Comedy: Are you local?

The local comedy club nights are joining the Brighton Comedy Festival and Brighton Comedy Fringe this month – welcome, We Are Brighton Comedy Festival

Over the years I’ve interviewed a lot of well respected comics (bragging a little here, but there is a point), and all of them have said how much they enjoy playing Brighton in particular as a destination.

It’s happened slowly over the last decade, but Brighton now offers one of the most comedy-literate audiences in the country – understanding the nuances of a well-crafted joke, the etiquette of audience participation (don’t heckle, do answer when asked – quickly) and the importance of laughing, and laughing loudly. No one can hear an encouraging smile when they’re doing their best to entertain in the glare of the spotlight.

One of the main reasons we’re so good at receiving comedy, is all year round we do darn well at putting comedy on and providing a showcase for our own homegrown talent. This year, for the first year, these homegrown nights from homegrown promoters attracting home… actually, attracting nationwide stars to mix in with the homegrown ones, have banded together to celebrate and draw attention to the wonderful array of comedy nights on offer in smaller venues. It’s called We Are Brighton Comedy Festival, and it runs throughout October.

Now, you may be clammering that we already have a Brighton Comedy Festival and a Brighton Comedy Fringe this month – what is it with the orgy of laughter coming attya?

I hear this, but then let’s not be ungrateful for our bounty. A lot of the shows at We Are Brighton Comedy Festival are free, covering a variety of venues from The Victory Inn to the Caroline Of Brunswick and over and up to Hotel Pelirocco. You don’t have to pick favourites from the abundance of festivals and fringes – mix it up like Rachel Riley collecting for the numbers round on Countdown. A couple from the top and several from the other rows can come together to make the perfect calculations when looking for the best way to mix it up with your laughs this October. And with the Big Cheer For Amaze on this Thursday at Komedia, you could even get your shot in the arm of Joe Wilkinson – just like Rachel Riley. It all adds up nicely. Sorry.

www.wearebrightoncomedy.com
brightoncomedyfestival.com
www.brightoncomedyfringe.co.uk