An early start and sprint up the motorway and we arrived in Salford at the Kings Arms, a brilliant pub made famous by it's diverse theatre and comedy programme and appearance in student life sitcom, Fresh Meat, which ironically is what our workshop participants were.
Every woman that came through the door of our Stand Up to Stand Out Workshop as part of the Women in Comedy Festival, had little to no experience of stand up comedy, but these fiesty northern lasses were not afraid to give it a go. We assembled in a chilly green room, where Funny Women founder, Lynne Parker, told us all to put away our pens, notepads and phones because all we'd need for this workshop was our eyes, ears and creativity.
Lynne started by asking the group “What makes you laugh?” After a stilted silence some ideas were thrown around and before long the group were giggling over the previous night's episode of Gogglebox, Youtube cat videos and grumpy baby clips. Two intensive hours later and the participants were busy putting together a five minute set to perform in the graduate showcase that evening. Amidst kebab wrappers and chip boxes they fervently scribbled away as their deadline drew closer and closer. With the aid of our professional comedians, who themselves are previous workshop graduates, our participants were fully prepared to face their audience.
The time came. Our fabulous host, Dotty Winters, opened the gig and introduced seasoned comedians Lesley Kershaw and the 'tattooed' Vicky Peirson. Then came our graduates, beginning with Jeanette Bird Bradley, our lovely competition addict from Nottingham, closely followed by endearing duo Rimmer & Touill (that's French that is!) who provided a masterclass on how to deal with life post menopause. Then came the turn of 'Olga' (Beverley Jenkinson), who came all the way from Latvia to be there and Catherine Sandland and her account of living with boys.
After a short break we came back to hear from our 2014 Funny Women Comedy Shorts Award Winner, Sally Cancello, followed by book-loving Darwinist, Natalie Hughes and Shardene Blake as seen on TV adverts shaking her jiggly bits. Next we were treated to Scottish referendum highlights from Kat Rezai, petite rugby-playing Jo, and ending with the brilliant Sindhu Vee, who's set very much reflected the skills she learned in our workshop three years ago. It all came to a fitting end with our headline act, Cerys Nelmes, who over-shared some pictures especially collated for her son's 18th birthday and her true life account of helping a friend deliver a baby first thing that morning! True!
A MASSIVE congratulations to all our workshop participants for performing their first ever stand up routine. We will no doubt see you again in the near future.
I will end on this poetic treat from Vicky Peirson who captured the day's highlights in rhyming couplets!
What better way
To spend a day –
A chilly afternoon;
A Salford pub –
The Fresh Meat hub –
In an even chillier room.
But soon Lynne’s fire
Quick all to inspire
Had lit the room aglow
And each and everyone of them
Was keen to have a go.
What warmth they showed
What humour flowed
Each different from the last;
Some far by train,
Some close they came;
Each with a worthy past.
You should feel proud
And shout aloud;
You grabbed the Stand Up banner.
You rocked the night
And proved alright
You were a brilliant winner.
Eat your heart out Pam Ayres!
Kate Lennon.
AND if this has inspired you and you'd like to give stand up comedy a go, book your place on our Stand Up to Stand Out Workshop tomorrow at St James Theatre, Victoria 11.00am – 1.00pm. Book now to avoid disappointment.
