy to support a former employee who has such high ambitions"

Austin will perform his comedy routine in front of one of the smallest audiences at this year's show. But it's not because his jokes will go down like a lead balloon, it's due to the fact the tower only holds 15 visitors.

Austin's show runs at 1pm and 3pm this Saturday and again on March 21. Tickets cost £5 and are available by visiting: www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com or call the ticket hotline on: 0870 013 5464.