Hello all! Welcome to the March edition of my comedy column. Once again, it’s been a busy old time with gigging and promoting for Sheffield’s comedy scene over the last month – but what a treat it has been!
One of the biggest standouts for me is how busy Monday night comedy has become in this glorious city. It’s a beautiful thing to see the public coming out and supporting both new and established acts at two of Sheffield’s loveliest and warmest places for live comedy at the start of the week.
On the first Monday of the month you have The Ship Inn Comedy Night, which is run by myself and Oli Clarke, and on the second Monday of the month there’s Picture House Comedy run by the tireless man I call the ‘roadrunner of the circuit’, Tom Douglas (BEEP BEEP!). We used to go through a phase where you never really knew how many wanted to come out on a cold Monday night, but WOW! We’ve seen some great numbers in for comedians looking to ply their trade. Even for those starting out in comedy, all they want is an audience to perform to. It shows that Sheffield comedy is not only going through a real boom in terms of talent, but this is reciprocated by the public making sure they are giving so much support not only on the usual mainstream nights of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday but on nights that have been historically difficult to sell! So, thanks to everyone for coming and giving it large.
To have names such as Jo Caulfield and Nathan Caton asking about the city and looking at places to gig is such a great feeling for all of us involved in Sheffield comedy. We have progressed brilliantly, but we’re certainly not kicking back with a cigar and thinking that we have made it. We are definitely trying to strive for more, and although I often say that Sheffield is the epicentre of Yorkshire comedy – which it is – there is still some work to be done.
So, this means that a few of us have been talking about a South Yorkshire comedy festival and what the landscape of that would look like. This wouldn’t necessarily be the final masterpiece of the comedy journey, but it will outline our ambitions. The fact that we are even talking about this as an entity is incredible and, once again, it couldn’t have been done without the support of so many people: partners, audiences, comedians, venue staff and promoters alike. Watch this space and let’s see where this takes us.
A few of us have been talking about a South Yorkshire comedy festival and what the landscape of that would look like. This wouldn’t necessarily be the final masterpiece of the comedy journey, but it will outline our ambitions.
My one to watch this month is Adam Anwar. Adam has performed in Sheffield a few times now. He’s back at The Ship Inn on Monday 6th March, closing the night! This guy is a serious player of the stand-up game. I urge you to come and see this uber hilarious, fall-off-your-seat-with-laughter funster!
That’s all from moi. See you around the Sheffield venues, keep supporting local comedy and I’ll be back again next month.
@danielinnisscomedy
